Kansas City Wizards Weekly Update
Published on February 22, 2010 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
SECOND LEG OF PRESEASON BEGINS
The Kansas City Wizards returned to their preseason training base in Phoenix, Arizona Sunday, ending a week-long break between training legs in advance of the 2010 MLS campaign. Though much of the first leg of preseason was focused on evaluating the players the team had in camp, the second leg will focus more on specific tactics, line-ups and strategy for the team moving forward.
The team will have ample opportunity to test those tactics, as they play five exhibition matches in Arizona before returning to Kansas City on March 8th. The Wizards' first test will take place on Wednesday against Chivas USA, before taking on the Los Angeles Galaxy twice in the following five days. The Wizards will then finish their Arizona preparations with matches against the Columbus Crew and local Division II school Grand Canyon University.
Wizards Preseason Game Schedule:
Date/Time (All Times Central) Opponent Location Result
Saturday, Feb. 6, 8 p.m.
Arizona Sahuaros
Grand Canyon University
Win, 5-0
Wednesday, Feb. 10, 12 p.m.
San Jose Earthquakes
Reach 11
Win, 3-0
Saturday, Feb. 13, 12 p.m.
San Jose Earthquakes
Arizona State University
Loss, 1-0
Wednesday, Feb. 24, 12 p.m.
Chivas USA
Reach 11
Friday, Feb. 26, 12 p.m.
Los Angeles Galaxy
Reach 11
Sunday, Feb. 28, 12 p.m.
Los Angeles Galaxy
Arizona State University
Thursday, March 4, 12 p.m.
Columbus Crew
Reach 11
Sunday, March 7, 12 p.m.
Grand Canyon University
Reach 11
The Kansas City Wizards began training in Phoenix, Arizona late last month, signaling the start of a five-week preseason camp to prepare the team for the 2010 MLS season. Nine teams from across Major League Soccer will join the Wizards in the Arizona capital, part of an effort by the organization to create a consistent preseason base for multiple MLS teams.
The Wizards are training at the Reach 11 Sports Complex in suburban Phoenix, just 30 miles away from the Kansas City Royals' training base in Surprise, Arizona.
Daily training updates, videos and match reports from Phoenix will be available throughout the preseason on www.kcwizards.com and Hillcrest Road, the official blog of the Kansas City Wizards at www.hillcrestroadblog.com. Already up from the first session of camp are highlights from the Wizards' two games against San Jose, an introduction to newly signed Colombian defender Pablo Escobar, and an update from midfielder Jack Jewsbury on his return from injury.
FOUR TRIMMED FROM ROSTER, NIELSEN EXPECTED NEXT WEEK
The Wizards have placed midfielders Kurt Morsink and Kevin Souter on waivers, and trialists Nelson Pizarro and Alex Horwath have been cut from the team's preseason roster.
Morsink, a 4th round draft pick by the Wizards in 2007, appeared in 47 games in three years with the team, recording three assists from the defensive midfielder position.
Both Souter and Pizarro joined the Wizards after impressing coaches during the team's open tryouts in 2008. Souter made eight appearances with five starts in his two years with the team, scoring one goal. Pizarro made three appearances for the team in 2008, before leaving the Wizards during the 2009 season.
Horwath was an Academic All-Big Ten goalkeeper at the University of Wisconsin. He joined the Wizards on trial at the start of the 2010 preseason.
In other roster-related news, newly-signed goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen is expected to join the team in Arizona next week. Nielsen will be competing for the starting goalkeeper position against Louis Crayton, Boris Pardo and Eric Kronberg, who is now under contract and has joined the team in Arizona. The Wizards must reduce their roster to 24 players by the MLS-imposed deadline of March 1st. There are currently 30 players in camp with the team.
