O.M. UPDATE. IN THE “REVIEW” MIRROR…

The making of a championship campaign.

OM News Service

October 15, 2009

Until the July break this year, the Premiership and the first division team of Olympique Montreux Football Club were on top of their respective table and cruising. The organization had just won the Park City Tournament for the third time in a row (2007, 2008 and 2009). 

For the Premiership, it was an unexpected dream start for a squad that was rebuilding after many veteran players opted to leave the organization throughout last season.

Right after winning the prestigious Park City Tournament, however, things began to sour. A rash of injuries in the Premiership followed by a dip in form to some key players set up a poor skid in the standings and in all competitions.

Within weeks, OM lost the chance to contend for all the cups it aspired to win. Even the usually dependable D1 team failed to defend the Utah Challenge Cup it won last season.

The Premiership was eliminated from the Utah Champions League (Daynes Cup), and also from the Utah Open Cup in rapid succession. All thoughts of the Premiership equaling the organization’s 2002 and 2006 successes quickly vanished.

The 2002 and 2006 teams remain Olympique Montreux’s best ever. 

In 2002, led by center forward Bel-Ami de Montreux with his predatory goal scoring skills (43 goals in all competitions) and the playmaking talents of the late Alex Pogman, OM went undefeated in all competitions in the Liga LatinoAmericana, winning the Preseason Copa de Utah, the Primera Division Cup and the Interleague Playoffs Cup.

The 2006 side, under the direction of playmaker Nate Murphy and talented forward Sergio Vasquez and Chad Gilbert, won not only the state’s Premiership title, but also the Utah Open Cup and the Daynes Cup at its centennial commemoration.

The spring success of the team this year may have been misleading as to where OM was in the rebuilding process. After all, the side was rebuilding following yet another exodus of the remaining 2006 heroes. John MacQuarrie, Mike Rogers, Chris Kirkpatrick, Josh Kimball and Nate Murphy transferred to Rush Elite at season’s end. The departure of fleet-footed winger Garrett Losee to an LDS Church mission, and the “announced” LDS mission of young defender Kip also affected the manager’s plans.

A dip in form of last year’s MVP Steve McMurdie and influential midfielder Jantzen Romney, last season’s undisputed star forward and reigning Golden Boot, did not help the team’s position.

Also, concededly, the team’s early successes negatively affected the simple game and the humility the manager was promoting since season’s start. Somehow, young players began to feel invincible and started to play selfish soccer.

While Steve and Jantzen worked hard to rediscover their best form, several important players repeatedly failed to show up for important fixtures despite being on game day sheets.  A few more also have failed to maintain their fitness and thus have been unable to contribute.

The bitter mid-season return of a former forward from a poor PDL experience contributed to spoil the script.

The manager sometimes had to improvise starting line ups seconds before games. Often, D1 players had to fill in for absent Premiership stars.

With the situation nearly uncontrollable, the team was forced to sign new players to make it to season’s end.

In July and August, the side went on to drop important points to unlikely opponents, Bosnia USA and Utah Valley University, and experienced a shameful loss to Rush Elite where, as luck would have it, Kip is serving his mission. Funny indeed!

The team experienced a new low at the Telemundo Cup in August in Ogden, Utah.  After finishing top seed in pool play and winning the playoff game 5-0 against Idaho United, the following morning, several star players simply did not show up for the semifinal game. OM was beaten 4-0 by Weber State. The team left the tournament in disgrace with its reputation severely dented.

Despite all the adversities and injuries making it difficult for fullbacks Nathan Braun, Clayton Alexander and keeper André Dominguez to play back to back games, the Premiership fought back and clinched the State  Premiership Title with one game to play.

The D1 team is in first place by two points with two games left and can clinch the title with a victory at Westminster-Lazio next Saturday.

When analyzing the league’s overall performance, it is quickly evident that this year, as before, other Premiership teams continue to see Olympique Montreux as the team to get ready for.

We definitely welcome that respect and the competition. We are Olympians!

However, when a distinguished soccer organization like Park City Newpark managed to field only 8 or 9 players at home against Westminster just to be pounded 8-0, and a week later brought in a full plate against OM and fight for 90 plus minutes, eyebrows are raised. Same for Rush Elite that lined up a weak team and no goalkeeper against the same Westminster (score: 0-4).  Same for Diablos FC for completely failing to show up to face Westminster (forfeit).

 It is expected that Bosnia USA will offer inadequate resistance on October 17 when they face Westminster in their season’s finale.

The failure of OM’s opponents to be consistent ruins the competition. Teams cannot call a tied game or a hard fought win against Olympique Montreux the crown achievement of their season. Showing up to play with seven, eight or nine players, showing up drunk or already tired or not showing up at all is very poor sportsmanship.

“Some teams gave the unethical impression that they were losing to Westminster on purpose just to keep Olympique Montreux from winning the title,” opines Bel-Ami.

But at OM, the fight is to the last breath.