ELEVEN | NOVEMBER 2015 • 1

2 • ELEVEN | NOVEMBER 2015

At UMKC, we are committed to student success. We offer 125 degree programs, scholarships and in-state tuition for some Kansas residents.

Visit • Applyumkc.edu/admissions

Courtney FreriChsuMKC track and Field2016 olympic hopeful

The place for people GoinG places

table of contentsLetter from the Editor � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 3

1v1 with Tim Melia � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4

Rangers Reborn. � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6

Eric DeJulio – SKC Blue Jay � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8

Top 5 Moments of 2015 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 9

2015 in Photos � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �10

Wizards Rewind – Tony Meola � � � � � � � � � � � � �12

Sporting Spotlight: Paulo Nagamura � � � � � � �13

Inside Access � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �14

MLS Top 11 for 2015 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �15

2015 MLS Awards � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �15

La Copa Centenario 2016 Es Un Hecho � � � � � �16

Concussions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �18

letter from the editor November 2015

WHAT A year.This is our final issue of Eleven

for 2015. What a year it has been on the field for Sporting Kansas City and for us.

There are many people who have helped make the inaugural year of Eleven possible and successful. First a huge thank you goes out to our staff. Walfri Rodas has a rare talent for capturing a moment through his lens that few possess, and Matthew Kimbrough is as talented a designer as you will find in this country. Eleven is lucky to have both of them. Megan Armstrong has a very bright future after her days at Mizzou are finished. Thanks for helping write the stories!

Our media partners 38 The Spot and La Grande 1340 were eager to jump on board in the very beginning and have been great partners and contributors to the magazine. We appreciate you all very much.

A huge thank you goes out to Robb Thomson and the Sporting Kansas City communications department. Without the help of Kurt Austin, Jonathan Kaplan and Molly Dreska Eleven could not have been possible. Your help and willingness to open every door was invaluable.

Equally as important have been our loyal sponsors, especially El Padrino and Carondelet Orthopaedic Surgeons who have

been with us from the beginning. A huge thumbs up and thank you to all of our partners in 2015.

The final shout-out goes to the Sporting KC faithful who participated, read, downloaded and commented on our work. We hope you had as much fun reading it as we did putting Eleven together for you. Thanks you to the best fans in Major League Soccer.

I hope you enjoy the November edition of Eleven and we hope to see you in 2016.

David

ElevenTheMagazine

@ElevenTheMag

ELEVEN | NOVEMBER 2015 • 3

ONE OF the great storylines from 2015 comes from Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia.

The 29-year old from New York had started a grand total of five matches since his Major League Soccer career began with Real Salt Lake in 2010. A door opened for Melia with the departure of then starting keeper Luis Marin, and beginning with a match versus the Chicago Fire on May 3, 2015 (a clean sheet 1-0 win), the one time League Pool Goalkeeper was entrenched as the starter between the posts for the remainder of the season.

ELEVEN: From League Pool Goalkeeper to now MLS starting goalkeeper – this has been quite a year for you.

MELIA: It really has. It’s been a good year. Obviously we are not happy with the way that it ended. I really believe in this group. I can’t speak about what could happen in the offseason but I’m excited because I think this group is going to be together for a few years. We didn’t reach our potential by any means this year. As the season wore on, injuries both major and minor and with the amount of games that we played in a short amount of time took its toll on us. For me personally, I wish we had a further run because I know the caliber of team that we are. I hope we as a team continue to grow together. When you look around MLS, that time together is the secret to success.

“I’ve always tried to prepare myself the best that I could physically”

ELEVEN: Take us back to when Peter (Vermes) named you the starter after Marin had left the team. What was that like for you?

MELIA: I honestly still don’t know how it all went down. You never want a teammate to go through difficult times because he is family, but when the decision was made I was excited and wanted to grab the opportunity with both hands. Peter decided to play me in the Chicago game and like three days later Luis was gone.

ELEVEN: Your teammates tell me that you are a great vocal leader and took a leadership role between the posts quickly.

MELIA: It’s easy when you have guys in front of you like Matt (Besler), Chance, Seth, Jalil & Kevin. They make it easy. It’s important to be a good leader and that guys look at me as the anchor of the team.

ELEVEN: You simply just needed a chance.

