The makeup of this year's Minnesota Thunder roster features a
unique twist: Four of the A-League soccer team's five forwards
are natives of Liberia, a soccer-loving country on the west
coast of Africa.
Johnny Menyongar is
the longest-tenured of the four. He looks at the demographics of
the Twin Cities -- an estimated 20,000 former residents of
war-torn Liberia live here, one of the highest totals in any
metro area -- and puts his own unique twist on the roster
situation.
"For the Liberian community we have in
Minnesota, we should have some on the team," he said. "For about
three years, I was alone on the team. People in the community
would ask me, 'Why are you the only Liberian on the team?' It's
good now that the other guys are stepping in. It's good for them
and good for the country."
Menyongar practiced
Wednesday for the Thunder's season opener.
Menyongar, 24, is entering his fifth
year with the Thunder. He is joined up front by fellow Liberia
natives Melvin Tarley, a second-year Thunder player, and
newcomers Aaron Paye and Francis Doe. The only other forward on
the roster is former Stillwater standout Marshall Morehead, who
led the Thunder with nine goals last season.
While Menyongar and Morehead -- who will
be the two starters most games -- are proven scorers in the
A-League, the other three forwards are not. Their ability to
transform potential into productivity could be a big factor this
season for the Thunder, which opens the season against Calgary
at 5 p.m. Sunday at the Metrodome.
In search of
offense
Menyongar and Morehead were Minnesota's top two scorers last
season, but the Thunder lost a big offensive threat when Johnny
Torres (seven goals, seven assists) signed in the offseason with
Milwaukee.
"Our biggest question mark is who is going to score the
goals," Thunder General Manager Jim Froslid said.
Tarley played only 401 minutes last season, scoring one goal
on 11 shots. Thunder officials, however, like his size (6-1, 175
pounds) and expect more production from him if he is given
playing time.
"Melvin is next in line after the starters because of his
experience," Thunder coach Buzz Lagos said.
Said Tarley: "I'm just hoping to come out this year and have
a great season and show the coaching staff my best effort."
Paye and Doe are very much unknowns. Paye was born in Liberia
but played high school soccer at Champlin Park, where he was a
two-time All-Metro player. He played in college at Fairleigh
Dickinson.
Doe is perhaps the most intriguing of the prospects. Only 18,
Doe is on loan from a professional team in Ghana. He is still
waiting for his work visa, which could delay his Thunder debut.
Though his game is raw, he has talent.
"Francis has potential," Lagos said. "He has a real sense for
the goal, and he's a good finisher. But it's tough to score
goals in this league. It hasn't come easy for him so far [in
practice]."
Said Menyongar, one of the quickest players on the team: "He
makes me wish I was 18 again."
Getting
acclimated
Menyongar knew Paye and Tarley before they joined the
Thunder. All three are part of the tight-knit Liberian
community, and they are all trying to help Doe into the fold.
Froslid described Doe as "a young 18," meaning the youngster
will need time to get adjusted to life in Minnesota.
"We had a conversation for about an hour during the
preseason," Menyongar said. "There is a different way of doing
things here than in Africa. I told him how to learn to be on
time, how to mingle with the other guys. He's a very quiet
person, but I think he'll be fine."
On the field, Thunder holdovers are used to playing with new
teammates. Finding their niche on the field will be the most
important developmental step for Tarley, Paye and Doe.
"It really doesn't matter where they're from, because soccer
speaks the same language throughout the world," Menyongar said.
"Every year we have had a different group of people. I'm here,
other guys are here, and we have to help work them in."
Menyongar paused, then added with a smile: "But it is good to
have a couple of my Liberian friends on the team."
Michael Rand is at
mrand@startribune.com.
