Louisville City FC’s preseason training won’t officially begin until next month, when the entire roster leaves for two grueling weeks of training at Florida’s IMG Academy. But the build toward the 2017 season started in earnest Monday as the first batch of players reported to Baptist Health’s sports medicine facility.
Midfielders Niall McCabe and George Davis IV, along with goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh, went through physicals and baseline testing overseen by Scott Ritter, LouCity’s head athletic trainer.
“We stagger them out over the next two weeks,” Ritter said.
Evaluations measure everything from general health to concussion protocol and impact testing.
Ranjitsingh back into shape
Arrivals back to town came with good news. Ranjitsingh, who left LouCity’s USL Eastern Conference Final loss to the New York Red Bulls II last October with a groin injury, has since mended that problem.
“When I first got home, obviously I had the injury, so I made sure I got some rehab,” he said. “I took a little vacation with my girlfriend and spent time with my family. I also joined a pretty cool gym. It’s called Lifetime Fitness, and it had turf fields, weights and a pool.
“I spent pretty much every day there working out and getting fit for the season. Once I felt good enough with my groin, I tried to get out on the field and get some touches.”
Earlier this month, Ranjitsingh also visited California, where he met up with defender Tarek Morad and Aodhan Quinn, his former teammate — and roommate — who will play for rival FC Cincinnati in 2017. So, too, will Kadeem Dacres.
Ranjitsingh took some jabs on social media when the news broke.
“I was just bantering with those Cincy fans,” he said. “My notifications blew up. They thought I was serious. Aodhan and Kadeem are my boys.
“It’ll spice up the USL a little bit. When you can get the fans involved — get them riled up — it’s fun.”
Davis IV sees the world
Shortly after the season ended, forward Ilija Ilic extended the invitation to his teammates to wedding ceremony in Belgrade, Serbia. Davis IV took Ilic up on the offer.
“I thought it would be a good experience to support their marriage and make a trip out of it,” he said.
At the ceremony, Davis IV said, “we made sure to have a good time.” Stops were made as well to Iceland and Greece.
“Europe in general was pretty eye-opening,” he said. “I think it’s important that people see the world from a different perspective. It was incredible.”
McCabe making progress
Shut down late last season to undergo hip surgery, McCabe said he’s back to running alongside of teammates at Baptist Health Performance Training, where LouCity’s players gather daily to train for now.
“I went through a workout today with George,” McCabe said. “He smoked me, but it was good to go with somebody who’s fully fit and not hurt to see how far off I am. I had no pain, no issues, and I was going at a pretty decent pace.”
McCabe has spent nearly his entire offseason in Louisville, working toward a return from a labral tear in his hip.
“Greg got back last night and came in to training today, and I’m already sick of him,” he joked. “Nah, it’s good to get the boys back in and get the camaraderie going.”
