Rochester in the Offseason

By: alessio | April 16th, 2009

The offseason is a long one, for the USL-1, and for Rochester fans, even moreso given the routine 6 month winters. A USL-1 squad changes quite a bit in the offseason, switching teams or angling for a move to the MLS. As of April 16th, this is our squad and these are the offseason moves.

12 players that were part of the 2008 squad have been confirmed as returning. This includes fan favorites Johnny Menyongar, Scotty Vallow, Ze Roberto, and veteran John Ball. The team has added some solid new signings as well; Two young English players, defensive midfielder Chris Nurse, and striker Taiwo Atieno, who gained recent exposure for his efforts for Puerto Rico in their impressive CONCACAF Champion’s League run. The Rhinos have also signed experienced Championship (like the USL-1 of England) defender Darren Kenton to a one year deal.

Undoubtedly the biggest loss of the offseason is the departure of Scott Palguta, our best defender over the last 3 years to the MLS Colombus Rapids, following fellow Rhinos Steve Guppy. This is fantastic news for him, as this blogger always thought he could cut it in the MLS, but of course bad news for the team. He’s been a stalwart over the last few seasons, there’s a reason he played the most minutes in 2008. Here’s to a great start in the MLS, Scott!

A few other tidbits of the offseason, PAETEC, like most companies, has been hit hard by the global recession/depression, and chose not to renew their naming rights for Paetec Park. As of now, it is named Rochester Rhinos Stadium as the team tries to find a sponsor for the naming rights.

In management, the team has announced the roster will be at 20 players, the lowest in history. The team also trimmed staff to lower costs, Rob Clark explained he spent over a million dollars of his own personal money last season and the team needs to be more balanced financially. Go-ahead for the new luxury suites has been given, expected to be finished by 2010. Salvatore Fantauzzo, my fellow paesan that others might recognize better as Soccer Sam, long-time Rhinos fan, or as the founder of Salvatore’s Pizzeria, is now the President of Business Operations of the Rhinos. Good. He’s a passionate guy, and I think a good check, to counter-balance some of the stranger things that Rob Clark has done.

The Rhinos season will kick off this Saturday in Carolina, against our good friends the Carolina Railhawks. Now wearing Carolina jerseys are former Rhinos Hamed Diallo and Luke Kreamalmeyer. Forza Rochester!