MELIA: I like to believe that. As a goalkeeper, it’s such an awkward position because there is just one of you. We all will make mistakes, let in a soft goal. It’s going to happen. Once someone puts themselves in that position in MLS, keepers don’t get rotated out very often. The opportunities I’ve had have been few and far in between. I was so fortunate to get this opportunity with great players in front of me. I have a taste of it now and I don’t want to let go.

ELEVEN: It was heartbreaking to watch. I can only imagine what it was like in Portland to take yourself out of the Knockout Round match versus the Timbers.

MELIA: It was one of the toughest things I’ve ever had to do. I knew we were going to come back because we had done it so many times throughout the season. It was weighing on me that I wasn’t going to be able to perform at my best. I knew if (Jon) Kempin came in he would do an excellent job. I tried to make the best decision with the team in mind. As heartbreaking and frustrating as it was, at the end of the day it was the right decision.

“It’s been a good year”

ELEVEN: How physically taxing has this season been for you?

MELIA: It hasn’t been physically demanding. It’s been more of the mental aspect. I’ve always tried to prepare myself the best that I could physically and you actually do a lot more conditioning and drills when you aren’t playing because you can work out more often. Playing week in and week out has been more of a learning process for me.

ELEVEN: What are some of your fondest memories from the past season?

MELIA: Obviously the U.S. Open Cup final I’ll remember the rest of my life. I don’t know why but the first play of the first game that I played for Sporting stands out. It was an awkward play. I committed to it and headed the ball out. Everyone turned around and was like what is going on.

ELEVEN: Toughest thing about being a goalkeeper?

MELIA: Consistency. Every keeper in MLS is capable of making saves and that brilliant moment. The toughest thing for me is who is going to make the save they are supposed to 95 percent of the time and help the team get a win. For me that’s what a goalkeeper should do.

ELEVEN: Is stopping a penalty shot the hardest thing to do in sports?

MELIA: For keepers it’s not a huge pressure situation. They are supposed to score. There’s so much video that everyone knows tendencies. The pressure is all on the shooter.

1v1 with tim melia

4 • ELEVEN | NOVEMBER 2015

ELEVEN | NOVEMBER 2015 • 5

THE OFFSEASON is twice as exciting around Sporting Park this year with the announcement that Sporting had invested in the United Soccer League and thus Swope Park Rangers was born. Led by General Manager Kurt Austin, the work begins to fill out a roster, generate excitement in a soccer-happy city and more. Sporting has a long history of successful affiliates and Austin and staff are already working hard to make sure that continues at Swope Soccer Village.

“We’ve had great relationships and won championships with our affiliates,” Austin said. “Geographically it made more sense for us. There are things behind the scenes that fans don’t get a chance to see, from business models to development. Rangers will provide a pathway to the pros and a proving ground from the academy level and for those players on loan from Sporting Kansas City.”

Of all of the decisions that had to be made, the branding and naming of the new club may have been the easiest.

“Now there are four professional soccer teams in Kansas City”

“We believe the name Rangers will be popular with the fans. It originated in 2008 with the MLS reserve team and it made sense with us playing in Swope Soccer Village and the history that the name has with our fan base,” Austin said.

The advantages that the new club will provide players on both rosters are invaluable, especially for the younger players who fight for minutes every week.

“You’re going to see a lot of integration between Sporting KC and Swope Park Rangers,” Austin said after the clubs announcement. “Everything from training simultaneously on fields at Swope Soccer Village which will give our technical staff the ability to share players in real time, which helps in development and also it gives the ability to challenge and reward players.”

Unlike the defunct MLS Reserve League which didn’t always consistently work for clubs, USL provides a more talent-rich environment for development and stability.

“We are big believers in USL, which has a great level of play and a very competitive environment, Austin commented. “The USL in every way is an ascending league. For us it is a perfect and natural progression as we look at expanding and developing our talent pool. We already have players on the roster like Dom Dwyer, Jon Kempin and Kevin Ellis with significant USL experience which shows the kind of talent that exists in the league and how they can positively affect an MLS squad. The idea will be if a player hasn’t gotten the competitive minutes or needs to be in better fitness, there is an opportunity they can get that from Swope Park Rangers.”

One of the exciting and most important tasks to be completed is the building of the inaugural roster of Swope Park Rangers.

