“We’re all here just to see this thing grow,” added Bah, one of three players remaining from the inaugural 2016 team. He’s a busy man these days, working in a mentorship and support role at a local high school, as a part-time model and a recently-licensed real-estate agent.
Part of the team that qualified for that first Open Cup in 2016/17, Bah chooses to see the bright side of the disappointing disqualification – and the long wait for this Open Cup debut. “It gave us time to get the pieces right and set up the culture and move forward.
“Everybody wants to see what City is going to do now,” Bah went on. “We want to be one of those lower-level teams that comes in and makes a little news. We’re not just here to be here – we wanna’ compete.”
Menace in Waiting
Minneapolis City’s first game in the Open Cup will be no walk in the park. They’re up against the Des Moines Menace. Founded back in 1994, the 14-time Open Cup participants also happen to be reigning USL League Two national champions.
“Playing the Menace, national champions, sh*t, that’s a great start,’ added coach VanBenschoten, who fully expects a flock of the Crows fans to make the 250-mile trek to Des Moines to see the club put their undefeated Open Cup tag on the line. “On paper, they should kick our as*es, but that’s the beauty of the Open Cup…And it’s not just about wins and losses.”