Kansas City Preseason Player List:
Player Pos. Birthdate Hometown College
Korede Aiyegbusi D/M 07/15/1988 London, UK NC State
Davy Arnaud M/F 06/22/1980 Nederland, TX West Texas A&M
Stéphane Auvray M 09/04/1981 Les Abymes, Guadeloupe
Matt Besler DEF 02/11/1987 Overland Park, KS Notre Dame
Teal Bunbury FWD 02/17/1990 Prior Lake, MN Akron
Alexei Casian MID 01/10/1987 Moldova
Jimmy Conrad DEF 02/12/1977 Temple City, CA UCLA
Louis Crayton GK 01/26/1977 Monrovia, Liberia
Birahim Diop MID 02/07/1979 Thies, Senegal
Shahriar Dastan DEF Tehran, Iran
Pablo Escobar DEF 02/12/1987 Valle de Cauca, Colombia
Roger Espinoza MID 10/25/1986 Aurora, CO Ohio State
Mauro Fuzetti MID 11/18/1987 Houston, TX Michigan
Michael Harrington D/M 01/24/1986 Greenville, NC North Carolina
Santiago Hirsig MID 01/12/1978 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Aaron Hohlbein DEF 08/16/1985 Middleton, WI Wisconsin
Jack Jewsbury MID 04/13/1981 Springfield, MO St. Louis
Kei Kamara FWD 09/01/1984 Lawndale, CA CS Dominguez Hills
Igor Kostrov MID 03/08/1987 Moldova
Michael Kraus M/F 09/10/1984 Memphis, TN Creighton
Eric Kronberg GK 06/07/1983 Santa Rosa, CA California
Jonathan LeathersDEF 11/05/1985 Athens, GA Furman
Chance Myers D/M 12/07/1987 Thousand Oaks, CA UCLA
Jimmy Nielsen GK 08/06/1977 Aalborg, Denmark
Boris Pardo GK 03/22/1984 Hillside, NJ Seton Hall
Ryan Smith MID 11/10/1986 London, UK
Lance Watson MID 10/06/1983 Nederland, TX New Mexico
Josh Wolff FWD 02/25/1977 Stone Mountain, GA South Carolina
Graham Zusi MID 08/18/1986 Longwood, FL Maryland
Zoltan FWD 12/31/1979 Budapest, Hungary
WIZARDS WIN LOTTERY FOR LUIS GIL
In a weighted lottery held on Monday afternoon, the Kansas City Wizards won the rights to U.S. U-17 National Team midfielder Luis Gil. Considered by many to be one of the premier up-and-coming talents in the United States, the Garden Grove, California native attracted interest from English powerhouse Arsenal last year before signing a deal with Major League Soccer earlier this month.
The 16-year-old signed a contract with MLS with stipulations. However, Wizards Manager Peter Vermes is planning to speak with Gil, his family, and his representation soon to see if the midfielder would be interested in staying with Kansas City.
Because Gil's signing took place after the draft, MLS used a weighted lottery to determine which team he would be allocated to. As a Generation Adidas player, Gil's wages will not count towards the MLS salary cap.
WIZARDS HOST 2010 OPEN TRYOUTS:
The Kansas City Wizards will hold its 3rd annual open tryouts from March 13-14, 2010. The tryout cost is $200, and players can sign up and get all the information on the tryouts by visiting www.kcwizards.com/opentryout. Any additional questions can be sent to tryouts@kcwizards.com.
Participants will take part in scrimmages Saturday, with the top players called back for Sunday's session. Finalists will then get the opportunity to tryout with the Wizards first team in March with the chance of securing a contract. Final tryout location and times will be provided to each participant closer to the event.
The Wizards held an open tryout in 2008 for the first time since their inaugural 1996 season, with the event drawing over 200 players from 15 different countries. Two players eventually signed for Kansas City; midfielders Kevin Souter and Nelson Pizarro. Both went on to play in MLS matches for the Wizards in 2008, and Souter started the final four games of the regular season and both MLS Cup Playoff matches for Kansas City. Another 200 participants took part in the tryouts in 2009. Numerous talented participants stood out, and five of the open tryout players were invited back during the season to train with the Wizards.
2010 SEASON-TICKET PACKAGES NOW ON SALE:
The Kansas City Wizards are now accepting renewals from current season ticket holders and new season ticket deposits for the 2010 Major League Soccer season. The Wizards will begin the 2010 campaign with a home match on Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. CT against D.C. United at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Kansas City, a charter member of Major League Soccer, will play its 15th season in 2010.
Fans who renew their season tickets or purchase new season-ticket packages will retain an early priority number that will determine seat locations in Kansas City's new stadium. To renew season tickets or place a deposit for new season tickets, call the Wizards locally at 913-387-3400, toll-free at 1-888-4KC-GOAL or visit www.kcwizards.com.
Prices for the 2010 Kansas City Wizards season at CommunityAmerica Ballpark will remain unchanged, with the exception of some premium seating sections. Season tickets start at just $180 for an 18-game schedule that includes 15 regular-season MLS contests and three "Special Game" tickets. The Wizards will offer FREE parking for all matches at CommunityAmerica Ballpark again in 2010.
After the season opener, the Wizards will travel to face the Houston Dynamo on Saturday, April 3 at 7:30 p.m. CT. The full 2010 MLS schedule will be announced in January of next year, and Kansas City's broadcast schedule will be announced leading up to the start of the 2010 campaign.
2010 Season Ticket Prices
Seating Category Full-Season Rate Per-Game Rate Gate Price
Field Side Reserved $1,800 $100 $120
Terrace Table (4 Seats) $3,600 $50 $60
Stadium Reserved $396 $22 $25
Bleacher Reserved $324 $18 $20
Cauldron $252 $14 $20
Grass Berm/General Admission $180 $10 $15
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