“Sporting Kansas City has a great network of scouts domestically and abroad that identifies a lot of talented players,” the new GM said. “I think you’ll see guys brought in over the offseason depending on fit and salary considerations, but it is also an exciting time to build a roster from scratch. Peter Vermes, Mike Jacobs and staff will have the ability to add players to the Sporting / Swope Park Rangers pool increasing an SKC roster from 26-28 players now with an addition 18 or so players who will train alongside Sporting.”

A current USL head coach will be named the first manager in Rangers history soon.

“With Peter being here as long as he has, there is definitely a Sporting way of playing, training and more that has made up a successful culture,” Austin said with excitement. “The first head coach of Rangers will be tuned into all of that and an extension of Sporting KC in the USL.”

The addition of Rangers to Swope Soccer Village was natural and another great addition to one of America’s best soccer facilities.

“Rangers will provide a pathway to the pros”

“If you look at the big picture and go back ten years, the Comets had folded, the Wizards were up for sale and there was no professional

women’s team. Fast forward to today, now there are four professional soccer teams in Kansas City. The success and championships that has been brought to Kansas City is remarkable. The facilities are a big part of that. One of the first things that the new ownership group did was invest in Swope Soccer Village showing their dedication to soccer in the city and is now coming to fruition with nine full size fields and has attracted collegiate tournaments and now along with FC Kansas City will have two professional teams calling it home.”

Swope Park Rangers will be one of six teams joining USL in 2016 and 2017. Learn more about the Rangers fellow expansion teams here. (http://www.uslsoccer.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=32800&ATCLID=210441693)

To learn more about the united Soccer league go to uslsoccer.com (http://www.uslsoccer.com/HomePage.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=32800&KEY=)

Season ticket deposits are now being taken at just $25. For more information on Rangers log on to SportingKC.com/Rangers (http://www.sportingkc.com/rangers)

rangers reborn.

6 • ELEVEN | NOVEMBER 2015

II

II

ELEVEN | NOVEMBER 2015 • 7

ERIC DEJULIO has a favorite Sporting Kansas City memory. It starts with him and his teammates driving nearly three hours from Creighton University to Sporting Park, continues with standing in 20-degree weather for approximately six hours above the Cauldron and ends with Sporting Kansas City winning the MLS Cup.

“Soccer is everything”It was Dec. 7, 2013. Kansas City remembers

this story well. DeJulio remembers it from a point of view all his own: watching the litany of penalty kicks leading up to an eventual Sporting victory and envisioning himself out there wearing Sporting blue. “It was just a crazy emotional time,” he says. “Something I’m striving to reach.” And he is on his way.

DeJulio, 21, is one of the Sporting Kansas City Academy’s most promising products. He first tried out for the U-15s, back when the club’s name was still the Wizards, in his freshman year of high school in Overland Park, Kansas. He went on to play for the U-16s for two years and then became the captain of the U-18 club for one year. Now he is a senior co-captain for the Creighton Blue Jays.

“Soccer is everything,” he says. “It means everything. It’s something I’ve dedicated my whole life towards to this point, and there’s nothing that brings me as much joy as stepping on that field to play soccer for 90 minutes and getting the win.”

He has been winning a lot lately. In fact, all he has done this season is win. Creighton is ranked No. 5 in the country with a 16-2-0 record.

“I really like watching Besler and trying to learn as much as I can”So, really, DeJulio has been well on his way

for a while. He can’t remember exactly when he started playing the game, only that he has been playing for as long as he can remember and his father started him out “as a tyke.” He attributes a lot of his progress to Sporting. He brings onto the field for Creighton some of what his time with Sporting taught him. “I think it’s just coming out and giving everything you have, every minute,” he explains. “Also on the tactical side. Sporting did a great job of preparing for the tactical part of soccer, and I feel like I’ve been able to reap the benefits of that; that’s definitely helped me on the field.”

His favorite player growing up was former Wizards defender Jimmy Conrad because they played the same position. And as he finds himself on the cusp of being able to fulfill his lifelong dream of playing defense in Major League Soccer, he has found himself leaning on the model of Sporting’s captain and central defender Matt Besler. The DeJulio and Besler families are

friends, and DeJulio says he and Matt have gotten to know each other pretty well.

“Just the type of person he is, he’s a great leader,” DeJulio says of Besler. “He has great character. He’s definitely someone I try and imitate on the field and off the field as well. I really like watching Besler and trying to learn as much as I can.”

