Blast names new assistant coach
Published on January 3, 2006 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
Baltimore Blast News Release
Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Blast General Manager Kevin Healey announced today that the team has named Tarik Walker as the Blast's new Assistant Coach. Walker, an 11-year veteran of professional indoor soccer, replaces Max Thompson who decided to return to England for personal reasons.
Walker played nine seasons for the Blast, winning two MISL Championships in Baltimore and another with the Milwaukee Wave in 1997-98. The 1994 NPSL Rookie of the Year, Walker played in two League All Star Games and also played in the USISL and CISL during his playing career. He ranks second on the Blast's all-time scoring list with 556 points (218 goals, 142 assists) in 321 games.
"I am very pleased to add Tarik to the coaching staff," Healey said. "He has all the qualities to be an excellent assistant coach. Tarik has been an outstanding player for the Blast and we welcome him to his new position."
Thompson, a native of Liverpool, England, was a member of the original Blast from 1983-85. He re-joined the Blast at the start of the 2004-05 season. As a player, Thompson played 47 games as a defender and won a league Championship in 1984. He scored six goals and recorded six assists for a career total of 12 points.
"I think every player thinks about one day being a coach," Walker said. "I appreciate the confidence the organization has in me. This is not something I saw in my immediate future but it is an opportunity that I could not pass up. I look forward to contributing to a successful season."
In other Blast news, goalkeeper Sanaldo was named MISL Goalkeeper of the Week yesterday. Sanaldo was in goal for Baltimore's 8-2 win over the Philadelphia KiXX last Friday night. He turned away nine of the 11 shots he faced and allowed just two goals in his second victory of the season. Sanaldo also recorded an assist to Adauto Neto in the fourth quarter.
The Blast will play a home-and-home series with the defending champion Milwaukee Wave this weekend. The teams will face off in Milwaukee Friday night and then again at 1st Mariner Arena on Saturday night at 7:35 p.m. The Wave (8-0, first place in the MISL), are the only undefeated team this season. The Blast (5-3, third place in the MISL) is led by Adauto Neto, the MISL's leading scorer but will play the remainder of the season without the franchise's all-time leading scorer Denison Cabral who tore his ACL Friday night against the KiXX.
Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from January 3, 2006
- Randy Soderman Makes Top Defender - St. Louis Steamers
- Wave sweeps Player of the Month awards - Milwaukee Wave
- Wave signs midfielder Alen Osmanovic - Milwaukee Wave
- MISL names players of the week - MISL 2
- Blast names new assistant coach - Baltimore Blast
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