After preseason this past winter and the announcement that a 16-game season would in fact be happening this summer, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC was eager to begin.
But while travel restrictions tightened in the United States in the midst of the pandemic, Hounds newcomers Patrick Bunk-Andersen and Albert Dikwa were sequestered into a forced quarantine in their respective home countries.
For three months, Bunk-Andersen was at home in Denmark after returning back after preseason. On the other hand, Dikwa would remain in his home country of Cameroon.
“It’s obviously super frustrating and tough mentally having to leave and not knowing when you get back,” Bunk-Andersen said. “But constantly having that chip on the shoulder knowing when I’ll be back I got to make sure that I’m there to make the team better, make my teammates better and of course just give everything I have. I enjoy doing that every single week.”
The Clemson University product trained on his own for a month before getting the opportunity to train on a full schedule with a second division team in Denmark, where a friend played.
The defender said he knew he would have to play catchup upon returning to Pittsburgh. Just more than a month ago, he did just that.
Bunk-Andersen received his first minutes of play against Hartford Athletic, in the first game of three against the team back on Aug. 28 at Dillon Stadium.
“It’s amazing,” Bunk-Andersen said. “I’ve said to some of the guys on Saturday when I got my start, I’ve been waiting all 2020 to do this with them.”
The 6-foot-2-inch teammate has played five games this season with two starts and has added to the depth of the team’s defenders.
With the Hounds clinching playoff berth and remaining No. 1 in Group F, the team is hoping to get through the last three games of the season and continue a strong run into playoffs.
“This is a club with high expectations every year,” Bunk Andersen said. “Since day one, it got me feeling that Bob [Lilley] as a coach is aiming for one thing only and that is getting as far as possible in the season.”
Meanwhile, Dikwa remained in Cameroon for the duration of quarantine and into the 2020 season, as VISA restrictions delayed the forward from traveling to Pittsburgh to play.
“It was kind of difficult because I like to help the team,” Dikwa said. “Some stuff you can’t control it, so you have to deal with it.”
The previous Saint Louis FC striker used his time in the offseason to train, and while at home, continually doing workouts to make sure he was ready for his return.
Just around a month ago, Dikwa received VISA clearance to travel to the United States and resume activity with the team.
“My role with the team is mostly stretching the game, defending, scoring goals,” Dikwa said. “Goals are kind of easy. With one of the best teams in the league, we have a lot of pressure that we have to do great and make anything.”
Dikwa has played four games and scored two goals on 10 shots for the Hounds thus far.
The 5-foot-11-inch, 161-pound player has since spent his time in training following head coach Lilley’s instruction and getting to know his teammates.
“I was kind of nervous though because I just knew two guys, Tomas [Gomez] and Tony [Walls],” Dikwa said. “And then my first day, I feel like I was already connecting with some of the players. Nice guys, nice people always willing to help me. Like I said, I’m grateful for it.”
Lilley said he is impressed with how quickly both Bunk-Andersen and Dikwa were able to mesh into the group, as well as getting their fitness up to speed very quickly.
Dikwa and Bunk-Andersen have also added to the team’s depth, Lilley said, allowing there to be healthy competition among teammates for starting spots and helping to push players forward.
“These are things you want to deal with as a coach to have more depth,” Lilley said. “They’ve done a good job for us.”