Fellow Sporting academy product Bryce Gibson is a freshman on the team. They have bonded over their memories forged while with Sporting’s Academy and found comfort in each other at Creighton.

Someday, perhaps someday soon—DeJulio hopes to make his own memories wearing that Sporting blue. “My goals looking forward are to try and make it in MLS,” he says. “Hopefully with Sporting Kansas City, but I’ll take any opportunity I can get.”

eric deJulio – sKc blue Jay Words: Megan Armstrong • Pics: Courtesy of Creighton Athletic Department

8 • ELEVEN | NOVEMBER 2015

top 5 moments of 2015 with Nate Bukaty (@Nate_Bukaty)

“Winning the US open cup is no question the most important memory of 2015. Trophies are the ultimate prize for a club and its fans. That whole week was an important one for the team as well. We showed real depth and

fight to be able to go on the road to Philly for Open Cup, then follow it up a few days later with a very important 1-0 win against Portland. For me personally, my first game still sticks out in my mind. Coming out of the box in the first minute and heading the ball is something that I will always remember.”

Tim Melia – Guest Editor

VIDEO

VIDEO

VIDEO

VIDEO

VIDEO

Vancouver Whitecaps at Sporting Kansas City

August 15

Sporting Kansas City 4 Vancouver 3

“The comeback versus Vancouver when Sporting was down two goals

and came back scoring three to win. Paulo Nagamura was the hero. Totally unforgettable and really was

the story of this team in 2015. A team that never went away and never

stopped fighting.”

Philadelphia Union at Sporting Kansas City

April 5

Sporting KC 3 Philadelphia 2

“Any time you score twice in stoppage time to win, you’ll re-member that one for a while.”

FC Dallas atSporting Kansas City

U.S Open CupJuly 1

Sporting KC 6 FC Dallas 2

“Dom Dwyer became the first player in team history to score four goals in a competitive match for Sporting Kansas City. That was a fun night!”

Sporting Kansas City at Philadelphia Union U.S.

Open Cup FinalSeptember 30

Sporting Kansas City claimed the club’s third U.S. Open Cup championship

“No doubt the U.S. Open Cup Final and (Krisztian) Nemeth’s goal probably doesn’t get as much run as it should. Only a select

few players in the league can score that goal. Any time that you win a major trophy,

it’s a memorable moment for sure.”

Sporting Kansas City at Portland Timbers

October 3

Sporting KC 1 Portland 0

“Krizstian Nemeth’s amazing goal at Portland to get three points with few starters in the lineup was big and as good of an individual effort as you

will see.”

ELEVEN | NOVEMBER 2015 • 9

2015 in photos

10 • ELEVEN | NOVEMBER 2015

ELEVEN | NOVEMBER 2015 • 11

TONY MEOLA is the greatest goalkeeper in Kansas City history and arguably the best in the 20-years of Major League Soccer.

Meola burst onto the MLS scene in the inaugural 1996 campaign, starring in goal for the New York / New Jersey Metrostars. After the 1998 season, Meola was traded to the Kansas City Wizards where his success continued. In 2000, Meola had a career year in which he swept nearly every honor available. In addition to winning the league’s Most Valuable Player award and Goalkeeper of the Year, he was dominant in goal for Kansas City as they won the 2000 MLS Cup. He led the league with 16 clean sheets and was named MLS Cup MVP.

“The transformation of soccer in KC has been amazing”

Meola, who now works in the media for Fox Sports and SiriusXM, has fond memories of that championship season.

“Winning a championship and Kansas City’s first MLS Cup is by far my fondest memory of playing in Kansas City,” Meola said. “It was the only one that I won and was a part of. We finished in last place the year before, made a bunch of trades for guys who were kind of unwanted at other places. There was nothing from the outside looking in that would have led anyone to believe that this team could win a title. I remember being in Florida in training. Peter Vermes and I were close and I asked him how the team looked because I had been away for national team training. He told me that we could win a championship. When I think about what we did and how we did it – it was all about building something for the long haul. We had the best record in MLS over a four year stretch.”

Even though the Wizards won the Cup in that memorable season, soccer was still not out of the woods in the City of

Fountains. Oh how things have changed.“The transformation of soccer in KC

has been amazing,” Meoia said. “The credit goes to the new ownership and what they’ve been able to do. They have made soccer the thing to do. They deserve so much credit for what they’ve done in KC but also the impact they’ve had around the league. They have set the bar that says no matter if we are a small market or not, we can make it happen.”

