Fury FC hope to welcome back Porter, Bruna
Kyle Porter and Gerardo Bruna have shared the frustration of being injured; now they share a reason to smile.
The two may be rejoining Ottawa Fury FC teammates on the pitch, rather than just watching from the sidelines.
Porter played a few minutes late in a Sept. 24 game against Minnesota United FC, but, because of a groin injury, really hasn’t been part of the roster since Fury FC’s second game of the North American Soccer League’s fall season on July 10.
Bruna’s wait has been even longer, with his last appearance coming in the second game of the spring schedule on April 9. Surgery was required to repair groin problems that included hematomas, tendinitis and scar tissue.
“There’s frustration, but, at the end of the day, I understand my role and I understand what I had to do to get back fit because, if I come back too early, I hurt the team. The frustration is there, but it’s part of the process, it’s part of the road (back),” Porter said following a training session at TD Place stadium, where Fury FC will play host to the New York Cosmos Sunday afternoon.
“The position I play demands so much from me, so, if I come back not 100 per cent, I possibly get hurt again and affect the team negatively.”
Porter, a defender, might not greatly affect Fury FC’s ability to capitalize on offensive opportunities, a problem for the club most of the season, but his addition can’t hurt. Fernando Timbo left last weekend’s home game against Puerto Rico with a left leg injury and fellow defender Eddie Edward has been hampered by a thigh problem.
Bruna, a forward, might face greater expectations of making a contribution to the attack, particularly since Fury FC will face the Cosmos without midfielders Maxim Tissot and Jamar Dixon, called up for international duty with the Canadian men’s team.
“It’s always frustrating when you’re on the outside watching the game and you know you can’t help. That’s frustrating,” Bruna said. “But, on the other hand, I have to be patient. The problem that I have is not an easy problem to deal with.
“It’s not like a broken leg; you can absolutely do nothing. But it’s different types of pain that you have that they don’t allow you to feel 100-per-cent confident, to feel 100-per-cent ready to play. I just have to be patient and hopefully the pain will go away.”
Fury FC head coach Paul Dalglish said Sunday was always the target for their return, partly because he knew Tissot and Dixon would be unavailable.
The chance to play Sunday, even if Porter or Bruna aren’t among the starting 11, is a fitting reward for all that time spent on rehabilitation.
It will also be an occasion worthy of a smile, even if they’re almost certainly too late to help rescue Fury FC’s playoff hopes.