sa国际传媒官网网页入口

Ousman Jabang isn鈥檛 sweating New Mexico United鈥檚 trip to the East Coast 鈥� humidity, time difference and all.

Consider the defender a fan of the Eastern Seaboard.

鈥淚 love the East Coast. That鈥檚 where I鈥檓 from,鈥� said Jabang, who grew up outside Atlanta. 鈥淪o I love the humidity, the greenery, all that. So it鈥檚 no problem for me. 鈥� It鈥檚 a fun trip.鈥�

Even the travel? That might be up for some debate 鈥� from most anyway.

At a little more than 2,100 miles, Saturday鈥檚 match at Hartford Athletic (3-2-4) in Connecticut will be the longest of United鈥檚 scheduled seven road trips that cover at least 1,000 miles. The Aug. 22 match at Loudoun United FC in Virginia will be the second longest at just under 1,900.

鈥淗onestly, I鈥檓 used to (the travel),鈥� midfielder Zico Bailey said. 鈥淪ometimes I go away with the (Filipino) national team and it鈥檚 15 hours ahead. So like two or three hours? You get used to it.鈥�

It turns out, the players receive a little help with any kind of adjustment periods, courtesy of manager Dennis Sanchez.

No sense in taking United (4-4-1) too much out of its preferred routine. And sometimes, less is better.

鈥淚 know as a coach, when we go on the road, I try to give the players as much time on their own as they can just to kind of chill, relax, do their own things, while obviously still staying focused on the game,鈥� Sanchez said Wednesday, a day before the club鈥檚 departure. 鈥淭hey hear my voice enough during the week that come Friday, Saturday, it鈥檚 their time and really (it鈥檚) just about them getting themselves right for the game.鈥�

There鈥檚 just the matter of how players choose to spend that downtime leading up to a match. Unsurprisingly, in rather ordinary and relatable ways. 

Some, like Jabang, might take a little stroll in the morning to 鈥済et some fresh air.鈥� More often than not, it鈥檚 about 鈥渃hilling with the guys.鈥� Super Smash Bros. is a popular video game, while 22 is the preferred card game.

So, who tends to run the show? Hey, someone has to win and others lose.

鈥淒epends on what game you鈥檙e talking about,鈥� Bailey said with a laugh. 鈥�(Jabang) can speak on the last trip.鈥�

His answer? You probably guessed.

鈥淭he last trip, (Bailey) wasn鈥檛 there, so it was all me,鈥� Jabang said. 鈥淯sually we鈥檙e two of the top and a couple of other guys float in here and there.鈥�

Sounds like some teammates need to step up their game 鈥� off the pitch.

But those can be the benefits of road trips.

鈥淭his is part of being part of the professional game, you got to adapt,鈥� Sanchez said. 鈥淭his mindset mentality we talk about, 鈥榓nytime, anywhere,鈥� regardless of who we鈥檙e playing (or) where we鈥檙e playing 鈥� dirt field, turf field, grass, perfect conditions, non-perfect conditions 鈥� we have to adapt.鈥�

David Glovach covers New Mexico United and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at dglovach@abqjournal.com or via X .