The goalkeeper tradition in Kansas City has now been passed to Tim Melia, and the hall of famer likes what he sees.

“He’s had a nice year and frankly sometimes you just need a chance and credit Peter (Vermes) for that and Melia has taken advantage of it,” Meola commented. “Peter trusted him and Melia responded. He has great reactions and it looks like he has a love and hunger for the position. It will be interesting to watch him grow in coming years. I love the fact that he is vocal and has taken charge. The way that I look at keepers is that he’s supposed to make all of the saves he’s supposed to make and a couple that he’s not supposed to make. So far, Melia has done that.”

Goalkeeping has long been the position of Americans and those now applying the trade between the posts in MLS are continuing that in a big way.

“I think it’s a talented group but I don’t see a complete standout, which is a good thing,” Meola said. “The overall level has raised to a point where it’s pretty healthy in MLS. It’s about longevity, Luis Robles in New York, Nick Rimando at Real Salt Lake that’s the big picture in goalkeeping to me. There are some guys who have a much bigger upside in the coming years like Jesse Gonzalez in Dallas. Guys are being developed but it’s all about being given an opportunity like Melia’s in Kansas City or Bill Hamid at D.C. United. There are so many instances where a guy gets a break and becomes a solid player or a star.”

wizards rewind – tony meola

12 • ELEVEN | NOVEMBER 2015

Some would consider leaving the sand and surf for the landlocked Midwest an utter travesty. Yet Paulo Nagamura was quite happy to leave sunny Sao Paulo to travel the world and play professional soccer— a decision that eventually led him to suburban Overland Park. As midfielder for Sporting Kansas City, Nagamura’s days are filled with drills, training, games, and, at the end of a long one, retreating to life in the ‘burbs where he lives with his wife, two daughters, and a golden retriever.

Nagamura beams when he talks about his children. Clara, 5, and Alice, 2 are his “princesses,” and one of his greatest joys is being able to give them a wonderful life in a safe, family-friendly neighborhood. But how did the girls handle following dad around the world? Nagamura says, “They adapted very well. And it’s lovely to go home and play with them all day after training.” It’s an idyllic life that allows the Nagamura family to get back to their roots when they can. When homesickness hits, they hit the Plaza for some Brazilian steak at Fogo de Chao. “It’s very good. We go there once every 50 days,” Nagamura says, vouching for its authenticity.

Even better, once a year, he packs up the whole family for a trip back home. The girls get to spend some time with relatives and practice their Portuguese.

So that decision to trade sand and surf for tornadoes and freezing temps? Not such a bad deal after all. Nagamura says, “I love it here. I

think I’m in the best team in Major League soccer, in this beautiful city. So I’m just enjoying myself here.”

sporting spotlight: paulo nagamura From Sao Paulo to Kansas City

“Paulo Nagamura is the epitome of a pro and what makes him more impressive to me is how humble he is. He is an important presence for this club both on and off the field.”

Tim Melia – Guest Editor

ELEVEN | NOVEMBER 2015 • 13

SPORTING KANSAS City is known around Major League Soccer as a trendsetter. One of the areas where the club is leading is in analytics. Assistant Technical Director Mike Jacobs goes inside the numbers in this month’s Inside Access.

ELEVEN: Why is Sporting Kansas City so much farther ahead of other clubs in MLS with analytics?

JACOBS: The reason that Sporting is so entrenched in analytics goes directly to our manager Peter Vermes. He is very forward-thinking and I think he’s always been ahead of the curve compared to the rest of the league, whether that’s preparing his team for games or looking at player acquisition. I think we were one of the first clubs to employ a performance analyst to look at tendencies of opposing players, and our coaching staff is very analytical when accessing data with our own players.

“The physical part of it is easier than the mental”

ELEVEN: Is analytics growing around the league with teams seeing the value that Sporting has been reaping?

JACOBS: Absolutely – you’ll find that when compared to other sports that lend themselves to studies and statistics, analytics in soccer, especially MLS is still developing and growing. When you have companies like Pro Zone and Match Analysis that have the ability to spit out physical data as the game happens like distance covered or information that can be used to measure your team or other teams, it’s so beneficial. I think, though, that which data to use when accessing prospects is still being determined. When you think about what Bill James did with baseball analytics, we are still in the formative stages. It’s not that there isn’t information out there because there is. The key now is to research and figure out which information is the best to use.

