Inter Miami CF II will launch its 2022 season this Saturday, March 26 at 6 p.m. ET when it takes on Columbus Crew 2 at DRV PNK Stadium. The match will mark the team’s first in MLS NEXT Pro, the league’s new lower division focused on the development of future stars.
Since its inception, Inter Miami has emphasized this goal. The club has centered its efforts on producing future stars through its development pathway, beginning with local talents from the Academy, to Inter Miami CF II and eventually the First Team.
For Inter Miami CF II head coach Darren Powell, this approach offers a chance to put young players in positions to succeed, but he highlighted the importance of the work required to achieve that success.
“We have a clear pathway at Inter Miami from the Academy to MLS NEXT Pro through to the First Team. Ownership has put a significant investment in making sure that pathway is smooth and integrated, and that’s what we are starting to see the beginnings of. You’ll see the benefits of that even more the longer the Academy and second team are established, with more and more players coming through and earning opportunities. It’s fantastic that we had a breakthrough last year with Edison Azcona making his MLS debut; it showed the Academy players just how close it actually is,” said Powell.
“We set the players up for success, we want to put them through a routine that is very similar to being a First Team player every day. So, from their arrival in the building to when they depart, we expect them to conduct themselves in a very professional manner. That’s what we as a staff try to teach and cultivate. We want to have the players be good ambassadors for the whole club. What the players have to remember is that it’s not just one performance that gets you to MLS, its key performances throughout the years, your daily work on the training ground, the way you act in the building, your character, your desire, and your passion to play for this club. If you really apply that everyday, you’ll get closer and closer through our pathway. Who knows who the next young player to break through will be? But they will have the opportunity.”
Powell also highlighted the demands in place for the players that are essential to the development process as the club aims to mold young players into future stars.
“The non-negotiables for us are very, very important: we want to make sure we play with intensity from the first whistle to the last whistle. We felt that was evident with last year’s group and we want to make sure we continue to see that year on year. We want them to make sure they’re competitive. It’s not just about putting the jersey on, it’s about living inside that jersey and making sure that you’re giving everything for this opportunity when you play for this club. Something the players understand is that the game is constant and each play is never over, it’s always that next action, second action, we need to make sure the players always have a response to what’s required in the game. ”
From Azcona to George Acosta, Noah Allen, Ian Fray and Aimé Mabika, a number of players have graduated from Inter Miami CF II to the First Team. Azcona became the club’s first Academy product to feature in an MLS match for Inter Miami in 2021, while Allen recently became the first Academy product to start an MLS match for the club. Acosta and Mabika, meanwhile, starred for Inter Miami CF II in 2021 before earning new contracts with Inter Miami heading into 2022. According to Powell, these recent success stories offer examples for the next generation of players behind them.
“It’s a great example to see how close you actually are. When you’re in the environment on a daily basis, the opportunities will present themselves. If you really perform well in that environment, Head Coach Phil Neville and his coaching staff have done a wonderful job of giving young players opportunities,” said Powell.
“But what’s very important is that the journey in soccer is never over. When you make the next step and you get into the training environment with the First Team, your job now is to try to break through and earn minutes on the First Team on game days and establish yourself on the team. That is the next step on their journey, which is probably the most difficult step of all. Our job within MLS NEXT Pro is to prepare them the best we can so that they’re competitive in training and they have a willingness to listen and learn every single day and make sure they continue with their improvement and development in the First Team.”
Powell also touched on the benefits of MLS NEXT Pro as the team enters a new league, stressing the added roster fluidity.
“With the new league, the fluidity between the teams in terms of gameday rosters is massive. The young players on our team can potentially play a few games within the MLS environment on the First Team seamlessly. Then young First Team players that may not be getting many minutes right now can get the opportunity to get significant minutes in meaningful games within the league structure against other MLS NEXT Pro teams. The fluidity between the rosters, the integration we have at Inter Miami is really going to serve us well. I think you’ll see player movement all year long.”
Inter Miami CF II’s match against Columbus Crew 2 on Saturday will be streamed live on www.mlsnextpro.com.
