Yesterday, the NISA league held its Championship Media Day, featuring players and coaches representing Irvine Zeta FC and the Los Angeles Force. The two teams will battle it out on the pitch, seeking their first NISA championship trophy later tonight at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Long Beach, CA. Here are some of my takeaways from what the players and coaches of both teams had to say during yesterday’s presser.
Representing the Los Angeles Force: Head Coach Dekel Keinan, Forward Michael Salazar Jr., Goalkeeper Seth Torman, Defender Aydan Bowers, Midfielder Justin Jovel.
Aydan discuss all the matchups between the Force and Irvine Zeta FC throughout the season. Aydan talks about his excitement playing a derby in a championship match. “Playing against each other so many times develops this rivalry, and they’ve got a good team over there. We’ve got a good team over here, and it’s going to be an exciting game.”
Michael added, “We played them multiple times, and our coaching staff has prepared us very well for this game.”
Seth Torman shared what it meant to win the NISA Golden Glove. He stated, “It’s a big opportunity for me for my future and everything, but I really want to give thanks to everybody on the team. I couldn’t have done it without the defenders, coaches who prep us every day, and all the work we’ve put into training.”
Michael Salazar responded to my question about getting to the NISA championship in his first season with the team.
“Helping the group it shows I’ve been putting a lot of hard work in. Our coaching staff is passionate on the way they go about things. They push us every day, and that’s what we want.”
Justin Jovel discusses Dekel Keinan’s impact as a player-coach and whether that puts more pressure on the team to perform or takes the stress level down when Dekel is on the pitch with the players.
“It actually motivates us to just work harder. Seeing him (Keinan) at the age that he is right now and playing at a high level just motivates every single one of us to keep working hard and never giving up.”
LA Force Head Coach Dekel Keinan gives insight on the challenges in his first years as Head Coach and the keys to their turnaround after a slow start early on in the season to making it to the NISA championship.
“At the beginning of the season, when Bob (Friedland) contacted me and asked me if I would like to be the head coach and a player, I didn’t hesitate. I knew I could do it.” He credited his assistant coach, Juan Carlos, and felt he played a massive part in their success this season, especially when Keinan is playing on the pitch, Juan Carlos is the acting head coach. Keinan stated, “We had a slow start, but it’s normal, and it took us a while to find our identity. Which team are we? What are we as a group? But one thing never changes: we never give up, we stay humble, and are hungry to win games.”
Keinan was also asked about friendlies the team has played since their last league match in preparation for tonight’s NISA championship match.
“It’s the last game, so no excuses.” I know our last game was a month ago, but that’s not going to be an excuse for us. It’s a final, and we’re ready to go. We had two very good friendly games against the LA Galaxy and competed well. Obviously, they’re probably one of the best teams in MLS, but there’s a difference between us and them. The whole idea behind these games was to stay fit and be game-ready.”
Representing Irvine Zeta FC Head Coach Tyler Silva, Forward George Almeida, Midfielder Shinya Kadono, Defender Alex Culwell.
Shinya Kadono is being asked about figuring out LA Force goalkeeper Seth Torman.
“For the team, I think it’s good we’ve been performing pretty decent defensively thanks to the backline when we have tough games where we have to win the game 1-0. The defense has taken the role of just keeping the shut out and hoping we can keep that form going into the final.”
Alex Culwell responded to my question about the keys to success in the backline for Zeta FC. I also asked about his mindset going into the match, as he gets to play against his former club, LA Force, in a Championship match.
“Just instilling a lot of confidence in these first-year players knowing that mistakes are going to happen in the back end of the attack and knowing that the defense is going to have your back no matter what as long as everybody does their job. Everybody should perform, and as long as they’re doing their job, there should be no issues. I think instilling confidence in youngsters and the vets we have it plays a role with Mitch (North) in the back, Shinya (Kadono), and myself. We’ve been in high level high high-pressure situations were we need to perform, and leading by example is the best way to do that.”
“It’s bittersweet, I would say, just because I started at the very beginning in this league when it first started, and now being able to play in my second championship, it’s gonna be a good feeling that it’s local having an LA derby is going to be fun, but it will be chippy, to say the least, but it will be a little battle between the both of us.”
George Almeida on takeaways from the NISA semifinal match against the Michigan Stars FC and what they can take into the NISA championship.
“We came out of that game (versus Michigan) with more confidence. We work on everything we have to work on these last couple of weeks to get ready for the game. Going into the game with confidence and the result is something we cannot control, but whatever we could control, we did it throughout these past two weeks and just try to do our job to the best we can, and that’s pretty much it.”
Head Coach Tyler Silva gives his perspective on challenges for the club throughout the season and making it to the NISA championship in their inaugural season.
“I think in the beginning, it’s always difficult. It doesn’t matter if it’s a new team or not. Adapting your getting use to a new environment, new people, and working in different ways. The fact that it’s a new team and it’s my first time here, it’s his first time here (Leonardo Furquim GM), it’s his first time here (Joseph Tarzan Assistant Coach), and finding the way to get on the same boat and rowing in the right direction. In the beginning, it’s difficult, but I always say when you work with good people, good things always happen. We put the team together, and I’m glad to say we’re all very close, and that helps as well.”
I also asked Coach Silva’s perspective on this rivalry with the Los Angeles Force and what it would take to beat them at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
“All credit to them (LA Force) everyone can see that they’re a really good team, they’re well coached, and they have unbelievable players. That’s the reality; nobody can take that from them. That’s the truth, but I think, like Alex (Culwell) was saying if you look at the games played, If you don’t look at the scores, if you look at the games. We were winning two games 2-0, we suffered two goals at the end. We have one game that we lost 1-0 (Joel Quist scores in the 2nd minute for LA Force on May 4), and we didn’t create much after that. I think the matchups is even is what I really believe. They have their weapons, and I think they’ve had more success throughout the year. That also has to do with a lot of experienced players, and when you look at their roster, they have that, but I think we have our weapons as well and with our style, and if we can go in there and can put a complete performance for 90 minutes, I really do believe we have a good chance of winning the trophy.”
Those were some of my takeaways from yesterday’s NISA championship media day presser. You can watch the 2024 NISA season finale tonight with the NISA championship match between the Los Angeles Force and Irvine Zeta FC at 10 p.m. ET on NISA+ (Click on the hyperlink to go to the NISA+ website to watch tonight’s match). I’ll be back next week to recap the match and more as we enter the offseason. Stay tuned! I’ll keep you posted on any transfer moves, coaching updates, NISA offseason news, and expansion news throughout the coming months.
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