All posts by Chris Gaffney
Chris Gaffney ·
2 Aug 2009, 11:08 PM ·
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WAKEMED SOCCER PARK/CARY—One can always gauge the attendance figures by looking at the “kids tunnel” that forms to welcome the referees and players onto the field. 
Last night there were 40 kids and an official attendance of 2,138. On the bright side there were two pantomime cows, Swoops, and several dozen dogs, as it was “Bark in the Park Night,” a howler of an idea. I am looking forward to explaining this to my students in Brazil. The hilarious bit was that the cows put their hands over their hearts for the national anthem, though I’m not sure they got the anatomy right.
The Austin Aztex are in their first year of USL-1 competition and are having a rough go of it. This young team has lost a number of close games, given up leads late in games, been docked points for ineligible players and been hit by a spate of injuries that have kept them floating at the bottom of the table. The RailHawks, coming off a 4-0 thrashing of Miami and a week of rest, took full advantage of the Texan debutantes. Continue reading »
Carolina RailHawks, Soccer Andriy Budnyy, Austin Aztex, Gregory Richardson, Joseph Kabwe, Luke Kreamalmeyer, Mark Schulte, Sallieu Bundu
Chris Gaffney ·
26 Jul 2009, 9:26 PM ·
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One, two, three for Gregory Richardson, the hottest thing happening on a scorching afternoon. (Photo by Rich Bostwick)
WAKEMED SOCCER PARK—It was bloody hot, 2 p.m. on a Sunday. It took effort to get to the stadium. Surely, there were cooler things to do. When I sat, the backs of my legs burned until they absorbed the heat of the plastic. It hurt but I consoled myself with the realization that I was watching, not playing. Expectations were low. Miami FC and the RailHawks had both played on Friday night. It was hot. Hot like Mexico 1986, like USA 1994. Who chose this time of day in this month in the dang South? The game would be slow. I hoped the sweat running down my back would make it into the seat so I could sit in a puddle. Tweet!
Ten minutes of running industry produced a few good chances for the RailHawks before physiology trumped psychology. Everyone squinted at the emerald field for the next half an hour, wondering how much one would have to earn to run around a stadium wearing an oversized bird head. Swoops is probably receiving an intravenous drip in his cage. In the 39th minute, just as I felt the sweat reach my buttocks, Joseph Kabwe sliced through midfield, laid off to Gregory Richardson charging into the box on his left and the lad from Guyana slotted home from 12 yards. Luke Kreamalmeyer turned good fortune into a great goal with a sweet left-footed, lobbed volley four minutes later. The referee mercifully did not add any time. Tweet! We ran for the shade, 2-0 to the good.
In football, as in NASCAR, there is no substitute for skill and pace. Richardson has bags of both and he’s brought them with him to Cary. Twenty minutes into the second half, as the back of my neck changed hue, Daniel Paladini orchestrated Richardson’s second. His 30-yard run finished with a crashing left-footed drive that left the ‘keeper swatting at flies. Four minutes later, coach Martin Rennie gave Richardson the ball for a penalty (taking it from a clearly miffed Paladini), and Richardson notched his first hat trick in a RailHawks kit. 4-0. Tweet! The kid is hot.
Carolina had a shocking outing in Charleston on Friday night and missed a great chance to pick up some valuable points on the three points leaders. With this victory, however, they become the first team in USL-1 to reach 10 victories this season and have surpassed their victory total from last year. When the Austin Aztex come to visit next weekend, the Hawks will be without Amir Lowery and Paladini, but have the depth on the bench to cover for them. Richardson is the real deal and is supported by a solid defense and creative midfielders who can get him the ball in dangerous positions. 4-0 was a fair score today. Rennie’s side look deep, strong and organized. Kudos for a blistering show on a scorching day.
Stat box here.
Carolina RailHawks, Soccer, Uncategorized Daniel Paladini, Gregory Richardson, Joseph Kabwe, Luke Kreamalmeyer, Martin Rennie, Miami FC
Chris Gaffney ·
18 Jul 2009, 12:01 AM ·
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Gregory Richardson made an impressive debut with the RailHawks, scoring in the 44th minute. (photo by Rich Bostwick)
WAKEMED SOCCER PARK/CARY—The RailHawks deserved to win this game—which they did, 2-1—and the three points put them back in the thick of things at the top of the USL-1 table. Vancouver are never an easy side to subdue, but on this night the defending champions looked relatively pedestrian. The central midfield trio of Daniel Paladini, Brian Plotkin and Amir Lowery effectively stifled Vancouver’s attack throughout the match. When Paladini was able to find newly signed Gregory Richardson on the left wing positive things happened.
