REDS Open Training Camp 2021
(FREDERICTON, NB) There was music. There were jokes. There was a high five or two. Friday’s opening of training camp for the UNB REDS men’s soccer team wasn’t that different from those of years past.
Veteran student-athletes, new recruits, walk-on hopefuls, coaches and team staff gathered for meetings and fitness testing today, the first step in their preparation for the 2021 Atlantic University Sport season.
“There’s a season coming, we know we’ve got something to prepare for, there’s a buzz about the group,” said REDS head coach Barry Morrison. “The goal over the next four or five days is to test ourselves physically. We’ve got a ton of work to do with the guys. Then we focus on recovery and getting ourselves ready to see some pre-season game action.”
Soccer, like every other university sport in Canada fell victim to the pandemic last year. The entire 2020 season was cancelled out of concern for the safety of all involved.
The REDS were able to train in 2020, but did not play a game.
That makes the opening of 2021’s training camp a big deal.
“We’ve all been training hard and we’re excited to finally be able to show what we have here,” said Ben Mugisha, a 3rd year member of the REDS. “This is a big year. Coming into my third year, second year of eligibility, I need to prove I belong, prove I can make an impact.”
After Friday’s team meetings and fitness testing sessions, the REDS’ first session on the turf comes Saturday.
UNB plays its first pre-season game on September 1st, and the REDS go on the road to open their AUS season, at Dalhousie, on September 11th.