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Wednesday, June 21, 2000 By Ray Fittipaldo, Post-Gazette Sports Writer
In the Riverhounds' offices on the South Side, catercorner to the desk of assistant coach Paul Child, sits the desk of Randy Dedini, goalkeeper and reigning team MVP.
Since when do goalkeepers occupy office space?
In the world of A-League soccer, creativity in the structuring of players contracts can mean the difference between fielding a competitive team and a losing team.
Dedini is good enough to earn a paycheck from many Major League Soccer teams, the Division I of U.S. soccer. In fact, Dedini has played on several MLS teams over the years on short contracts when starting goalkeepers have been injured.
Dedini probably could be playing in the MLS as a backup now. But Dedini's wife recently gave birth to their first child, and they enjoy living in Pittsburgh. So Dedini opted for job stability and took a full-time job offer from General Manager Dave Kasper.
During the off-season, Dedini works in the office as assistant director of youth development.
"I'm in a situation now where everyone in the MLS knows who I am," Dedini said. "I'm one of the first guys they call from the A-League when they need someone. But right now, I'm really happy with the situation I have here. This situation is better than what a lot of MLS teams can offer me. I'm making more money here than what I would as a backup in the MLS."
So Dedini is goalkeeper for six months a year, then community soccer advocate during the other six months. Dedini also coaches at Duquesne University and Quaker Valley High School. He hopes to become a teacher and coach after his playing days are over.
Dedini's contract is an example of how A-League organizations are trying to retain elite players, rather than having them leave for the MLS.
"Plus, it's important to keep players visible to the fans on a year-round basis," Coach John Kowalski said.
Two other Riverhounds players -- Edward Child and Jaman Tripoli -- have expressed an interest in working for the club on a year-round basis.
The A-League is not in direct competition with MLS, which has bigger media markets and a national television contract with ESPN. But A-League teams can compete with MLS teams on the field, as evidenced by Rochester winning the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup last season. Also, the Richmond Kickers were one of several lower-level teams to defeat MLS teams in the second round of this year's Open Cup.
The Riverhounds will see how they stack up against an MLS team for the first time tonight at Bethel Park High School Stadium when they play the Columbus Crew in an exhibition match.
"There's really not a big difference," Dedini said. "They get four or five international players, some of the best players in the world. But on any given day, any A-League team can beat any MLS team."
A-League teams, including the Riverhounds, can lure players capable of playing in the MLS by offering them more playing time and a financial package competitive with those of MLS teams.
MLS teams offer rookie players between $25,000-27,000 per year. Second-year players earn between $35,000-40,000 per year. The Riverhounds offer their players roughly half of that in salary, but they provide housing for all players at an apartment complex near the airport (players pay less than $100 per month plus utilities), offer bonuses for Open Cup games and playoff games, provide health insurance and offer players the opportunity to work summer camps with the team to earn extra money.
In addition, Kowalski, with his many ties in international soccer, places players overseas in professional leagues and in the United States in the National Professional Soccer League during the off-season, where they can earn more money. The only downfall is there is no off-season for players who choose to do that.
Kasper said Dedini and players who choose to play year-round can earn more pay than MLS players. The elite players in the MLS earn $250,000 per year, but most others do not earn nearly as much.
NOTES -- Alexi Lalas, former Olympian and World Cup player, will sing the national anthem and sign autographs before and during the game against Hershey July 7 at Bethel Park Stadium. Lalas, a former MLS player as well, is in semiretirement.
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Matchup: Riverhounds (4-6-1) vs. Columbus (5-7-4), 7:35 p.m., Bethel Park High School Stadium.