CHESTER, Pa. – Philadelphia Union manager Peter Nowak only threw a couple of curveballs when he unveiled the starting lineup that opened the 2011 season.
One of them was second-year midfielder Kyle Nakazawa’s inclusion in the group.
Nakazawa himself, though, wasn’t shocked when he saw his name on the lineup card for this past Saturday’s opener against Houston.
“I feel like I’ve been working hard so I wasn’t that surprised,” Nakazawa told MLSsoccer.com. “But I was equally happy and satisfied to be there.”
[inline_node:319891]Nakazawa, who was drafted by Philly in the third round of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft, started eight games and appeared in six more last season, logging 798 minutes. The 23-year-old midfielder didn’t have any goals or assists, but served as the club’s set-piece specialist when he was on the field.
Going into this second season in the league, Nakazawa said he’s been working on becoming more of a well-rounded player and hopes to seize the club’s opening at right outside midfield. While the Union have plenty of capable central midfielders on their roster, they have fewer players who have experience playing on the flank.
“It requires a lot of work, but it’s something I think I can succeed at,” Nakazawa said. “Being a two-way midfielder and coming out to defend on the right flank, I really like freedom of that role.”
Nakazawa is part of a second-year class of players that the Philly coaches are very high on – a group that also includes midfielders Amobi Okugo and Roger Torres and strikers Jack McInerney and Danny Mwanga, a Rookie of the Year finalist last season. Okugo, along with rookie goalkeeper Zac MacMath, is currently training with the US U-20 national team.
“I think we have a very good core of young players,” Nakazawa said. “We showed glimpses of being successful last season as a young team, and this preseason we’ve built on that. I think there’s a bright future for this team.”
Before looking too deep into the future, however, Nakazawa hopes to be a key figure on the club this season. Getting the start in the opener was a good first step but, as a young player in this league, he knows he needs to get into more of a solid rhythm to keep seeing significant minutes, starting with this Saturday’s home opener against Vancouver.
“There are still some aspects where I feel like a young player in this league,” he said. “Last year was a steppingstone for me as growing as a player and maturing in a professional. I’m kind of in that little zone between a really young player and feeling like someone that’s been in the league.
“Whether I’m starting or I’m in a reserve role, every chance I can contribute is an honor to be out there.”
