As Westchester Soccer Club readies to kick off their second season Saturday night at The Stadium At Memorial Field against defending USL League One Champion One Knoxville SC, we asked new Head Coach and Sporting Director George Gjokaj to give us some thoughts on the preseason and what fans can expect at the start of WSC’s second season, one which will have no less than ten new faces (most of which have local ties) on the roster.
How has the preseason gone so far, what have you learned about the club?
Preseason has been great so far. I have a lot of confidence in the group . We have faced some challenges with the weather but faced the adversity in stride and readjusted by substituting our field sessions with indoor bootcamp style fitness sessions. The roster buildout is balanced with two deep per position with quite a few versatile players that can play multiple positions.
You have brought in a great number of young players from the NY area, is this area undervalued in terms of college level talent and if so, why?
In my playing days, the greater metropolitan area consistently produced some of the nations top talent and teams. Our hope is to provide a platform for the local ambitious talent to show their quality. There is no compromise on my part , I believe these local guys are top notch professionals that will prove themselves from game 1.
How is this coaching opportunity different, or the same, from all the other challenges you have had?
For me its the same, I consider myself a players coach and am here to help them be the best version of themselves rather than treat them like some sort of a commodity to serve me. I first and foremost invest in culture and believe that winning is a byproduct of the building process not the goal.
Who are a few of the players who have stood out so far in the preseason and why?
They are all excellent but must say Kyle Evans has stardust sprinkled on him. I am dumbfounded by the fact that he is even here. I think he deserves to be in MLS or Europe and Daniel Burko is an absolute warrior on the pitch that never checks out and is relentless in his pursuit of winning. Tim Timchenko is a general on the field with great game IQ and composure. Hate to not mention them all because they are all deserving of praise but these three stand out.
Lastly, when talking to fans, what’s the message you want them to take away and bring to others in the community?
Soccer is entertainment that brings people together. Our hope that Westchester SC brings people from all walks of life together to celebrate and enjoy the world game. We are committed to fielding a team that will leave their hearts out on that pitch every game and serve our fans proudly.