“Our coaching staff is very analytical”

ELEVEN: Is MLS behind the curve compared to other leagues around the world?

JACOBS: I think it’s universal in regard to constantly evolving. Most of the data that has been used so far has been used to access teams and players. I think it’s still in a state of flux where scouting players for transfer or other acquisition is concerned.

ELEVEN: How is the information that is gathered used?

JACOBS: Most of the information that we look at on a gameday or more commonly a game week is used to find tendencies of opposing players. When you look at the information provided by our performance analyst, the vast majority of what is gathered is distributed more to Peter (Vermes) and the coaching staff more than the players. I think sometimes coaches can use data and package it to players and not over complicate things. For Peter it’s all about simplifying the game and making sure that every player understands their particular role.

ELEVEN: But ultimately it’s still the instincts of Vermes and staff that effect substitutions and other game day decisions more than analytics.

JACOBS: I think that’s fair. Immediately after a game our coaches are looking at postgame data to look at our players’ performances in the match that just concluded and looking ahead to next week.

ELEVEN: Knowing that soccer analytics is an inexact science where scouting possible player acquisition is concerned. How do they fit into the club’s plan when assessing a player and their possible fit with Sporting?

JACOBS: We have profiles that we look for in players – tactical, technical, physical and psychological. The physical part of it is easier than the mental. It has to be the right person that fits even more than the right player. I don’t know

that there are analytics to measure that that are better than just interaction with our staff and with those who have worked with that player previously. There are also things that Peter looks at and values differently than other coaches. The psychological part is the hardest of these four to determine and the one that we discuss the most.

“For Peter it’s all about simplifying the game and making sure

that every player understands their particular role”

ELEVEN: Why do you think other clubs in MLS haven’t latched on to this?

JACOBS: It’s interesting. I think what ‘s remarkable is seeing how our club has been constructed and the attention to maximizing a budget in the salary cap. The ability to take players with lesser profiles and heighten those while they are here like Oriol Rosell, Kei Kamara and Roger Espinoza and not only did their profile rise but on two of those occasions they went to Europe on significant transfers. Each of Peter’s teams has been different. That comes from the league evolving and also the things that he looks for in a player has also developed throughout his career as a manager.

inside access Soccer Analytics with Mike Jacobs

14 • ELEVEN | NOVEMBER 2015

eleven magazine mls top 11

2015 mls awards

Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy)

Laurent Ciman (Montreal Impact)

Cristian Maidana (Philadelphia Union)

Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC)

Carl Robinson (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)

Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City)

Matt Hedges (FC Dallas)

Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy)

Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC)

Kendall Waston (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)

David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes)

Ethan Finlay (Columbus SC)

Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls)

Cyle Larin (Orlando City SC)

DEFENDER

DEFENDER

MIDFIELDER

FORWARD

MANAGER OF THE YEAR

MIDFIELDER

DEFENDER

FORWARD

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

DEFENDER

GOALKEEPER

MIDFIELDER

MIDFIELDER

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

the 2015

ELEVEN | NOVEMBER 2015 • 15

EL TORNEO CONTINENTAL CAMBIARA AL FUTBOL EN ESTADOS UNIDOS PARA SIEMPRE.

Celebrando los 100 años de la Copa América, la copa internacional más antigua del mundo, Concacaf y Conmebol confirmaron, el pasado viernes 23 de octubre que la Copa América Centenario se jugara en los Estados Unidos entre el 3 y el 26 de Junio de 2016.

Aunque novedosa la decisión de ambas confederaciones, no será la primera vez que un campeonato CONMEBOL se desarrolle en suelo estadounidense: en 2003 y 2004 se jugó la Recopa Sudamericana con relativo éxito.UN COLETAZO del FIFA-Gate que puso en riesgo la Copa Centenario fue resuelto en las últimas horas.

