By BRIAN TYNES | Selma Times-Journal

SELMA — Concordia College’s soccer team is coming off a national championship and will have to replace its captains, but that doesn’t seem to be much cause for concern.

“I have to replace two good players, but I expect the others to grow,” Concordia coach Brent Dukhie said.

That doesn’t mean, however, he isn’t expecting an learning period.

“We have to change the system to fit the players, and that’s a big adjustment,” Dukhie said. “I don’t know which players will step up, but I think we’ll be OK.”

Center defender Lekol Kordah doesn’t think the changes will be significant enough to disrupt what the team has started to build.

“We will be improved because we’ve been there and know what to expect,” Kordah said. “We’re a good, confident team.”

Kordah, who is from Nigeria, has been playing leagues in Africa during the offseason to stay in shape and help his improve his dribbling, but its the offensive end of the field where the most work will need to be done.

The Hornets lost their center midfielder and forward off last year’s team and are searching for replacements.

The most noticeable change will be the offense running through multiple players and not just a centralized attack from one player.

“We don’t really know what we have until they get back,” Dukhie said. “Last year we were strong up the middle, and this year we may be stronger to the outside. We’re going to have to channel the offense in different directions.”

Dukhie said he has also seen things in the World Cup that the Hornets might be able to adapt to their personnel.

Concordia’s season starts in August, and the players will return just before the start of school  to begin preseason practices.