Orlando Pride focused on Chicago despite recent staff shakeup
Seb Hines didn’t comment much during Wednesday’s media availability following Tuesday’s announcement that Orlando Pride head coach Amanda Cromwell and assistant Sam Green had been placed on administrative leave following a league-wide investigation into workplace misconduct.
The former Orlando City centerback and Pride assistant, who was appointed as interim head coach of the Pride shortly after the announcement, said his sole focus was on preparing a team to get a result ahead of Sunday’s game at the Chicago Red Stars slated to kick off at 6 p.m. at SeatGeek Stadium.
“I know that I have to come here and do a job and prepare the team for Sunday. It’s a big game for all of us,” Hines said. “Making sure that we go out there and perform for the fans and the club. We’re very disappointed after the Houston game. No one wants to lose in that manner, but we want to go out there and compete against Chicago, and that’s my job at hand right now is to make sure the players are prepared for that.”
The Pride (2-3-2, 8 points) suffered their worst loss of the season last weekend after a 5-0 loss to the Houston Dash.
But following both the thrashing at Houston and losing their head coach in the interim, Hines acknowledged the team has been inconsistent this year with results. Overall this year, Orlando is 2-7-4 when including the six-game preseason NWSL Challenge Cup.
“We have to play, go out there and play football,” Hines said. “Play with freedom like they have been doing. We’ve been inconsistent this season. The results have shown that [but] anyone can beat anyone on their day, and my job is to prepare them to the best of my ability to go to Chicago and win a game of football.”
Pride adds new midfielder
After spending significant time as a training player, Thais Reiss officially signed with the Pride for the remainder of the season, the club announced on Saturday.
“Thais has shown a great amount of patience and perseverance over the course of this season, and she has fully earned this contract with the work that she has put in on the training pitch every day,” Pride general manager Ian Fleming said in a statement. “We are excited to have her available to play now and look forward to having another high potential young player make their professional debut as a member of the Pride.”
The 23-year-old Brazilian will occupy an international spot for the Pride after recently attending and playing for the University of North Florida.
