CFC Set to Begin New Season Wednesday in U.S. Open Cup

Chattanooga-(WDEF) You might say the CFC opened their new season back in February when they played Atlanta’s MLS team in a ‘Friendly at Fort Finley.’
But don’t look for the Chattanooga soccer team to be friendly this week.
They play yet again in the prestigious U-S Open Cup on Wednesday, before marching into their regular season on Saturday.
The U-S Open Cup has almost become a permanent edition of the CFC schedule.
Said head coach Bill Elliott:”Well you have to qualify. So it has been what we have done in league play that has helped us qualify. It’s not really on an invite basis. It’s what you do to qualify.”
Chattanooga will face a Charlotte team Wednesday that lost only twice last season.
Said CFC player Sindre Welo:”They’re one of the top teams at our level in the Southeast, so we’re for sure excited to play one of those teams, and see how good these teams are early in the season.”
The CFC roster is in a state of limbo.
Veteran scorer Luke Winter and veteran goalie Gregor Hartley have yet to join the team.
Said Elliott:”Definitely look forward to Luke rejoining and with a little luck Greg as well. But what I’m going to concentrate on is coaching the guys that are here. I’m not going to worry about the ones that aren’t.”
Said Welo:”We have about I would say ten to fifteen new faces that we don’t really know. We’ve got to get to know each other through practice and games.”
Said new goalie Paulo Pita:”As a new player I was going to get to know the players. I’m glad I had the chance to come at the beginning of the practices, so I could understand the formations and get to know the players as well.”
After playing Charlotte on Wednesday, the CFC open league play on Saturday at New Orleans.
Said Welo:”The good thing is we get done with a lot of the tough travels early, so then we get to establish our game at home and have a lot of home games towards the end. That’s something that can help us throughout the season.”