Barry looking to improve for Lions
Hadji Barry admits his rookie season with Orlando City was overwhelming at times. But the former UCF star says he’s more relaxed and confident heading into his second professional season.
After being selected as the 13th overall pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, Hadji Barry admitted he didn’t know what to expect from himself during his rookie season with Orlando City.
But after an emotional and busy offseason, the former UCF men’s soccer standout knows what it’s going to take to grasp some level of success heading into his sophomore year in Major League Soccer.
“I’m more relaxed,” Barry said. “I’m trying to get better than last year. I know what to expect now, last year I didn’t know what to expect . . . . I was a first-year rookie with a lot of nerves, now I can relax and play the game that I love.”
Fewer than 26 days remains until Orlando City hosts New York City FC on March 5 at the club’s new downtown stadium. The road to that game, however, began last December.
After 10 years away from home spanning his high school, college and MLS rookie season, Barry returned to Guinea during the offseason to reunite with his family. It was an emotional trip Barry said helped him to get focused for the challenges 2017 will bring.
“It was great . . . after 10 years of not seeing my family — mom, dad, brother, sister — it was a special moment seeing them,” Barry said. “I needed that, and I feel fresh. For the past 10 years, I won’t lie to you, I think about them every day because I haven’t seen them.”
On the field this preseason, his improvement hasn’t gone unnoticed. Barry scored during Orlando City’s 5-0 victory over Jacksonville University during a weekend scrimmage. During inter-squad scrimmages, the forward has been more involved.
Head coach Jason Kreis praised the second-year professional on his progress, but he hinted it’s going to take time for Barry to realize his full potential.
“He comes into this season with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder and feeling like he has something to prove,” Kreis said. “He worked really hard in the offseason, and he’s done a great job this preseason so far.
“He was a player that opened my eyes when I first got here . . . . Didn’t know much about him at all. In the first match that we played against Stoke City, he played very well and scored a goal and earned his starting position.
“I really didn’t think he would be in the starting lineup, but from what did in that match, he earned his chance.”
But that short successful run toward the end of the 2016 season was followed by a fall in form, something Kreis said is common for most young players in this league.
“He was a player that showed us bright spots and went into a little bit of a rut, and we never got him quite out of that toward the end of the season,” Kreis said.
Barry played eight games while starting four times for the first team in 2016. Meanwhile with Orlando City B, the attacker played 10 games while recording four goals and two assists.
Rivas’ goals
For the past two seasons, there hasn’t been much production from Orlando City designated player Carlos Rivas.
He knows that. And he knows it all starts with seizing the opportunity.
“My goals really are to just improve day by day,” Rivas said. “I don’t think I got as much playing time as I wanted to last year, and my goal is to work on that and to get more minutes and goals this season.”
The winger spent most of the offseason in his native Colombia.
The 2015 season saw Rivas play 27 games with 13 starts. The year that followed saw his appearances dwindle mostly due to injury and difficulty fitting into Kreis’ plans despite scoring three goals in 21 games, eight of which he started. But Rivas was quick to admit his struggles last year and knows this year certain goals have to be accomplished.
“That’s my goal, to play more this year and score more goals,” he said. “I know that opportunity will come and when it does it’s about taking advantage of that.”