Cuando en Septiembre de 2014 FIFA aprobó la Copa Centenario y lo agrego a las fechas oficiales de la Organización, el escándalo por corrupción aún no había explotado. Conmebol, Concacaf y la organización madre –Fifa – aceptaron cederle los derechos de marketing y televisación a Datisa, la empresa uruguaya -con sede en Montevideo- de la que participaban en partes iguales Torneos y Competencias (cuyo CEO era Alejandro Burzaco, detenido y arrepentido informante del FBI y la Fiscal a cargo del FIFA-Gate), Traffic (José Hawilla, uno de los primeros arrepentidos que permitió avanzar en la investigación) y Full Play (de Hugo y Mariano Jinkis, prófugos y finalmente detenidos en Estados Unidos bajo la acusación de haberse apropiado de 150 millones de dólares en sobornos en las últimas dos décadas). Tanto Datisa como sus creadores son investigados por la justicia de Estados Unidos por supuestas millonarias acciones de corrupción; lavado y blanqueo de capitales mediante las que habrían logrado hacerse de los derechos comerciales de distintos torneos internacionales (entre ellos la Copa Centenario).

La CONMEBOL le había vendido a Datisa los derechos de cuatro ediciones de la Copa América (Chile 2015, Centenario 2016, 2019 y 2023), firmando un contrato el 25 de mayo de 2014 en Londres a cambio de casi 320 millones de dólares.

El pasado miércoles comenzaron las negociaciones para terminar con el contrato con la desprestigiada DATISA y el jueves por la tarde se llegó a un acuerdo beneficioso para las partes: Todos los derechos de patrocinio y transmisión relacionados a la Copa América Centenario fueron cedidos a la CONMEBOL con efecto desde el día viernes pasado. La CONMEBOL y Datisa acordaron además rescindir todos los derechos comerciales en posesión de Datisa para la venta de derechos de patrocinio y retransmisión asociados a la Copa América Centenario. La CONMEBOL asumió los referidos derechos comerciales y conjuntamente con la CONCACAF y en conjunto con el operador local del torneo

van a identificar nuevos socios para comercializar y vender los derechos comerciales del torneo utilizando un proceso nuevo y transparente.COMO Y donde se jugara la Copa América Centenario

La CONMEBOL, CONCACAF y US Soccer ya seleccionaron siete estadios de las 24 áreas invitadas a presentar su candidatura

sorprendió que no incluyeran Kansas City, probablemente debido al escándalo de la afición que interrumpió violentamente el juego amistoso de México-Paraguay poniendo en grave riesgo la seguridad del estadio.

Un factor importante en la determinación de las candidaturas ganadoras fue la capacidad de los estadios, siendo 50,000 el mínimo recomendado, debido al torneo de alto perfil.LAS SEDES de la Copa América Centenario serán:

Orlando, FloridaEl estadio será el Citrus Bowl con una

capacidad para 70229 espectadores.Miami, FloridaEl estadio será el Sun Life con una capacidad

para 76000 espectadores. Hogar de los Miami Dolphins y Miami Hurricanes.

Houston, TexasEl estadio será el Reliant Stadium con una

capacidad para 71054 espectadores, es el hogar de los Houston Texans, equipo de fútbol americano. Además es la sede de una de las competiciones de Rodeo más importante de América.

Washington DCEl estadio es el Robert F. Kennedy Memorial

Stadium, con capacidad para 56.692 espectadores. Es el hogar del DC United.

Pasadena, CaliforniaEn el área metropolitana de Los Ángeles

con una gran cantidad de presencia hispanoamericana se presenta el estadio Rose Bowl con capacidad para 91.136 espectadores, es el hogar de los UCLA Bruins.

En este estadio se jugaron partidos por la serie de grupos, octavos de final, semifinal y final del Mundial Estados Unidos 1994.

Stanford, CaliforniaEl Stanford Stadium con capacidad para

50.424 es el hogar de los Stanford Cardinal.East Rutherford, Nueva JerseyEl estadio será el MetLife Stadium, tiene una

capacidad para 80.242 espectadores y es el hogar de los New York Giants y New York Jets, ambos equipos de fútbol americano.

Ya se sabe que la final se jugará en el Rose Bowl de Pasadena, y una de las semifinales en MetLife Stadium en East Rutherford,

Nueva Jersey.SELECCIONES QUE participarán en la Copa América 2016

Argentina – ConmebolBolivia – ConmebolBrasil – ConmebolChile – ConmebolColombia – ConmebolCosta Rica – Campeón Copa Centroamericana

2014Ecuador - ConmebolEstados Unidos - OrganizadorJamaica – Campeón Copa Caribe 2014México – InvitadoParaguay – ConmebolPerú – ConmebolUruguay – ConmebolVenezuela – ConmebolTrinidad y Tobago – Copa Oro 2015Panamá – Copa Oro 2015

Las últimas selecciones en clasificarse fueron Panamá y Trinidad y Tobago que son quienes mejor posición obtuvieron en la Copa de Oro 2015 sin ser las selecciones ya clasificadas.

