Matt Gaschk reports from the first day of training camp in Ventura, Calif.
VENTURA, CALIF. - The Sounders FC opened the second leg of training camp Monday in Ventura, Calif. Head Coach Sigi Schmid held a light evening training session at Ventura College with several new faces in camp. Among those new to Sounders FC camp were MLS veteran Quavas Kirk and Sounders Super Search winner Vini Oliveira.
"He was on pins and needles, I'm sure. I just didn't want to say a lot or do a lot," Schmid said of Oliveira's first day in pro camp. "Day One is easy, it's Day Three that we need to worry about."
Training will pick up with two-a-days for the rest of the week.
"Today was just mainly to get a sweat and to train moreso than anything else," Schmid said.
The club will continue to train in Ventura for the next two weeks, with four exhibition games scheduled for next week. First they will face the LA Galaxy Feb. 9 at the Home Depot Center training facility in Carson, Calif. The next two games are against Chinese club Shangdong Luneng Feb. 10 and the Ventura County Fusion Feb. 11 before the conclusion of the Sunshine State training in an exhibition against the San Jose Earthquakes Feb. 13.
