Chicago Fire Heads Home; Hopes to Return Next Year

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Published on Saturday, 26 February 2011 17:15

 
Most coaches and players for the Major League Soccer Chicago Fire had never heard of Ave Maria before they started training in town two weeks ago. Now that they've been here, though, they hope to be back every spring.

"I love the place," said head coach Carlos de los Cobos. "I phoned my wife in Mexico and told her every day how beautiful it is. I hope one day I'll be able to come back with my family and live here." Right, Coach de los Cobos (in blue) giving instructions to some of his players training at North Park.

Team Captain Logan Pause (below left, in orange), in his ninth season with the club, said he thought Ave Maria was the perfect place to train.

"The facilities and the field were great, and it gave us a chance to really grow as a team," he said.

"It sure was nice to get out of Chicago at this time of year," said Jeff Crandall, who does publicity for the team. The location gave the team the opportunity to be secluded when they wanted to be, but the town center of Ave Maria meant they weren't "isolated," he said. "And we got a great reception from the community," he added.

The Fire players were in town frequently, mingling with residents and students.

The Chicago Fire has ties to the Naples area, operating a development program locally -- the Chicago Fire Juniors and the local players had a chance to learn from the major league club while it was here.

Blake Gable of Barron Collier, who was instrumental in bringing the Chicago Fire to train in Ave Maria, said he, too, hoped the team would be back.

"I'm going to talk to them in the next few weeks about their experience in Ave Maria, and what might lie ahead," Mr. Gable said. "We'd certainly like to have them back."

The Fire headed off Saturday for an exhibition game in Bradenton against the Seattle Sounders, then will play in a pre-season tournament in Charleston, SC, March 5-12 before opening their season March 19 against FC Dallas.