With the Austin Aztex U23 tryouts scheduled for March, we wanted to get some input from new U23 Coach Wolfgang Suhnholz about the upcoming season, tryouts and his aspirations for the team.

 

A man of lifelong soccer experience and a wealth of knowledge of the sport, Suhnholz inspires confidence with his very deliberate approach in talking about building a new team. Here is what he had to say about the Aztex U23:

 

 

 What are your expectations about U23 tryouts this year?

 

 

I go into tryouts with an open mind.  We have a lot of players coming to participate.  We will look carefully at every player and ultimately decide what is best for the club.  We know there are a lot of local players, but there are also a number coming from outside the area.  We want to give the locals a fair chance, and there will be a lot of talent showing up.  We have had over 115 register so far.  There may be as many as  two hundred divided over the two weekends of tryouts.

 

There is not a lot of time before the season starts. That means that anyone expecting to play will have to come in with the fitness level that qualifies them to play on a PDL team.

We can take eight players over 23 in the U23 team.  It is also important that we start building young talent so we can ultimately help provide some players for the professional team for some time to come.

 

I would suggest to the players that it can be a dramatic transition from a lower and slower level of soccer to suddenly shifting into what it takes to play in the PDL.

 

Question: What do you see as the building plan for the team?

 

 

well, because of the PDL schedule, we have to build one team until about the middle of May. We will then have some possible input into the team at the end of the school year.

No one should think they have a lock on it from the first week. It will be competitive, and players who come from school clubs will have to be fit and ready from day one when they arrive.

 

We are looking for consistency and players who can consistently perform.  We want to set up things so the players can establish a routine, be able to make training in Austin and keep the schedule necessary.

 

Question: Will the Aztex Stoke connection mean a “British style of play?”

Suhnholz: There no longer is a British style, or German style, or Mexican style.  That has all changed. Soccer is a global sport. You play with the players you have and what they can bring to the table.  I am a big believer that a good soccer player can play with anybody and any style.

 

Soccer has changed. The bottom line is that you want to put a good winning product on the field. I worked with European, Hispanic, African players, people from all over the world.  Even the English don’t play old English soccer anymore. Look at Adrian Heath who has played in the UK and in Spain.   He will take the best from everything and play the style that will win.  That’s what we intend to do.

 

The game has to bring people to the stands, and to achieve that you have to be successful on and off the field.  The crowd doesn’t care so much about the style that gets you  there, so long as you show them some success.

 

I will play to the temperament of the club and what every player can bring to the table.  The players determine the style on the field, not I.

 

We will make sure the players know what is important in order for them to excel at whatever they do.

 

Question: What is your response to being named Aztex U23 Head Coach?

 

Suhnholz:  I am very excited about the opportunities here for Austin.  This city needs a professional team, but also a team like the U23 where we can get in as much talent as possible and give them the opportunity to live their dreams.

 

The connection with Stoke City and with Phil Rawlins gives the effort a lot of credibility.

Eventually we will put a very good product on the field, and we are about to give a number of players a chance to make it to the professional level.