Andres Arango goes high to win a dance in the 2009 Thunder season. Central defender partner Jon Greenfield looks on. Photo By Jeremy Olson - www.digitalgopher.net
Andres Arango a veteran central defender who has spent the last two seasons playing pro soccer in Minnesota and living here in the off-season spoke to IMS by phone this week and said the events of the past off-season was concerning for many of the former Thunder players. “It’s been a pretty crazy time not knowing where our future stands and not knowing what was going to occur with the union and the team love well. Its just good to see resolution for the sake off all the players.” Arango said that during the ongoing league war between the USL and NASL and with the added financial problems of the Thunder it was tough getting information from anyone. “During the ordeal all of us players were in the same situation. We just weren’t sure of what was going to happen. We’d get together and talk except we’d all have the same information that we had gotten from Inside Minnesota Soccer. That was the only place where we could seem to get any sort of news.” He stated that he’s glad that’s situation is now behind them and everyone is ready to move forward.
Arango says that many of the former Thunder players who have stayed in the community “get together 3 to 4 times a week and just kick the ball around.” “We play games at least twice a week and some of us go there to training shooting and just try to keep our fitness up” says Arango. “It’s just good to have someplace to go and play. We don’t normally have that access anywhere else. We’re lucky we get to use that place at all.”
“That place” that Arango is talking about is the National Sports Center indoor facility. The NSC have been allowing the former Thunder players to train there for free this winter. In fact the NSC was allowing the players free access before they even decided to supply a team for Minnesota Soccer fans for the 2010 season. “Yea” exclaimed an appreciative Arango. “I haven’t had to pay a cent. Joe Warren (former Thunder goalkeeper who works for the NSC) frequently sets us up the times with the NSC.”
Jeremiah Bass Kevin Friedland Brian Kallman Dan O’Brien Nic Platter and Mat Vanoekel use the facility regularly according to Arango. He said recently Andrei Gotsmanov has also been joining the crew as he is starting to get healthy behind recovering from double hernia surgery after last season. “Andrei’s been working hard and he looks good” said Arango.
Arango says that they also have a few other former Thunder players that drop in occasionally. Ansu Toure who played for the Vancouver Whitecaps last season also shows up quite regularly. Toure makes his home in the Twin Cities. Arango says the Liberian midfielder likes to stay fit and joins their crew quite often. “We also had a little visit from Johnny (Menyongar)” said Arango. Menyonger another Twin Cities resident was ripping up the league (USL-1) for the Rochester Rhinos last year when he blew his ACL out late in the season. Arango says Menyongar is recovering well and is just starting to run. “He’s looking to get back into it as soon as he can” explained Arango.
According to the 26-year-old Colombian born Arango who spent most of his teen years growing up in Toronto Canada he’s already had offers to play elsewhere but he would prefer to stay here in Minnesota. He stated that a number of players truly call Minnesota home now even though they may originally be from other parts of the country and the world. “I’ve grown to love Minnesota” said Arango. “I consider it my home. I met my girlfriend here and I really like it here. Even in past meetings with the old team I told them I wanted to make Minnesota my home. Hopefully with this new team the situation will be right were I will be capable to support myself and my family as well. I’m not trying to purchase a lot of condos or fantasy cars or anything like that” said a laughing Arango. “I just want to play soccer and survive. If they can help me do that I would love it.”
Arango said he thinks the new team need’s to construct round a good core of players and then try to fill in the other positions. Most of the core of players who have been training together in the off-season are interested in playing in Minnesota. Jon Greenfield who is playing indoor for the Baltimore Blast has also expressed an favour in coming back to Minnesota to play.
Arango explained why its important to have a pro soccer team in a community. He said often pro players settle in an area where they once played. That same player will then pass on the scholarship they have acquired as a pro to the youth players of that same community. “Its good for the teams to job with the community” said Arango. “It also allows us to sort of conduct these players through the system that we’ve already experienced. When we say we are a Thunder player their eyes light up and they are like wow he wants to tutor me and my team? Some of us weren’t so lucky to have been coached by professional players. Giving that opportunities to kids is very important and it will help the sport to grow.”
Arango is now heading up a new soccer program with the St. Paul Saints. The Saints Sports Academy recently opened and is a 32000-square-foot instructional facility in Lakeville MN providing youth athletic training and development in multiple sports including baseball softball and soccer.
“The Saints gave me the opportunity to start from scratch a new program” says Arango. “I’m the head of the soccer program and the head trainer. Everyone sees the Saints name and thinks its baseball but we have a lot of programs. I’m trying to start a program where we train both individually and as groups. We are doing a lot of skills work but will also work with on some tactical areas.”
Arango said the program is focusing on the South Metro area for now: Burnsville Lakeville Salvage and Prior Lake. For more information call 952-985-5949 or e-mail info@saintssportsacademy.com or visit saintssportsacademy.com.
