Injured players had week off to recover

The Richmond Kickers returned to practice this week on one of Collegiate High's fields after taking the weekend off, and the biggest gain may have been in getting some of the injured players healthy.

Coach Leigh Cowlishaw also has gotten the full-time services of forward David Bulow, who is in town after completing his high school coaching duties in Colorado, and midfielder Stanley Nyazamba, who is finished with college and here for good.

Forward Ben Hunter and midfielder Evan Harding, both of whom have struggled with injuries, should be available when the Kickers (1-2-0) travel to Western Mass. (2-1-1) on Saturday. Defender Kevin Knight (hamstring) and midfielder Eliot Paschalis (knee) are a couple of weeks away, said Cowlishaw, who indicated that forward Freddie Smith (groin) could be out this week, too.

Defender Adam Chavez will miss Saturday's game as well because of graduation exercises at Binghamton (N.Y.) University.

"Hopefully, this will be the last game where we really have to just try and throw 11 players on the field to play," Cowlishaw said. "It's better than it has been, but it's certainly far from where we'd like it to be. . . .

"We're not going to hit championship form anytime soon, but I think we've just got to focus on progressing now and getting better and better, week in and week out."

Visa problems keep Dawkins in Jamaica

It sounds like a broken record, but forward Fabian Dawkins still hasn't arrived from Jamaica, where he has been stuck because of visa problems.

"They're trying to get the Jamaican federation involved, and they've sent all the passport, paperwork to their business manager now, so hopefully he can help get into the U.S. Embassy," Cowlishaw said. "The situation is he needs to get his visa stamped, and the only way he can do that is to go through the U.S. Embassy. It seems like there's a huge backlog there."

Richmond goalkeeper Ronnie Pascale remembers Dawkins as a "fast and dangerous player" when he was with Atlanta (United Soccer Leagues First Division) in 2005. Dawkins had 15 goals and four assists in 26 games that season.

Dawkins has been slowed by injuries the past two seasons, having spent last year with the Montreal Impact (USL1). The 5-10 160-pounder continues to play for Village United FC in his home country.

Destiny squad opens season on Sunday

The Richmond Kickers Destiny of the Women's League open their fifth season Sunday when they play host to the Carolina RailHawks at 6 p.m. at First Market Stadium. The W-League is an under-23 amateur organization composed largely of college players.

- John Packett