ARMENIANS SET TO TAKE ON FUEGONATIONAL SIDE’S COACH GETS A CHANCE TO SIZE UP HIS YOUNGSTERS
By Ken Robison / The Fresno Bee
Fresno Bee, CA
Jan 17 2007
Ian Porterfield is a Scotsman by birth, but in his soccer coaching
career he’s also been Zambian, Omani, Korean, Saudi, Zimbabwean,
and Trinidadian and Tobagonian.
Today, Porterfield is Armenian, leading that country’s national team
as it continues its campaign for a berth in the 2008 European Cup
with an exhibition tonight against the Fresno Fuego.
In all his travels, dealing with different languages and cultures as
a coach in the English league and of national teams, Porterfield has
learned one truth:
"Football is universal," he said. "There are a lot of different ways
to motivate to get the best out of people."
Although he doesn’t have his full team this week in California –
several key players are either injured or home playing for their
clubs – Porterfield said Armenia is just a couple of mental lapses
from being a contender.
Armenia’s roster for tonight is filled with young players hoping to
show Porterfield they belong. The team’s veteran is Sargis Hovsepyan,
with more than 80 international matches under his belt.
Armen Shahgeldyan leads the current roster with seven goals in 54
career matches. He sat out Tuesday’s practice with a groin injury
and might not play tonight.
Shahgeldyan is a believer in Porterfield.
"The best coach," he said in halting English. "Very professional,
very organized, very good man."
Armenia had three losses and a draw in European Cup qualifying in the
fall. Porterfield said his team suffered from mental lapses while
playing "magnificent" soccer in 1-0 losses to Finland and Belgium
and dominating most of Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Panama before an
estimated 8,000 fans at East Los Angeles College.
"The boys have been tremendous, with great attitudes," Porterfield
said. "They played magnificent football against Finland and Belgium.
And for 70% of [Sunday’s game], Panama was not in the game.
"The performances have been excellent, but the results were draws
or defeats. For a 5- or 10-minute period [against Panama] we lacked
concentration and discipline."
The veteran coach hopes his players can improve their focus against
the Fuego at 7:30 tonight at Chukchansi Park.
The downtown stadium has been rendered soccer-friendly, with sod
covering the dirt baseball infield. It will stay that way for the
Fuego’s exhibitions against MLS clubs Chivas USA on Feb. 24 and Real
Salt Lake on March 24.
But when the Fuego opens its season in April and begins sharing the
ballpark with its original tenant, the Fresno Grizzlies, the dirt will
prevail and soccer will be played diagonally from right field to left.
Tonight’s match is being promoted by Alfa ET, a San Mateo-based
soccer management company hired by the Armenian team to produce its
two matches in California.
Ali Kusan, the game’s promoter, said Fresno was recommended as a game
site because of the San Joaquin Valley’s large Armenian population.
Fuego management, which also owns the Grizzlies and manages Chukchansi
Park, is renting the stadium to Alfa ET and providing the opponent.
The Fuego, an amateur team that plays in the Premier Development
League, has yet to open preseason camp. Open tryouts will be Jan. 23
at Granite Park.
Tonight’s Fuego roster will be peppered with former and current
professionals such as Orlando Ramirez, Milton Blanco and Noah Delgado,
and more over-23 players than coach Jaime Ramirez will be allowed to
keep during the regular season.
More informationArmenia
COUNTRY’S HISTORY
Kingdom of Armenia formed: 600 BC
Democratic Republic of Armenia established: 1918
Independence from USSR: December 1991
Capital: Yerevan
Population: 3.3 million (1995 estimate)
TODAY’S EXHIBITION
FRESNO FUEGO VS. ARMENIAN NATIONAL TEAM
Today: 7:30 p.m., Chukchansi Park
Admission: Tickets, $20 and $30, on sale at the Chukchansi box office