Fans, new players mingle at training session
Inter Miami kicks off its third season in less than three weeks, and there is a palpable positive energy around the club despite back-to-back disappointing seasons.
The team held an open training session on Saturday at DRV PNK Stadium and both players and fans were in a festive mood. Fans in the north end zone were in midseason form, serenading the team in Spanish and waving giant flags. Players, who had a Bar-B-Q with their families before the event, joked around during shooting drills, played soccer and tennis and signed autographs, several of them with their children in tow.
Coach Phil Neville said the team has made a conscious effort this preseason, as COVID rules relaxed, to be more open with fans and the media.
“We’ve had a couple of really disappointing seasons on the field, but the common positive throughout the whole club is the fan base we’re trying to grow,” Neville said.
“We’re trying to get a little closer to people, to the local communities. The fans have been behind a barrier because of COVID, and the media, too. So, we’ve tried to open up the gates and be a little more transparent and visible.”
U.S. national team defender DeAndre Yedlin, who signed with the club last week after leaving Turkish power Galatasaray, was expected to make his first appearance on Saturday, but his flight from Boston was canceled.
“DeAndre is almost a DP [Designated Player] signing for us in terms of his quality,” Neville said. “He’s played at the top, top level in the top soccer nations in the world, so we hope his experience, quality and leadership will help, and the fact that he’s American is really important. We have a young, new team and we want experience in there. We will ask a lot of him.”
Neville said it was extremely difficult to trade young Venezuelan talent Christian Makoun to open up a spot for Yedlin. “We would not have made that decision if it was somebody less than the level of DeAndre…He’s nearly the last piece of the jigsaw.”
Among the other new players introduced to the fans was defender Damion Lowe, captain of Jamaica’s national team. Lowe had been on national team duty with the Reggae Boyz playing in World Cup qualifiers and rejoined Inter Miami in recent days.
“It’s important to meet the fans because there’s a lot of new faces, so it’s important for us to show appreciation and for all the new players to feel that atmosphere for opening day,” Lowe said. “It was an amazing feeling for me to see how jovial and happy the fans were to have us. We have to build on this.”
Lowe, who played last season in the Egyptian league, has had a home in Miami for three years, has family in town, and knew a few members of the Inter Miami staff so it has been a seamless transition. Two of his teammates from the Jamaican national also live in Miami – Devon “Speedy” Williams and rising star Lamar Walker of USL club Miami FC.
He already knows all the best spots for Jamaican food. One of his favorites is Dukunoo Jamaican Kitchen in Wynwood.
“Miami was always on my radar, and Chris and I have a really good relationship from my time in Seattle,” Lowe said. “It was easy for me to make the decision to come here. It worked perfectly. I’ve been away from my family for some time playing in Europe and Egypt, so I wanted more stability and what Inter Miami wanted fit my criteria.”
Lowe, 28, said he feels in good fitness after spending time with Jamaica during the last round of World Cup qualifying matches. He played 50 minutes of the preseason scrimmage against Montreal on Friday night, his first time with his new teammates.
“It was good to get out there, get the heavy legs out of my system, get to know my players, what the coach wants of me and the team,” Lowe said.
His first impressions of the team? “The team is young, vibrant, full of energy with a mixture of experience with Kieran [Gibbs], Gonzalo, myself. I can see [in the young players] the willingness to learn and work hard, like Ari [Lassiter]. I was really impressed with his willingness to work hard for the team. If everyone can do that it should be a fun season.”
He is looking forward to reuniting with Yedlin.
They were teammates early in their careers with the Seattle Sounders. Lowe said when he heard the news that Inter Miami signed Yedlin, he said, “Yesssss! We need this type of energy, especially on the right side.
“I’m excited because we were young talents together in Seattle trying to make a name for ourselves, so I know his personality,” Lowe continued. “It’s been years since we’ve been on a team together but I’ve played against him a number of time in CONCACAF national team. He’s an exciting player. He’ll bring a lot of experience to this group, and he’ll push the guys who aren’t pulling their weight.”
Injury update: Leonardo Campana returned to training after being injured. Emerson Rodriguez (hamstring) is expected back on Monday. Robbie Robinson and Bryce Duke are out with minor injuries. Goalkeeper Nick Marsman (knee) is “ahead of schedule” but is “touch and go” for the Feb. 23 season opener against the Chicago Fire.
Michelle Kaufman: 305-376-3438, @kaufsports