For the past several years Minnesota United has held an Open Combine. The combine fulfills two purposes simultaneously—it works to find players for the United Reserve Team roster and offers a unique opportunity for the United first team coaching staff to unearth local talent and evaluate potential local soccer stars.
“I mentioned this to the lads on the first day, the objective is to fill the roster for the reserve team and also to hopefully unearth a diamond,” said Minnesota United Head Coach Carl Craig. “To this point we haven't found a diamond, but there are certainly some players that could fit into the Reserve Team.”
This year’s Open Combine reported record numbers, with more than 100 participants playing full-sided matches during the two-day combine. Participation in the United Open Combine nearly doubled from the previous year, with a diverse group of players working for a chance at joining the club for the 2016 season.
Combine participants split into six teams and scrimmaged each other twice, offering United coaching staff a chance to see the players perform in actual gameplay scenarios. The Club is looking to fill a Reserve Team squad that has moved from the NPSL to PLA for the upcoming season, and will have a competitive and busy schedule this summer. Several players will also get a shot at joining the first team for training for a trial period.
“We've invited one fellow to come train with us over the next few days, a goalkeeper who has shown a bit of promise and all in all I think it's been a great event, so we've achieved our objective," said Craig.
Goalkeeper Kushtrim Ramosaj recently moved to the area from Kosovo, where he played professionally for K.F. Besa and K.F. Istogu. He was looking for the chance to tryout for a club like Minnesota United and to continue his career in the United States. The Open Combine provides an opportunity for players like Ramosaj—who don’t regularly play in front of professional coaches and trainers—to be noticed. His performance earned him an invitation to train with the club as a trialist.
"I was just looking to earn a place and prove myself to the coaches and the team that I deserve a place,” said Ramosaj. "The level here is even higher than what I played in Kosovo, the players are very intense."
A handful of other trialists will join Ramosaj this week to play for a spot with the first team, and to secure their place with the Reserve side—some noticed by club scouts outside of Minnesota, and others brought in due to their performance at the January Open Combine.
In the past, most of the United Reserve side has been made up of local combine participants, with short-term loan deals delivering first team players to the side for extra playing time and training. With more than 100 participants at the 2016 combine this year’s squad will be the most competitive yet. Still, just a handful of players from the combine will make the Reserves Team with even fewer given a chance at first team training.
“With respect to all the guys—a majority of the guys, they aren't going to play at this level, but the fact that they're willing to give it a shot just shows that that's the passion for the game in the community, and also where we are as a football club,” said Craig. “The football has been enjoyable some moments of brilliance at times, so I think it's been a great experience."
The United Reserves kick off the 2016 season on May 29th against the Croatian Eagles at home. The Reserves play an eight-match season in the PLA from May though July with an all-day tournament at the end of the month to determine a League champion.
