Fire Set to Take Seven
January 13, 2003 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release
The Chicago Fire coaching staff, led by GM Peter Wilt and new Head Coach Dave Sarachan, is set to continue a Fire tradition in selecting top prospects in the annual MLS SuperDraft on Friday, January 17 at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, MO starting at 2:30 p.m. CT. The 2003 edition sees the Fire holding onto a team record seven selections in the six-round bonanza.
Fire's SuperDraft Selections
First Round: 3rd pick
Second Round: 8th (18th overall)
Third Round: 4th, 5th, 6th (24th, 25th, 26th overall)
Fourth Round: None
Fifth Round: 4th (44th overall)
Sixth Round: 4th (54th overall)
The three previous SuperDratfs have seen the Fire select MLS Rookie of the Year candidates. In the inaugural SuperDraft in 2000, the Fire snapped-up defender Carlos Bocanegra with the fourth overall selection and the UCLA standout proceeded to turn heads en route to Rookie of the Year honors. The versatile defender also rose to the U.S. National Team in 2001 and earned 2002 ADT/MLS Defender of the Year accolades. The following year, the Fire selected another defender, but looked towards the East Coast to find Villanova's Jim Curtin with the fifth pick in the third round (29th overall). The poised central defender stepped into the Fire lineup after an injury to Bocanegra and received immediate praise. He turned heads and became a serious candidate for the first-year honors, but then-MetroStars and now Fire forward Rodrigo Faria took home the trophy. In 2002, the Fire nabbed U.S. U-23 defender/midfielder Kelly Gray, who was also thrust into the starting lineup due to the Fire's injury woes. The Portland University product became a vital cog and his versatility proved to be valuable as he was a finalist for the Rookie of the Year award. The Fire now enters the 2003 SuperDraft with the highest position it has had in the history of the team.
"Men in Red" Get New Threads
The Chicago Fire's newest member, 18 year-old midfielder and U.S. Under-20 National Team player Justin Mapp, will unveil the Fire's jersey by PUMA at a press conference on Wednesday, January 15 at 10:30 a.m. CT inside the Kovler Lion House at Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo. Fire General Manager Peter Wilt, goalkeeper Zach Thornton and defender C.J. Brown, as well as PUMA General Manager Jay Piccola are also expected to partake in the unveiling ceremony.
To celebrate the unveiling, the Fire and PUMA will host an exclusive, invite only launch party that same evening at Domaine, Chicago's newest hotspot. The party will feature a silent auction to benefit the FireWorks for Kids Foundation, the Fire's charitable arm. Fore more information please call the Fire Media Relations Department.
Fire Academy in Full Swing
The Fire Academy has kicked off its winter indoor training last weekend with the West Group beginning sessions for boys at Sportsplex in St. Charles conducted by Derek Niepomnik (U-10), Brian Kibler (U-12), John Gosling (U-14), and Eddy Voltaire (U-15). The North Group also started training last weekend for boys at the Prairie Lakes Community Center in Des Plaines.
Dan Karrow joins Voltaire in conducting sessions for the various age groups for the north. The City Group begins training tonight at Chi-Town Futbol in Chicago with former Fire player Frank Klopas and Salvador Arroyo training the boys. Klopas will handle the U-10 and U-12 and Arroyo will lead the U-14 and U-16. Each group has over 50 boys and is under the watchful eye of Technical Director and Fire assistant coach Daryl Shore. The indoor sessions will run for eight consecutive weeks through early March, with outdoor training resuming in April. For more information, please contact Director of Fire Academy Administration Roland Hahn at (312) 705-7212 or via e-mail at RHahn@MLSnet.com.
Injury Updates
Several Fire players are undergoing rehabilitation to be prepared for the upcoming 2003 MLS season. Fire midfielder Chris Armas is going through a lot of functional training as he works outdoors in Los Angeles to come back from tearing his ACL in his right knee. The U.S. international is getting out on the field and playing a bit, but he is working the ball in a controlled environment at his own pace and continues his strength training. He is expected be prepared for the start of the MLS season.
Fire all-time leading scorer Ante Razov is also undergoing rehab in his hometown of Los Angeles. The UCLA product still has two more weeks until he can run due to the shoulder surgery he had in December. He will be prepared for the latter stages of preseason training.
Midfielder Sergi Daniv is one more week away from being able to run after undergoing ligament repair on his great toe of his right foot last May. Currently, he is riding a stationary bicycle and will be evaluated further during preseason training.
The Fire's Botswana international forward Dipsy Selolwane is still in his homeland and will arrive in Chicago later in the month to be evaluated by the Fire's team physician Dr. Preston Wolin. The 24-year-old suffered fractured his fibula and dislocated his ankle playing in charity game in Botswana.
Fire Spreads
The Chicago Fire has players traveling throughout North American and Europe in preparation for the 2003 MLS season. Fire midfielder DaMarcus Beasley and defender Carlos Bocanegra are currently with the United States National Team in Bradenton, Florida to prepare for its first match of the season when it takes on Canada on Saturday, January 18 at 6:30 p.m. CT from Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The game will be available via pay-per-view courtesy of Setanta Sports.
Other Fire players traveling abroad this off-season are goalkeeper Zach Thornton (Blackburn Rovers, England), defender C.J. Brown (Sheffield United, England), goalkeeper Henry Ring and defender/midfielder Evan Whitfield (Monarcas Morelia, Mexico), defender/midfielder Kelly Gray (U.S. U-23 trip to Portugal), and midfielder Justin Mapp (U.S. U-20 camp in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida).
Hot Ticket
The Chicago Fire has put season tickets on sale with a return to Cardinal Stadium at North Central College in 2003, while the renovation of Soldier Field continues. The Fire also announced that it is holding the line on individual ticket prices with the exception of a $2 increase on the south end reserved FireHouse seats. The range of ticket prices will continue to be $15 for the general admission Supporters Section to $35 for the VIP Gold.
Discounts up to $3 per ticket are available for season and group purchase for the Fire's 15-game MLS regular season, plus any additional Open Cup, exhibition and playoff matches. Season ticket prices per game will range from $12 per game for the Fire's "Supporters Section" to $32 for the "VIP Gold" section.
Etc.
* The Fire's sister team, Monarcas Morelia came from behind to win its season opener 2-1 over Veracruz in the Campeonato Clausura last weekend. The goals were scored by Carlos Morales and Ismael Iñiguez at Morelos Stadium. Morelia is in Group 3 for the season with Necaxa, Club San Luis, Cruz Azul, and Chiapas. Morelia will face Monterrey on Saturday, January 18 at 4:50 p.m. CT from Estadio Tecnológico. The game will be televised live on Galavision.
* The United Soccer Leagues (USL) announced today that the Chicago Fire Reserves will compete in the Premier Development League's (PDL) Heartland Division. The Fire Reserves will compete against the Boulder Rapids Reserve, the Des Moines Menace, the Kansas City Brass, the Sioux Falls SpitFire, the new St. Louis expansion team, the Thunder Bay Chill, and the Wisconsin Rebels.
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Major League Soccer Stories from January 13, 2003
- Ready To Draft - San Jose Earthquakes
- Galaxy on the Clock for MLS Superdraft - LA Galaxy
- Fire Set to Take Seven - Chicago Fire FC
- Five Top Seniors Sign With League - MLS
- MetroStars To Hold Open Tryouts On Saturday, February 8 - New York Red Bulls
- MetroStars Preseason Starts February 3 - New York Red Bulls
- MLS SuperDraft Takes Place This Friday in KC, McBride Scores For Everton 10 Minutes Into Premier Lea - Columbus Crew SC
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