MLS Sporting Kansas City

Kansas City Wizards Weekly Update

Published on March 30, 2004 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


Wizards Open 2004 Season This Saturday Against Chicago Fire The Kansas City Wizards will open their 2004 MLS season at home this Saturday, April 3rd when they host the defending Eastern Conference Champion Chicago Fire at Arrowhead Stadium at 7:30 p.m. CT. Both teams had their 2003 seasons come to an end at the hands of the San Jose Earthquakes. The Wizards were knocked out of the postseason after falling 3-2 in overtime of the Western Conference Final. Chicago then lost to the Earthquakes 4-2 in the 2003 MLS Cup Final.

The Chicago Fire will have a different look in 2004 as longtime goalkeeper Zach Thornton signed with Portuguese club Benfica during the offseason and defender Carlos Bocanegra signed with English Premier club Fulham. Replacing Thornton in goal will likely be Henry Ring who has spent the past three seasons as Thornton's backup, but appeared in just two matches during that time including one start. Ring battled veteran goalkeeper D.J. Countess during the preseason for the starting nod after the Fire acquired Countess in a trade with Dallas in February.

Replacing Bocanegra, a two-time MLS All-Star, two-time MLS Defender of the Year and two-time "Pepsi Best XI" selection may prove to be a bigger challenge for the Fire. During the preseason, the Fire experimented with a three-man back line of C.J. Brown, Jim Curtin and Evan Whitfield and added third year player Kelly Gray to the mix occasionally as a fourth defender.

Either way, Jim Curtin's presence in the middle will be the key to the Fire defense.

The Wizards will look to midfielders Diego Walsh and Francisco Gomez to replace last year's MLS MVP and Budweiser Scoring Champion Preki who is out until June after suffering a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle during the preseason. While the team could also miss the leadership of Preki in the middle, Kansas City will rely on the play of midfielders Kerry Zavagnin and Chris Klein and forward Josh Wolff, who have turned in preseason performances that warranted call-ins to the U.S. National Team's friendly against Poland this week.

Klein, Wolff & Zavagnin in Poland with U.S. National Team

Chris Klein, Josh Wolff and Kerry Zavagnin departed Kansas City last Friday for Poland where they joined the United States National Team in preparations for a friendly match against Poland on Wednesday, March 31st. The Wizards offer the largest contingent of players as no other team in MLS has more than one player in Poland with the National Team. The 18-man roster is comprised of eight MLS players and ten Europe-based players.

Zavagnin continues his impressive rise to the U.S. National Team ranks after being called into camp by Bruce Arena in December 2003 and again in January of this year. He made his third career appearance for the U.S. in a friendly match against Denmark on January 18th and was named to the final roster that played Holland in February. Klein will look to make his 16th career appearance for the U.S. and follow up his impressive 2003 performance in which he scored three goals in seven appearances last year. Wolff has made 22 career appearances for the U.S. including two appearances in 2004. He returned to the National Team scene against Denmark in January for the first time since appearing in the 2002 World Cup.

Meet the Wizards and Watch the U.S. Take on Poland on Wednesday, March 31st

The Kansas City Wizards will host their annual "Meet the Players" party on Wednesday, March 31st at the Fox and Hound Smokehouse & Tavern in Independence. Fans can meet the 2004 Wizards players and coaches and get autographs while enjoying complimentary appetizers from the Fox and Hound. In addition, the Wizards will show a tape-delayed broadcast of the U.S. National Team's friendly match against Poland. Three Wizards players will be representing the U.S. as Chris Klein, Josh Wolff and Kerry Zavagnin

The party will start at 6:00 p.m. and fans are encouraged to stop by and meet the team and get autographs. An appetizer buffet will be served from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. compliments of the Fox and Hound. The Fox and Hound is located at 19210-A E. 39th Street, Independence, MO 64108 (directly in front of the AMC Independence Commons 20 movie theatre).

KC Kicks Kickball Classic Adult Kickball Tournament - Sunday, April 4, 2004

The World Adult Kickball Association will host the KC Kicks Kickball Classic Adult Kickball Tournament this Sunday, April 4th in the Kansas City Wizards and Kansas City Chiefs Indoor Practice Facility. All participants will receive a 2004 Kansas City Wizards ticket voucher. For more information on the tournament visit www.worldkickball.com or the Wizards website at www.kcwizards.com.

Wizards in the Community

Brian Bliss and Leawood Parks and Recreation Wizards Assistant Coach Brian Bliss met with Leawood Parks and Recreation Coaches on Monday evening for a chalkboard discussion and on-field demonstrations. The coaches clinic took place at City Park Fields from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Wizards Kickoff at SYSCO

Wizards players Diego Gutierrez, Nick Garcia, Davy Arnaud and Jose Luis Burciaga Jr. will meet with SYSCO Food Services of Kansas City, Inc. on Tuesday night. The players will have dinner with SYSCO employees to kickoff a ticket partnership and the start of the Wizards season.

Dynamo Celebrates Kick Butts Day

Wizards mascot Dynamo the Dragon will join 300 Tobacco-Free Kids at Kick Butts Day on Wednesday, March 31st. Dynamo will walk in the parade celebrating Tobacco-Free Kids from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The event will take place at Illus W. Davis Park

Burciaga at Central Middle School

Wizards defender Jose Luis Burciaga Jr. will be the celebrity guest speaker at a Central Middle School assembly on Thursday afternoon. Burciaga will be speaking to an audience about the importance of staying and doing well in school. Central Middle School is located in Kansas City, KS. The school assembly is from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. For more information please call Staci Schottman at 816-920-4739.

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Major League Soccer Stories from March 30, 2004


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