The short off-season is over. The Dynamo opened training camp at the University of Houston's Carl Lewis Field, with sights on becoming the first MLS team to win three consecutive league championships.
Dominic Kinnear opened his fifth camp as head coach of the franchise.
"For a lot of these guys the message is pretty consistent-let's play simple and let's play hard," said Kinnear. That's the reason we have been the team we have been."
A number of Dynamo stars are still absent from camp due to national team duties, including Dwayne De Rosario, Pat Onstad, Eddie Robinson, Brad Davis, Ricardo Clark, Pat Ianni and Stuart Holden. However, the Dynamo was well represented with the core of Orange stalwarts, including Brian Ching, Wade Barrett and Richard Mulrooney. Ching seemed fit after missing last season's MLS Cup Championship with a calf injury.
"It's always fun and exciting to get back," said Ching. "Last night had a hard time sleeping, kind of like a kid again."
The Dynamo also welcomed newcomer Bobby Boswell, acquired in a trade from D.C. United. Boswell's first observation about his change of venue on this 60-degree February day: "Weather!"
