San Antonio Scorpions Begin Title Defense Where Last Season Ended In Silverware

By Matthew Levine

The San Antonio Scorpions closed out the 2014 North American Soccer League Season with their fans rushing the pitch to celebrate a championship in their home ground, Toyota Field.

The club will open up its 2015 season in front of those same fans, as they seek to repeat.

“It’s a great feeling any time we get to play at home in front of our fans – the best fans in the league. We’re excited and we always want to put on a show from them because of all the support they’ve given us through thick and thin,” head coach Alen Marcina told NASL.com.

In the offseason, the club has seen some players go but plenty of new faces have come in as well.

“We have quite a few new additions to this team. Some was forced, as we lost some key players and some we knew we needed to improve the team,” Marcina said.

Despite losing two key components in the league’s best backline last season – Greg Janicki and Johnny Borrajo – it can be argued the club has improved on the title-winning side as a whole.

“We knew we had to improve if we wanted to put ourselves in a position to repeat. We have to take it game by game. We’re confident in what we have, we’re not there yet but neither we’re we there last year at the beginning of the season.”

Players with international experience have come in like Marvin Chavez (Honduras), Nana Attakora (Canada), and Omar Cummings (Jamaica). Players who have youth international experience and plenty of promise have joined as well like Jon Kempin and Cristian Paolmeque.

“Marvin Chavez has played in the World Cup, and he will be a huge addition not only to our team but the league. Omar Cummings is another huge addition. Once we get him fit, he’s going to be very, very lethal and dangerous, and we’re excited about that,” Marcina said.

“They all bring something a little bit different, and we’re excited about what they bring to the table.”

One of the most important players for the Scorpions could be one that was already on the team last season – Billy Forbes. Recently scoring his first international goal, for Turks and Caicos, Forbes could be on course for a Best XI-caliber season. He led the league in assists with seven and added four goals in a breakout 2014 campaign.

“He has so much more to give and as a coach that’s a great feeling. He hasn’t fully tapped into all his potential, so there could be an even better Billy Forbes. We do expect that,” Marcina said.

“I know that’s a lot of demands, but this is his second season. I know he’s going to meet those demands and expectations, and we can expect a big season from Billy in year number two.”

For the Scorpions, it’s all about getting all the pieces to fit and peaking at the right moment. If they can do that, the club could be in line to win back-to-back championships.

“It’s a progression, and you have to peak at the right time. Last year I thought we peaked at the right time and, sure enough, we we’re champions,” Marcina added.