17^th March 2000

Fire may not have Stoichkov for opener

BY LEN ZIEHM STAFF REPORTER

Bulgarian striker Hristo Stoichkov went through his first workout with the Fire on Thursday, but his availability for the season opener Saturday against the Dallas Burn remains in doubt.
Stoichkov, introduced as a member of the Fire on Wednesday in New York, trained with his new teammates in Bradenton, Fla."It was good to have him," coach Bob Bradley said. "The team welcomed him.Everybody recognizes he'll make a big contribution, but it'll take a while for him to adjust." Midfielder Diego Gutierrez made the first gesture of respect toward Stoichkov when he gave up uniform No. 8 so Stoichkov could wear the number he has worn throughout his career. Gutierrez will take No. 11, which was worn by departed Polish forward Roman Kosecki. "Diego went out of his way and showed a great deal of respect to Hristo," Bradley said. "The whole team appreciates it." Whether Stoichkov can go against the Burn, which eliminated the Fire from the playoffs last year, won't be determined solely by his fitness. Major League Soccer deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis still needs Stoichkov's international clearance release from the Japanese soccer federation. "Sometimes it takes a day or two," Bradley said. "We've been told it will be done today or tomorrow."General manager Peter Wilt isn't so sure. "The league was optimistic, but I'm pessimistic," Wilt said. "My experience with these things is that there are always delays and that he won't be able to play until next weekend. That wouldn't be the end of the world. We wouldn't have to rush him into a game after only one practice. But whatever cards we're dealt, we'll play them."Stoichkov held up through his first practice, which Bradley considered "standard." "He has been working hard, but obviously he hasn't played in regular matches," Bradley said. "Until he does, there's still a limit, but he's not far away from top fitness."Stoichkov, 34, played his last match in June. He spent last season in Japan's J-League, then had a farewell match with the Bulgarian national team June 13. He denied that he considered retirement. "I never retired," he said through an interpreter at his introductory news conference. "I took a break from 20 years of playing. After the [1998] World Cup, I went to Japan and then I just felt like I needed a break. I had many offers, but Chicago was the first to approach me, and I simply accepted." Stoichkov didn't think fitness would be a problem or that his adjustment to a new team would be difficult. "I've been training intensively the past few months," he said. "It'll take some time to blend in with the team, but once you're on the field, your instincts come back. It'll be very easy for me. Soccer's the same way around the world. I'm capable of adjusting to any style of play." Stoichkov is twice as old as one teammate, 17-year-old DaMarcus Beasley. Junior Agogo is 20. "It's very important to have young talent on the team," Stoichkov said. "I will go out of my way every day to help these younger players. When I played with my Japanese club, I was a mentor to many young players who have now made it to their national team. That gives me great joy." How Stoichkov will fit in with the Fire remains to be seen. The team's first foreign star, goalkeeper Jorge Campos of Mexico, had trouble blending in and left the Fire after half a season."How I fit in is an internal matter between the players and coaches," Stoichkov said. "It's the kind of talk that belongs in the locker room."Stoichkov is expected to bolster the Fire up front, where the team already has strength with Josh Wolff,Ante Razov, Dema Kovalenko, Beasley and Agogo."Every team has a different style of play," Bradley said. "Hristo has a tremendous attacking ability.We don't have a set plan yet, but we'll do our best to allow Hristo to do what he's always done."