Jim, Would it be possible to meet the team personally or have any backstage passes with the players? It would be lovely to take pictures with our favorite players.I would love to meet Benni Mcharty, Tijani Babangida and maybe Sunday Oliseh. I hope it would be possible.It would be lovely.

-- Deli Fawumi (delefawumi@hotmail.com), June 09, 1999

Answers

I've spoken with Ajax; as far as they are concerned, all team practices are open to the public except the first one at Foxboro. (There is always a chance that Rutgers may bar us from watching, for some stupid reason.) I will endeaver to find out the exact location, confirm the practice times, and post that information here later in the week.

Ajax believes we can observe practice and maybe even meet the team and collect some autographs at the Saturday morning* practice. We can talk more about this special event at the Friday pre-game tailgate party, or you can email me at jim@arsdigita.com for more information.

Here is the tentative Ajax practice schedule:

• July 20, 19:30 hrs: Foxboro stadium (press only)
• July 21, 10:30 hrs: Babson Campus (?)
• July 22, 17:30 hrs: Rutgers University
• July 23, 10:30 hrs: Rutgers University
• July 24, 10:30* & 17:30 hrs: Rutgers University
• July 25, TBA (depends on result of first game): Rutgers University
• July 26, 10:30 hrs: Rutgers University

-- Jim (jim@arsdigita.com), July 19, 1999.

I spoke with Mr. Endt again, and he has confirmed that Ajax will train from 10:30 to 11:15 or 11:30 on Saturday morning at Rutgers, in the soccer stadium (not the American football stadium). We are welcome to attend, and he will try to arrange for us to meet some of the players at that time. I encourage you to get out to Rutgers by 10 or so and find your way to the soccer stadium; I plan to bring the red Ajax USA banner, so look for that.

-- Jim (jim@arsdigita.com), July 23, 1999.

David Endt called this morning to say that only 6 or so players will train this morning, since the trainer wants to rest the others due to fatigue. I suppose this means only the reserves will train. But we are still welcome at the 10:30 practice.

-- Jim (jim@arsdigita.com), July 24, 1999.

Incase anyone wants to know the practice, I'm assuming, is probably at the Rutgers University Campus in Newark and not the New Brunswick campus since it's the closest to the stadium.

-- Danielle Henon (ddaanniieellee@hotmail.com), July 23, 1999.

I would think that the training sessions would be at the New Brunswick campus, because that's where the Rutgers men's team play their matches, and also because the stadium field at RU-NB is in ideal condition for mid-July.

-- Kevin Baker (SpecialK60@aol.com), July 23, 1999.