May 9, 2008 TFC new assistant coach Chris Cummins comments on hiring (from Toronto FC Media Relations)
05/09/2008 12:50PM
Cummins impressed by TFC standards
New assistant surprised by passionate support of TFC fans
Toronto FC Media Relations
Toronto FC's new assistant coach Chris Cummins is looking forward to the challenge ahead.
"It's great to finally be signed sealed and delivered," said Cummins after putting pen to paper on his contract on Friday. "I'm looking forward to the experience and the season ahead. I've been here a couple of weeks and it's given me a chance to have a good look around the place and get to know the players."
"It's always been a dream of mine to live abroad and experience the life out here, but the main attraction is the football. I think it is up and coming. It's our second season and we've made great strides already on the pitch with our results and how the lads are progressing and this is a new challenge for me and I love a challenge."
Cummins has been impressed with the standard of the TFC squad.
"I've seen three or four games now and it is a decent standard. We can keep improving the standard with the coaching that is going on and the players that we're bringing in."
The Englishman has been surprised by the support given to the team by the TFC fans, and loves the atmosphere at BMO Field.
"The fans are fantastic, they really love the game. When I came over here, the club gave me a DVD to watch of the fans and I couldn't believe it. When the lads take a corner and all of the streamers come on. I love that, it's part of a great atmosphere. It was raining the other night and there were still 20,000 here singing and having a great time and that's a massive bonus for the club."
Cummins will assist coach John Carver with the first team and will also run the TFC reserve team.
"I'm assisting John with all of the first team matters and I'll be taking the reserves as well. I'll be working on lots of specific things with the players finishing, defending techniques, but my role is mainly to assist John with anything he needs me to do. John is very hands on person and he loves being out on the training pitch, but it will now allow us to work with smaller groups so one coach can do defensive work and another coach can work with the strikers so it allows us to split the group down a bit and get a lot more detail to the players," Cummins explained.
"I love coaching players, that's what I do. I'm still learning myself and while i'm here I'll learn off the players and the other coaches and I'll give it my best."
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