The much-improved RailHawks side showed moments of class during the match, though Plotkin and John Cunliffe were as likely to give the ball away as not. Paladini continues to show why he is Rennie’s first-choice attacking midfielder as he was able to go at defenders with pace and make intelligent passes. Richardson was electric on the ball and was always at the center of the RailHawks attack, so much so that one wonders who they played through before he arrived on the scene. He’s got pace, a light first touch, and his goal (though a bit fortunate as was off a defender and megged the keeper) showed a nose for goal. The 1,000 percent humidity must have reminded him of home in Guyana.
Tonight’s victory was exactly what good teams achieve. Carolina is now one of the top teams in the league. They play good, fundamental soccer even though they are prone to losing their way for stretches, and get the important points at home against solid opposition. If the goals start falling with a bit more frequency there’s evidence to suggest this team could win the league.
Attendance was 4,008. Box score is here.
Carolina RailHawks, Soccer Amir Lowery, Brian Plotkin, Carolina RailHawks, Daniel Paladini, Gregory Richardson, John Cunliffe, Martin Rennie, Soccer, USL-1, Vancouver Whitecaps
Chris Gaffney ·
10 May 2009, 12:48 AM ·
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Amir Lowery, in the air sometime during the game's first 18 minutes, before he was shown a red card for a bad mid-air challenge. (Photo courtesy of the RailHawks)
WAKEMED SOCCER PARK/ CARY—On a night when thunder and lightning knocked out an hour of power and heavy rain unequivocally defined the term fair weather fan for several dozen families who sheepishly made their mini-vanning way home, the Charleston Battery and Carolina RailHawks huffed and banged their way through 90 minutes of football.
Carolina entered the game on top of the USL-1 table and had never lost to their Southern Derby rivals, posting a 7-0 record over the past two seasons. Keeper Caleb Patterson Sewell had not conceded a goal in his RailHawks tenure and Martin Rennie was able to field his strongest side with the exception of Josh Gardner who had picked up the flu in Portland. 4,500+ fans braved the game-time tempest and were rewarded with cool weather and eerie, ominous skies. It looked like a promising night for the home side.
Continue reading »
Carolina RailHawks, Soccer Amir Lowery, Brian Plotkin, Caleb Patterson Sewell, Charleston Battery, Dan Antoniuk, Frankie Sanfilippo, Gavin Glinton, Matt Watson, Sallieu Bundu, Tsuyoshi Yoshitake
Chris Gaffney ·
26 Apr 2009, 6:47 PM ·
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Brian Plotkin poached a goal in the 58th minute. (photo courtesy of Carolina RailHawks)
WAKEMED SOCCER PARK/ CARY—On a Sunday afternoon best made for poolside lounging, the Minnesota Thunder and Carolina RailHawks shuttled the ball back and forth for 90 minutes. The majority of the RailHawks faithful took their cues from the weather report and stayed away in droves. Had they been at the stadium, the 90-degree temperature combined with the somnambulant pace of the game could have produced the world’s largest collective nap.
For the 3,500 regular fans who missed the game, there were 22 players running about, clattering into each other, trying to accomplish the seemingly impossible task of scoring a goal. It finally happened in the 58th minute, following some haphazard, lackluster, heavy-legged, bamboozling, half-baked shenanigans from Minnesota.
Continue reading »
Carolina RailHawks, Soccer Brian Plotkin, Martin Rennie, Minnesota Thunder
Chris Gaffney ·
20 Apr 2009, 8:32 PM ·
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Marcelo Romero (left) challenges the great Zinedine Zidane in a Spanish league game. (photo courtesy of Carolina RailHawks)
The “great adventure” of Marcelo Romero in the United States appears to have come to an end before it began. The former Uruguayan international does not appear in any of the RailHawks’ game day literature, has not played a minute of first team football, and is not training with the team, raising suspicion that Romero will be released in the coming weeks.
