Kansas City Wizards Weekly Update
Published on July 1, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
Weekly Schedule
The Kansas City Wizards left Monday for a six-day road trip to North Carolina and Texas that will include a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup round of 16 match and an MLS match. The Wizards will face USL-1 side Carolina RailHawks Tuesday in Cary, NC then travel directly to Dallas for a July 4 MLS match-up against FC Dallas.
Tuesday, July 1 - Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
6:30 p.m. CT Kansas City Wizards at Carolina RailHawks available online at www.kcwizards.com.
Wednesday, July 2 Travel to Dallas/Training in Dallas
Thursday, July 3
Training in Dallas
Friday, July 4
6:30 p.m. CT Kansas City Wizards at FC Dallas on HDNet
Striker Josh Wolff Rejoins Kansas City Wizards
The Kansas City Wizards announced today that forward Josh Wolff has rejoined the club, signing a 4-year contract. Wolff, 31, played 80 games with the Wizards from 2003-2006, scoring 27 goals (T-5th in Wizards history) and tallying 20 assists (7th in Wizards history). Wolff played most recently in 34 games over the last two seasons (2 goals) with 1860 Munich in the German Second Bundesliga and currently has 52 caps and 9 goals for the U.S. National Team.
The Wizards first obtained Wolff in a trade with the Chicago Fire on January 7, 2003 in exchange for a first round selection (#3 overall) in the 2003 SuperDraft. Wolff played five years with the Fire (1998-2002) before his four-year stint in Kansas City. Wolff won two Team MVP and Golden Boot trophies (2004 and 2005) and played a key part in the 2004 season where the Wizards played in the MLS Cup and won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship. The Stone Mountain, Georgia native has played with 11 current Wizards teammates and is set to rejoin the club in the middle of next week and will be able to play in MLS games after the transfer window July 15th.
Overall in Major League Soccer, the two-time all-star (2002 and 2004) has netted 59 goals and garnered 35 assists in 164 games. He has won four championships (two MLS Cups and two U.S. Open Cups), to go along with playing in the 2000 Olympics and 2002 World Cup. The 5'9", 160 pound forward attended the University of South Carolina, where he scored 21 goals and added eight assists helping the Gamecocks to two straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
Vitals:
Josh Wolff Forward Height: 5-9 Weight: 160 Born: February 25, 1977 Hometown: Stone Mountain, GA College: University of South Carolina Last Club: 1860 Munich (Second Bundesliga)
Family: Married to Angela; two sons, Tyler and Owen
Wizards Spend Busy Week in North Carolina, Texas
Kansas City travels to Cary, NC Tuesday for a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup round of 16 match against the Carolina RailHawks at 6:30 p.m. CT. Live video from the match will be available via www.kcwizards.com. The Wizards are participating in the U.S. Open Cup proper for the first time since 2006 after losing a play-in game to Real Salt Lake in 2007. Kansas City defeated the Colorado Rapids in penalty kicks June 4 to secure one of Major League Soccer's eight places in the tournament. Kansas City and Carolina have never met one another in any competition.
The Wizards will then head straight to Frisco, Tex. for a League match July 4 at Pizza Hut Park. Kickoff is 6:30 p.m. CT, and HDNet will televise the game nationally. Fans who do not receive HDNet at their homes are encouraged to attend one of the Wizards official watch party locations. Wizards watch parties will take place at O'Dowd's in Zona Rosa at Barley's Brewhaus in Shawnee.
Kansas City and FC Dallas are meeting for the first time in 2008. The team's split two games in 2007, with Kansas City winning 2-0 on the final day of the regular season to secure a playoff spot. The Wizards are 17-15-6 all-time against Dallas.
Selena Gomez, Brandi Chastain Delight Fans Before Saturday's 1-0 Win at CommunityAmerica Ballpark
Fans were treated throughout Saturday's match to a good show from the Wizards and their special pre-game guests. Not only did Kansas City snap a winless streak on a late goal and extend its own shutout streak to 203-minutes, Disney Channel star Selena Gomez and former U.S. Women's National Team standout Brandi Chastain signed hundreds of autographs during pre-game festivities.
Lines started forming outside the gates of CommunityAmerica Ballpark as early as 4 p.m. for Gomez, who began signing inside the stadium at 5:30 p.m. She signed until 7 p.m., then went to the field to participate in the First Kick with Wizards captain Jimmy Conrad. Gomez stayed to watch the game and later was seen signing autographs in the grass berm area for those who missed her before kickoff. Gomez posted a YouTube video about the experience at her YouTube channel www.youtube.com/selgomez.
Brandi Chastain was also greeted enthusiastically by fans who lined up immediately after gates opened at 5 p.m. Chastain began signing at 6 p.m. and concluded just before kickoff. Chastain stuck around for the match, making an appearance on the team's Metro Sports television broadcast.
