Tucson News NowTucson prepares for major league soccer

Tucson prepares for major league soccer

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By Carissa Planalp - email
TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) -

Tucson is preparing for Major League Soccer which kicks off Wednesday at Kino Sports Complex.  The transformation from a baseball field to a regulation soccer field is nearly complete.

"In order to bring out these great major league soccer teams we had to convert Kino into a full- fledged 110 by 75 FIFA-approved soccer pitch," says Chris Keeney of FC Tucson.

He says workers have been getting the green ready for soccer since November, and Monday crews laid the lines on the turf.

"They put one last dose of iron on it so it will grow in a little bit thicker, a little bit taller, cut it short today and now it's almost ready for play."

Major players could mean a stadium full of fans.  Players include Tucson's own Nat Borchers of Real Salt Lake.  The team was training just across the street from Kino on Monday afternoon.

"He's consistently one of the best center backs in major league soccer over the past five years," says the Real Salt Lake's color analyst Brian Dunseth.  "Overall one of the most underrated players in major league soccer despite the accolades he's been given over the years."

He says players are preparing for their Wednesday game with warm-ups, possession drills, and a practice game.

"It's the first training session for the Real Salt Lake to really get their legs underneath them, to get the travel legs out from underneath them."

Some players will hit the field after a stint of off season injuries and surgeries, but the team plans to play big in the Old Pueblo.  Real Salt Lake goes up against the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday.

Copyright 2012 Tucson News Now.  All rights reserved.

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