Anthony’s other team in action
Carmelo Anthony the player might not be all that different from Carmelo Anthony the owner.
From Puerto Rico FC’s technical director to the team’s coach to forward Giuseppe Gentile, Anthony is every bit the professional he is on the basketball court. He demands excellence but understands he is part of the building process of an expansion team.
“He’s been fantastic,” technical director Neil Sillett said during Puerto Rico FC’s 4-3 loss to the Cosmos on Sunday. “He’s really engaged and always wants what’s best for the club. Obviously, he has a lot of sensible people around him to keep things going smoothly.”
It’s been two years since Anthony purchased an ownership stake in Puerto Rico FC, on an island close to the NBA AllStar’s heart. Anthony is of Puerto Rican descent and has played a significant role in the building of basketball courts around the island, along with other charitable endeavors.
However, none of that has prepared him for the difficulty of building a winning soccer team from scratch.
“It’s the infrastructure,” Sillett said. “I’ve been with many teams in the UK where they’ve had facilities for a hundred years. It’s a bit different and harder being in Puerto Rico. The economy is one thing, and you’re on an island, so every player has come from somewhere else.”
Puerto Rico FC are winless through seven games with just three points coming via draws, but there is reason for hope.
With a man down against the Cosmos, Puerto Rico FC continued to push the tempo and control the run of play. They showed periods of domination in halting outlet passes from the Cosmos’ back line and moved forward in numbers.
The tiniest bit of growth can foster a winning culture, something to which Anthony can relate.
“It’s definitely unique,” Gentile said. “It’s cool to have an NBA All-Star as the guy who is running the team. Usually other owners are just wealthy people and they have their own way of running their stuff, but he is an athlete, and I think he understands the competition part and not only the business part.”