The San Antonio Scorpions are hosting their college and general player combines over the weekend and during that time the San Antonio Soccer Examiner was able to speak to Scorpions Head coach Tim Hankinson.
CH: After signing two very experienced players what sort of players are you looking for now?
TH: This particular group (Friday) is for players 18-24 so obviously they have no professional experience. We're really looking for players that are more for our developmental team, our reserve team, so that they can gain experience and try out for a contract in the future.
CH: With tomorrow's invitational combine, do you have a good idea about who is coming to that who has stood out and you want to take a look at?
TH: There are a number of players that we've seen at other trials, like in Phoenix and Maryland, that we have a good feeling about and we want to see them tested against better opposition. And obviously we have agents who have offered players that we've invited in for this that have professional experience. We also have internationals coming in from Mexico, so there's quite a few interesting players that we'll be examining.
CH: Greg Janicki and Kevin Harmse were neighbours in Vancouver, how important was it to get both of them?
TH: One helps get the other, credibility of signings helps increase interest, getting Kevin to sign first helped us get Greg. Having both players with MLS experience; having Greg who at the Division 2 (NASL's division) level has been defender of the year shows that at the level of NASL he's one of the best at his position. Kevin also has international experience and he's going to carry us a long way. I think when you have an expansion team, there's no question when you can get some players who have some familiarity where they no how to play and have one play in the back of the other it certainly is a good starting point.
CH: Harmse has a tie to San Antonio, how big an attraction is San Antonio to players?
TH: There are a lot of players who may not know (the city) very well, but I think it's a city that players are somewhat familiar with and I think once you have that first phone call and they get on the internet and start exploring the city, there's a lot of great stuff here, so it will be a destination that they desire.
Our thanks to the San Antonio Scorpions and Coach Hankinson for their time today, and the best of luck to all players in the combine over the weekend.
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