The RailHawks announced Romero as a major signing on Feb. 5, with promises that the former Malaga (Spanish First Division) standout would make his debut against the New England Revolution March 14. As Romero began training with the team, it became clear to coaches, players and casual observers that his knee injuries were more serious than the RailHawks had been led to believe. Romero was timid in challenging for the ball and displayed obvious discomfort running around the field. He never figured in any lineup for Martin Rennie, coming on as a substitute only once, in a friendly.
Romero had attempted to return to his former world-class form after suffering major knee damage in 2005, the same year Malaga was relegated to the second division. Romero took up with Lucena, of the Spanish third division, where he played 14 games in 2008. The extent of his knee damage was never publicly detailed. After leaving Lucena, Romero hooked up with Score One Soccer who negotiated his contract with the RailHawks and brought him to the United States.
On Score One’s home page, the following statement can be found: “Thanks to Score One Soccer, a local agency serving the needs of individual soccer players, clubs and top level Professional Soccer Teams all over the world, Marcelo Romero was recently acquired by the RailHawks and is sure to be a staple on the 2009 Carolina RailHawks roster.”
Though the president of Score One, Daniel Araujo, had little to say about the present situation, he was adamant that Romero’s “ongoing negotiations” had nothing to do with his physical condition. Araujo also stated that Score One was not directly involved in the negotiations but was serving in the capacity of a translator. All of this raises the question: Why there are negotiations in the first place?
The RailHawks had no comment on whether Romero’s contract will be terminated.
Carolina RailHawks, Soccer Daniel Araujo, Malaga, Marcelo Romero
Chris Gaffney ·
19 Apr 2009, 12:26 AM ·
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In a rough game that saw six yellow cards and three reds, John Gilkerson (right) goes to the air. (Photo courtesy of Carolina RailHawks)
WAKEMED SOCCER PARK/ CARY—In the murky wilds of Cary, North Carolina, the Carolina RailHawks claimed the collective hide of the Rochester Rhinos with a 53rd-minute goal by Sallieu Bundu. The goal poacher from Sierra Leone gave the home fans a much-deserved reward for their consistent, if tepid exhortations. This 1-0 victory was the first time in six attempts that the ‘Hawks had been able to sink its talons into Rochester and now have maximum points from their first two league matches.
The goals should have been faster in coming and if not for the inspired play of longtime Rhinos netminder Scott Vallow, the second half would have been devoid of tension. Carolina dominated possession for much of the opening stanza and though the game had become choppy and increasingly violent by the end of the first half hour, it was clear that the crash of hyperborean Rhinoceros was lost in the Appalachian piedmont ecotome.
While dominating in possession, Carolina struggled to find clinical form inside the 18- and 6-yard boxes, squandering a beakful of chances.
Continue reading »
Carolina RailHawks, Soccer Brian Plotkin, Daniel Paladini, John Ball, John Gilkerson, Josh Gardner, Luke Kreamalmeyer, Rochester Rhinos, Sallieu Bundu, Scott Vallow
Chris Gaffney ·
11 Feb 2009, 2:12 PM ·
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WAKEMED SOCCER PARK/CARY—Today’s two hour training session began with some light jogging and stretching followed by a short passing game. For aspiring coaches out there, the game involved two players, three cones and a ball. After passing between two cones, the receiving player was required to take a touch moving the ball around a cone before sending his second touch back between two cones. After warming up with this for 10 minutes, the lads jogged lightly and stretched. Then they repeated the exercise in a competitive fashion, gaining points when their partner couldn’t complete the move in two touches. The total time for the exercise was about 30 minutes. The three ‘keepers, Levey, McClellan and Reed trained on their own, first by taking close range shots both high and low, and then by pulling crosses out of the air.
The second part of training was a game of 6 v 3 possession in a 15 x 10 yard area with the six players standing around the edge of the area. Touches were unlimited though it is mightily difficult to take more than two in such a confined space. There were three separate games watched by Rennie, and Triangle Fútbol Club coaches Henry Gutierrez and Dewan Bader.
The third segment of today’s training was full field 11 v 11. This provided a good opportunity to see some of the new signings in action as well as to assess who has come into camp fit and ready to compete for a position. As David mentioned in his earlier post, some of the notable absences were Nuñez, Antoniuk and Watson. We know that Watson is due in camp after the indoor season finishes. Nuñez appears to have jumped ship to Puerto Rico. Antoniuk we are just not sure about yet.
