After a week’s worth of work completed in the Windy City, the Chicago Fire headed for better weather conditions to begin the second phase of their 2017 preseason training, taking up residence in Fort Myers, Florida.
One of the offseason signings getting acclimated to his new club and teammates is Jorge Rodrigo Bava. The 35-year-old Uruguayan goalkeeper comes to MLS from Atletico Bucaramanga of Colombia, bringing with him the experience of having played for a number of clubs in his country as well as for clubs in Paraguay, Argentine and Mexico.
Like many other players, Bava for some time had contemplated the possibility of coming to the MLS and calls his recent move to the Chicago Fire “an easy decision to make.”
"The league has maintained a constant growth and the Chicago Fire in particular is a big team and of course, Chicago is a city I like,” Bava said in a phone interview Wednesday. “I visited once with my national team.”
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While a move to MLS has long been of interest to Bava, the opportunity that eventually led to his move began with a casual conversation at an airport.
"I was playing in the Colombian league," recalls the goalkeeper. "The coach (Veljko Paunovic) was out there scouting players. Then we coincided at the airport, talked briefly, and then the talks started about the possibility of coming here."
Without mentioning a specific club, Bava admitted he had participated in talks with representatives from other potential MLS destinations before.
"I am happy that I’ve been given the opportunity to come to MLS because I previously had others, but they came at a time when I was under contract, I had other commitments,” he said. “I am grateful for this opportunity and want to make the best of it.”
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For those who have not had the opportunity to see Bava in action, he describes himself as a flexible player, one who is able to adapt to a team's style of play.
"I try to be a goalkeeper who respects and works with the back line, talking to the teammates in front of me,” he said. “I think that is the key to limit the opponent's chances against us.”
After a few days of working with his new team, the goalkeeper says he feels comfortable while trying to get to know the teammates and their style of play. Now, with close to two weeks of preseason in the books, it has been enough for Bava to be optimistic about the team and the goals being set for them.
“What makes a team great is the competition and in every line there are very good players ready to fight for a spot and playtime,” said Bava, who acknowledges he will be among those battling for a starting place in the side. “We are putting together a team that will compete. I insist, in every line there are good players and the keeper’s spot is not an exception.”
With each new season, hopes are renewed but that does not mean turning a blind eye to recent history and the desire to return to the playoffs. But as one of several newcomers, Bava is focused on looking forward to his new challenge.
"We know that lately the team has struggled, but we also know that making the playoffs or not is sometimes determined by one or very few points,” he said. “The challenge not only at personal level but as a team is to prepare well and as a team work to accomplish our goals.”