Sign Up Today for Wizards Championship Series Tournaments
Tournaments in the inaugural Wizards Championship Series include a 3-versus-3 tournament at the Wizards Swope Park Training Center in mid July and an 11-versus-11 Men's tournament in late August, again at Swope Park.
Tournament details:
Wizards 3-v-3 Tournament
Three (3) games guaranteed Each team will receive six (6) tickets to Wizards game July 10 vs. Red Bull New York or July 27 versus Chicago Fire
Registration Fee: $230
Competition: 3-versus-3
Team: Up to 8 team members
Location: Kansas City Wizards Swope Park Training Center
Dates: July 12 - 13, 2008
Age Groups: U-9, U-10, U-11, U-12, U-13, U-14, U-15, High School +
To register: Visit premiershipsports.com.
Wizards Men's Open Cup
Three (3) games guaranteed Each player will receive one (1) ticket to the Wizards game August 23 vs. FC Dallas
Registration Fee: $400
Competition: 11-versus-11
Team: Up to 18 team members
Location: Kansas City Wizards Swope Park Training Center
Dates: August 16 - 17 (Opening rounds)
August 23 - 24 (Elimination rounds)
Age Groups: 18+
To register: Contact the Wizards youth soccer department at (913) 387-3400
Sign up Today for Wizards Premier Soccer Camps
Specifically for male or female premier players ages 10-16, these camps are designed to go above and beyond what is offered at a standard soccer camp. In addition to first-class training, participants will receive: appearances from Wizards players and/or coaches, a free soccer ball, a free Wizards camp shirt, a Wizards camp gift and a voucher for one free ticket to a Wizards home match.
The focus of the week-long, 3-hour-a-day camp is to expose players to game-orientated training that will improve both their technical skills and their tactical soccer awareness. The emphasis of coaching will be on the mastering of advanced skills, performance under pressure and playing at speed in game-related situations.
The camp curriculum will feature:
- Passing and receiving on the move - Midfield combination play - One v One Defending - Team Defending - Shooting and Volleying - Crossing and Heading - Shooting from distance - Taking on and beating defenders - Daily competitive games
**Goalkeeper coaching will be available at each camp.
At the conclusion of the camp, individual player profiles will be passed on the Wizards coaching staff and player progress will be tracked during league and tournament play and future Wizards camps and training activities. Players may sign up individually or as a team, and will be coached within age and ability groups.
Wizards Premier Camps will take place at the following facilities throughout Kansas City in 2008:
Location Date; time Cost Registration Wizards Swope Park Training Center July 21-25; 9:00-12:00pm $139 Sign up on line
Raytown Soccer Club July 28-Aug 1; 5:30-8:30pm $139 Sign up on line
Challenger Sports
913-232-5166
Wizards@challengersports.com
The Jimmy Conrad Show, Weekly Press Conference Canceled This Week
The Jimmy Conrad Show and Wizards Weekly Press Conference will both be postponed this week due to the team's travel schedule. The Jimmy Conrad Show will resume next Wednesday, July 9 at 7 p.m. CT in the Power and Light District.
Archives of The Jimmy Conrad Show are available online at the Wizards podcast page.
Zona Wizards Airs Live Thursday on La Playa 1480 AM, Time Warner Cable Channel 5
Zona Wizards, the weekly Spanish-language radio and TV show, will air live this Thursday at 2 p.m. on La Playa 1480 AM and Time Warner Cable Channel 5. Hosted by Enrique Morales and Raul Villegas, Zona Wizards will feature a Wizards player this week.
Wizards Weekly to Air Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Wizards Weekly, Kansas City's weekly magazine show covering the Wizards will feature Head Coach Curt Onalfo and a player this week. Metro Sports will air Wizards Weekly three times per week.
Wizards Weekly show times:
Thursday's 9:30 p.m. CT
Friday's 6:30 p.m. CT
Saturday's 11:30 a.m. CT
Major League Soccer Stories from July 1, 2008
- Sounders stun Chivas - Seattle Sounders FC
- Wizards double up RailHawks for victory - Sporting Kansas City
- FC Dallas edges Miami - FC Dallas
- Revs blank Kickers - New England Revolution
- Chivas USA Community Calendar - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
- Real Salt Lake Weekly Update - Real Salt Lake
- Luciano Emilio earns June MLS Player of the Month honors - D.C. United
- One Day Remaining to Vote for the MLS All-Star First XI - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
- D.C. United Forward Luciano Emilio Voted MLS Player of the Month for June - MLS
- One Day Remaining to Vote for the MLS All-Star First XI - MLS
- Kansas City Wizards Weekly Update - Sporting Kansas City
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