Watching the 11 v. 11 the T.O. crew were scrambling to put names with faces. We saw familiar faces in Low, Solle, Norkus, McClellan, Fusilier, Diallo, Stokes, and possibly Curfman. We began to familiarize ourselves with new signings Josh Gardner, Daniel Paladini, Marcelo Romero, Luke Kreamelmeyer, Brian Plotkin, John Gilkerson, and Reed. It looked like Gardner would be the first choice on the left wing, with Romero providing solid cover for Watson in midfield.
Also on display were trialists Michael Callahan, Amir Lowery and El Hadj Cisse from U.N.C., Wake Forest, and N.C. State respectively. Lowery had a number of good moments in the center of midfield, maintaining possession in tight situations and distributing away from traffic. Cisse looked a little less comfortable at right back but has the physical attributes to play in the rough and tumble USL-1. It will be interesting to see if Coach Rennie brings these prospects along with pointed direction or if he remains mum, as he was for the entirety of the session.
At the end of training, nearly everyone walked off immediately to the showers. While I am by no means questioning the dedication or integrity of the players, it was a bit disheartening to see that no one stayed after training to practice free kicks or penalties (especially since a penalty was blocked and a free kick sent 20 yards over the goal during the scrimmage).
Training is open to the public everyday from 10 a.m. to noon and it’s a great way to get familiar with players, coaches and the ways and means of professional soccer in the USA.
Carolina RailHawks, N.C. State, Soccer, UNC-Chapel Hill Amir Lowery, Daniel Paladini, El Hadj Cisse, Josh Gardner, Luke Kreamalmeyer, Marcelo Romero, Martin Rennie, Michael Callahan, USL-1
Chris Gaffney ·
13 Nov 2008, 4:23 PM ·
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Martin Rennie, with publicist Marco Rosa (left) and owner Brian Wellman
The Carolina RailHawks announced Scotsman Martin Rennie as the team’s new head coach. Rennie comes to the Railhawks from the Cleveland City Stars of the USL’s Second Division. At Cleveland, Rennie compiled an impressive record, taking the Stars to the USL-2 semi-finals in his first year and winning the league in his second year. This is clearly a coach who knows how to develop and implement functional tactical systems. Rennie is also noted for his ability to maximize player potential. A high percentage of his acolytes went directly into the MLS or foreign professional leagues following their stint in Cleveland.
Rennie comes to Cary with Europe’s highest coaching qualification: the UEFA “A” license. This is an unusual accomplishment for someone who has yet to begin plucking grey hairs before press conferences. Rennie also carries the UEFA youth license, which will be a huge asset in identifying and developing local talent to bring through the RailHawks’ fledgling development system. He has significant connections with professional teams in Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean and suggested that he will immediately look to add to the international character of the RailHawks’ squad.
During today’s well-attended press conference, RailHawks owner and president Brian Wellman identified the synergy between the RailHawks organization and Rennie saying “we are here to deepen our roots in the community, promote a family-friendly soccer environment, and put a championship team on the field. Martin will bring us consistency, a winning attitude, and a proven track record of success.” Wellman was also very clear that the RailHawks are not content to just compete in USL-1 but will continue to bring in top Mexican and MLS teams, and will target the new CONCACAF Champions League which would bring meaningful (and lucrative) international competition to WakeMed Soccer park. Continue reading »
Carolina RailHawks, Soccer Brian Wellman, Martin Nuñez, Martin Rennie, Matt Watson, Santiago Fusilier
Chris Gaffney ·
20 Sep 2008, 11:53 PM ·
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A light but compact crowd gathered at Bull McCabe’s in Durham on Friday night to watch the USL-1 Carolina RailHawks take on the Charleston Battery. It came as a surprise to some at the bar that such significant emotion could be generated for somthing that they did not heretofore know existed.
Yet, there it was, a handful of grown men screaming with arms raised when Matt Watson pulled the midfield lever that sent Hamed Diallo racing through to goal in the 8th minute. Continue reading »
Carolina RailHawks, Uncategorized Bull McCabe's, Charleston Battery, David Stokes, Eddie Gutierrez, Hamed Diallo, Kupono Low, Leonard Griffin, Martin Nuñez, Matt Watson, Mauricio Segovia, Portland Timbers, Santiago Fusilier, Southern Derby, Steve Curfman
