Despite a last-place finish in the standings (6-18) and at the gate (most games drew less than 1,000 fans), the A-League’s New York Centaurs plan on returning for a second year.
At the Centaurs’ end-of-season dinner at owner Roger Gorevic’s Upper West Side apartment Sept. 14, most of the team’s players and staff were wondering if they’d be around next season.
“I don’t know for sure,” said captain Dan Calichman. “I hope he’ll tell me some details next week.”
Gorevic has insisted the team will play in New York City next season, if not necessarily at the same location.
“I would like to have at least six international doubleheaders –with one an A-League game here in this stadium,” he said of Downing Stadium on Randall’s Island.
“I’m encouraged by the last two we had,” he added, referring to the recent exhibition tournaments with club teams from Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras and Ecuador.
Downing Stadium’s playing surface still needs extensive work that Gorevic is optimistic it can be completed. The Centaurs would play their other games in neighboring boroughs. Gorevic is looking at facilities in the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island.
“Downing will be the home stadium and the other will be the neighborhood stadium,” A-League commissioner Richard Groff explained. Groff favors Staten Island because of its youth soccer programs and local newspaper.
by Soccer America correspondent Jerry Hawkins