Even though it was a biting cold December evening when I walked into the Loose Moose in downtown Toronto, it immediately felt like soccer season. Between 200-300 TFC supporters were there in full voice in anticipation of the launch of the latest Reds jersey. The timing for such a venture was not a coincidence of course with Christmas less than three weeks away; although the league does mandate that all teams update their kits every two years.
Five TFC players were there to act as models. Todd Dunivant is on course for a 100 per cent recovery and will be completely ready for training camp at the end of January. Chad Barrett can't wait to get going again. Ditto for Rohan Ricketts and Greg Sutton. As for Danny Dichio, it's official: He has agreed to terms for one more year. It will be the big man's last year as a full-time player as his career in football begins that gentle slide from footballer to coach or ambasssador or whatever the club has in store for him. Dichio's future seems to be with the TFC academy. He did tell me that during the dark days of last season when post-concussion headaches were getting the better of him, he figured his chances of returning this season were no better than 50-50. His cherished life in Canada as he knew it might have been over. But he's back on the rails and happier than ever.
As for organizational changes, Chief Operating Officer Tom Anselmi was in fine form and coaxed the biggest cheers from the crowd when he complimented them on their wonderful support. Maybe he was buttering them up because the team is still short on specifics about what changes are in store. It's hard to blame Anselmi. He wouldn't guarantee a designated player for next year. How could he? Finding the right guy for the right money willing to play on the turf is no easy task. The rumours will continue to swirl. But so much of it is hogwash. I could list 50 names right here and each one has been rumoured at some point to be coming. The best news Anselmi had was on the subject of improved training conditions. They are working towards a permanent facility down the road, but he told me there will indeed be a new temporary arrangement in place for the 2009 season to keep the players off the turf at BMO Field.
Catch the full interview with Danny Dichio on Soccercentral.
