Buksa, Malfa join Revs’ camp
The two absentees from the New England Revolution’s international brigade have arrived at training camp.
REVOLUTION NOTEBOOK
Polish striker Adam Buksa and Christian Mafla, a left back from Columbia, have reported and will begin team activities once their quarantine periods have expired.
“Adam is still under the protocols so and I think he can be back in training on Tuesday or Wednesday,” said Revolution sporting director and head coach Bruce Arena following Monday’s practice at the team’s training facility in Foxboro.
“Mafla will be back on (Tuesday). We will have our whole team here with the exception of (center back) Henry Kessler, who is with the U.S. U-23 team right now.”
Buksa emerged as a central figure in the Revolution’s attack in his first season with the club. A striker by trade, Buksa served as the point man in Arena’s 4-2-3-1 formation.
Buksa made 24 appearances with 16 starts in the regular season and logged 1,499 minutes of pitch time. Buksa finished second behind Teal Bunbury‘s eight goals with six and one assist. He started four playoff games that included one game-winning goal.
Mafla is a left-footed defender who will vie for minutes at left back with Brandon Bye, DeJuan Jones and newcomer A.J. DeLaGarza, who played for Arena with the LA Galaxy. Mafla has played his professional career in South America, most recently as a starting left back for Atletico Nacional in Columbia.
“In terms of where the players are at, they haven’t had any kind of full training yet,” said Arena. “Those two particular players, I can’t really assess where they are now but I think they are moving along fine.”
CENTRAL PLANNING
Despite a surplus of quality players at the position, Arena identified central midfield as an area of concern in the aftermath of a 1-0 loss to Columbus in the Eastern Conference title game.
The incumbents on the list include Tommy McNamara, Matt Polster and Scott Caldwell. Arena’s first move was to import Wilfrid Kaptoum, a Cameroon national who enjoyed a breakthrough season with La Liga in Spain.
Arena also welcomed the return of Luis Caicedo, who made 56 starts for the Revs in 2018 and 2019 but missed last season with an injury. Caicedo completed his rehab and resumed full training on Monday.
“There is a lot of competition there and it is an area we need to be better in,” said Arena. “I think that was one position that stood out in the playoff game against Columbus where they were playing (Darlington) Nagbe and (José) Artur.”
“I think they had the edge in that game and so that is an area we know we need to get better in.”
O CANADA
Arena’s experimentation with Tajon Buchanan at right back has run its course.
Buchanan has returned to the right wing in the Revolution’s midfield, a position brimming with talent that includes Bunbury, Gustavo Bou, Gil, Justin Rennicks
,Carles DamienRivera and newcomer Emmanuel Boateng.
Buchanan might be the best of that bunch in terms of foot speed and pure athleticism. He appeared in 23 regular season games with 11 starts and notched two goals and two assists. He started four playoff games with one goal.
“Right now, in preseason, we are playing him in more of attacking role in one of the wide midfield positions,” said Arena.
Buchanan, a native of Brampton, Ontario, will depart on Wednesday to compete for the Canada U-23 team.