El futbol grande se viste de Gala en el Continente Americano y enaltece al deporte Rey que no para de crecer en Estados Unidos.

Disfruta el blog de Ale aqui. (alecabero.sportsblog.com)

la copa centenario 2016 es un hecho Palabras: Ale Cabrero

16 • ELEVEN | NOVEMBER 2015

ELEVEN | NOVEMBER 2015 • 17

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) with a temporary loss of brain function. While symptoms usually resolve within 3 weeks, athletes who have experienced a concussion are more susceptible to another brain injury: smaller impacts will result in the same symptom severity. Still, 88% of concussions are undiagnosed. Because of the potentially grave and long-term consequences of poorly managed concussions, recognition and respect for concussion in our young athletes is crucial.

Recognition of a concussion requires a suspicion for concussion after any collision, head, or neck injury because of a reliance on physical, cognitive and emotional symptoms. Most concussions do not involve loss of consciousness. Although not a comprehensive list, common symptoms of a concussion include:

• Headache• Dizziness• Nausea• Poor balance• Light sensitivity• Blurred/double vision• Ringing in the ears• Disorientation• Poor concentration• Confusion

• Incoherent speech• Inappropriate or exaggerated

emotions• Irritability • Lethargy

If any concussion symptom is present, the athlete should be removed from play, and not returned until evaluated by a medical doctor, even if symptoms quickly resolve. Brain imaging is rarely performed for concussion, as it generally shows no structural abnormality. This is because mild traumatic brain injuries represent a disruption of metabolic processes on the cellular level. Rather, the diagnosis and severity rely on a thorough history and physical exam by a medical doctor.

Assessment at an emergency department is only warranted if symptoms worsen. Some examples include: repeated vomiting, seizure activity, visual or speech disturbances, or increasing dizziness, drowsiness, or weakness.

Treatment is generally with rest of both the body and the brain. Sleep is essential for healing and should be promoted through a quiet bedtime routine. Cognitive rest is prescribed, including reduction of activities that require concentration and attention, such as school-work, screen-time, video games, and text

messaging. In general, activities that worsen symptoms should be avoided initially. Once all physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms have resolved, slow return to play may be allowed by a medical doctor, and continued as long as symptoms do not return. These steps include:

• complete physical and cognitive rest

• light aerobic activity (less than 70% of maximum heart rate)

• sport-specific activities such as running drills and skating drills

• non-contact training drills (exercise, coordination, and cognitive load)

• full-contact practice• full-contact games.

The potentially life-changing consequences of a poorly managed concussion or a repeat concussion before resolution of the first include amnesia, depression, insomnia, headaches, seizures, and death. While concussions will never be completely eliminated, their incidence may be reduced. Officials must maintain a clean game to

prevent injuries caused by rough and dirty play. Goal posts should be padded, young athletes should be taught proper heading technique, and kids under the age of 10 years old should not head the ball at all. Studies evaluating the ability of protective head-gear (i.e. helmets, head-bands) to prevent concussion are inconclusive.

In summary, coaches often play the most vital role of recognizing the symptoms of a concussion. While the risks posed by repeated concussions are real, an understanding of prevention and recognition, and evaluation and clearance by a medical doctor will ensure a safe game of soccer.

Further information for coaches, parents, and athletes may be found at the Center for Disease Control: h t tp : / /www.cdc.gov/headsup/youthsports/

Michael Khadavi, MD

Scott Luallin, MD

concussions

Michael Khadavi, MD Carondelet Orthopaedic Surgeons is a practice of board-certified doctors specializing in sports medicine, total joint replacement, arthroscopic procedures, care of fractures, and pain management. We offer 24 hour scheduling and on call physician service. We are committed to providing excellent acute and chronic orthopaedic care for all ages.

Team Doctors for Sporting KC 10777 Nall Avenue, Suite 300. Overland Park, KS 66211. 913-642-0200. www.c-ortho.com

18 • ELEVEN | NOVEMBER 2015

ELEVEN | NOVEMBER 2015 • 19

20 • ELEVEN | NOVEMBER 2015