After a friendly schedule of only six games in January-five at home-the Power plays eight games in February, a month that could tell the tale of the team`s first season in the American Indoor Soccer Association. The February matchups include two games in Memphis and one each in Hershey, Pa.; Canton, Ohio; and Dayton. The Power`s three home dates are against their main competitors in the AISA: Hershey, Canton and Milwaukee. The Power plays 10 games in March, with the regular-season finale March 31 at Memphis. The top four teams make the playoffs.
– Power player-coach Karl-Heinz Granitza thinks the Ft. Wayne Flames might be the most underrated team in the AISA. ”Watch out for Ft. Wayne,”
Granitza says. ”They`re a young team, and they`re going to surprise a lot of people.” Ft. Wayne has strengthened its attack with the addition of forward Ricardo Alonso, who was acquired from the Memphis Storm two weeks ago. Alonso, 32, is a dangerous scorer and, at 6 feet 3 inches and 190 pounds, one of the bigger players in the AISA. Granitza and Alonso played together for three seasons with the Sting.
– Granitza also said he considers the Milwaukee Wave, not the defending champion Canton Invaders, the Power`s primary competition for first place.
”Milwaukee has beaten Canton three times this year,” Granitza says.
”That tells me they are the better team.” The Power has won all six of its games against the Wave. What does that tell you, Coach? ”I stick to my preseason statement,” Granitza said with a grin. ”We will win it all.”
– In the Power`s three games against three-time league champion Canton, the veterans have provided the scoring punch. Batata had five assists and two two-point goals, and Granitza scored seven goals, including a three-pointer.
– Gerald ”Magic” Celestin, acquired by the Power after being released by the last-place Dayton Dynamo, was asked how his former teammates managed to go 3 for 3 against the Power this season. ”I don`t know,” said Celestin,
”but I`ll tell you what: That streak`s over now that I`m on this side.”
Celestin is quickly becoming a crowd favorite with his crafty ball-handling and fast-break speed. The Haitian-born forward has netted 71 goals in three AISA seasons, and has already scored two, including one game-winner, since coming to the Power. It`s hard to understand why Dayton would give up on Celestin, who is only 28.
”They suspended me without pay,” he said. ”They could have just benched me if they weren`t happy with my play, because I have enough pride to play better.”
Dayton`s loss is Chicago`s gain. ”Magic gives us speed to compensate for the slow old guys,” said 37-year-old player-coach Granitza with a wink.
