While enjoyable sunshine has hit Seattle in the last few days, the Sounders are feeling like they are home in Argentina. Rain has hit Buenos Aires and has caused some problems for the Sounder’s tentative training schedule. Monday’s match versus Velez Sarsfield was cancelled because the rain flooded the field and left it under a foot of water. To continue...
The team took a break from training and embarked on a day trip to La Bonbonera to watch another match where they only got to watch 80 minutes until the rain followed them there.
The club is still scheduled to play on Tuesday, although the match is against Tristan Suarez instead of the Argentinos Juniors. The predicted forecast is for rain so there is a good chance that there will be no match tomorrow as well.
The coaching staff and players have stressed the importance of training in warmer weather as it helps build stamina and get the players into shape, as well as giving them experience adjusting to heat instead of the winter weather. Hopefully the team can get a couple more matches under their belt in better weather before they return to Seattle.
Argentina Training Camp Injury Report: Jared Karkas (hamstring) is probable for Tuesday's training game. Steve Zakuani (ankle) has been limited to partial training during the past week. Taylor Graham (foot) has been held out of training. Jarrod Smith (hip flexor) remains in Seattle. Peter Vagenas (knee) and Freddie Ljungberg (hip) have not yet joined the team for training.
The indefinite loss of Taylor Graham who has a broken toe gives the Sounders fans some worry, but the fact that Freddie Ljungberg's hip injury has caused him to be held out of training with the team so far, has us all praying. Ljungberg who is an English Premier League star and our most valuable acquisition is one of our keys to success for the upcoming season. He had hip surgery in December and has been training and recovering ever since. Reports say fans should not worry as the team is just making sure he is 100% before he hits the turf because they are most concerned for his long term health. For now we'll keep an eye on both players, sit back, and try to breathe easier knowing that the club is trying to get him on the field as soon as possible.
*Single game tickets for the regular season are on sale now! Go out and grab as many as you can because Sounders buzz is flourishing through Seattle and tickets are going to go fast!
Reach Michael Camden at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
