Kansas City Wizards Weekly Update
Published on August 11, 2010 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
WIZARDS TRAVEL TO SAN JOSE FOR SATURDAY MATCHUP:
The Kansas City Wizards will look to extend their good run of play as they face San Jose on Saturday. The Wizards are unbeaten in their last four MLS matches and last five overall, but the streak will be tested at San Jose where the Wizards have been winless in their last 13 encounters with the Earthquakes, dating back to 2000.
Kansas City is riding the momentum of earning eight points over the four-game stretch in league play and now return to the road following home victories over Manchester United and Toronto FC, and a draw last weekend against defending MLS champions Real Salt Lake. San Jose is coming off a 1-0 loss at Colorado last Saturday.
The clash could prove to be an important one in regard to postseason contention, as both Kansas City and San Jose sit in similar positions just outside the playoff picture. The Wizards are currently in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings with 20 points (5-8-5), while San Jose enters in sixth place in the Western Conference table on 23 points.
Saturday's contest, broadcast live in high definition in both English and Spanish on KCWE Channel 29, is the first meeting between Kansas City and San Jose this season, with the rematch scheduled for the regular season finale on Saturday, October 23rd at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
SHAVAR THOMAS CALLED TO JAMAICAN NATIONAL TEAM:
Kansas City Wizards central defender Shavar Thomas was called to the Jamaican National Team for tonight's international friendly against Trinidad and Tobago. Jamaica, ranked No. 82 in the recently released FIFA rankings, selected four MLS players in total, with San Jose's Ryan Johnson, New York's Dane Richards and Los Angeles goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts all alongside Thomas in this week's camp. Thomas will rejoin the Wizards in San Jose and is expected to be available for Saturday's match against the Earthquakes.
Thomas has appeared 27 times for the Jamaica National Team. He served as captain for the team's 2004 Olympic squad (U-23) and was a member of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup team.
Tonight's match between the Carribean rivals kicks off at 7 p.m. CT at Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya, Trinidad & Tobago. Jamaica will face Trinidad and Tobago again on October 10 at National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica.
Thomas was re-acquired by the Wizards in a trade with Philadelphia on June 30, after spending three seasons in Kansas City from 2004-2006, and has started every game since his return.
KEI KAMARA NOMINATED FOR AT&T GOAL OF THE WEEK:
Wizards striker Kei Kamara is one of five nominees for AT&T Goal of the Week for MLS Week 19, the League announced Tuesday. Kamara scored the opening goal in Kansas City's 1-1 draw with defending champions Real Salt Lake on Saturday. Wizards midfielder Ryan Smith cut inside two defenders and served a cross to Kamara, who powered a perfectly placed snap-header from 12 yards out past Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando in the 21st minute. Smith earned his seventh assist of the season, tying him for fourth most in MLS, and Kamara recorded his seventh goal of the season, tying him for seventh among league leaders. The goal received national attention as it was shown on SportsCenter's Top Plays segment on ESPN.
The nomination is Kamara's third of the season, after winning the award in Week 12 for a strike against Philadelphia and finishing fifth in voting in Week 8 for a goal against Chicago. This week's nominees are: Fredy Montero, Chad Barrett, Steven Lenhart, and Jeff Cunningham. Fans can vote online until 11 p.m. CT on Thursday, August 12.
WIZARDS GREAT PREKI INDUCTED INTO NATIONAL SOCCER HALL OF FAME:
Kansas City Wizards standout Predrag "Preki" Radosavljevic was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame on Tuesday, prior to the United States National Team's friendly with Brazil in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Preki, a Wizards original, is the only two-time league MVP in MLS history and spent nine seasons in Kansas City, amassing 79 goals and 102 assists, both Wizards all-time records. Preki also made 28 appearances, two at the 1998 World Cup, for the United States National Team and scored four goals, including the game-winner in the United States' only victory over Brazil.
Preki scored the final goal of his illustrious career in the 90th minute of the last match of the 2005 season, becoming the oldest player to score a goal in MLS history at age 42. He is also the oldest MVP in American professional sports history, winning the award in 2003 at age 40. He was named to the All-Time MLS Best XI as part of the League's 10th anniversary season in 2005, and ranks second in MLS history for career assists and 10th all-time in career goals.
In addition to the individual honors, Preki helped Kansas City win the Supporters Shield and MLS Cup in 2000, recording 16 assists to go with his three goals on the historic year.
The 2010 Induction Class included fellow US internationals Thomas Dooley and Kyle Rote, Jr., as well as former US National Team head coach Bruce Arena.
THREE KANSAS CITY WIZARDS JUNIORS TRAIN WITH SENIOR SQUAD THIS WEEK:
Three members of the KCW Juniors U18 team were invited to train with the Wizards senior squad this week. Goalkeeper Jon Kempin, defender Konner Knoll and striker Jordan Rideout became the first three Juniors players to train with the senior side, taking part in every phase of the team's Tuesday workout at Swope Park Training Center and returning today and Thursday for further time with the first team.
All three are players to watch in the Wizards youth program directed by Jon Parry. Kempin, a member of the U.S. U18 National Team pool, was named Gatorade's Kansas State Player of the Year in February and selected to Parade Magazine's High School All-American team in June. Rideout led the Juniors with 14 goals in the U.S. Development Academy this year and is the son of Paul Rideout, Everton legend and current coach of the U18 Juniors. Knoll has been a member of the Kansas Olympic Developmental Program state team and received First Team All-State Honors in 2009 for his play at Wichita Southeast High School last season.
KCW JUNIORS U13 AND U15 TEAMS REACH FINALS AT DENVER CUP:
The Kansas City Wizards U15 Juniors were crowned champions of the Denver Cup, while the U13 Juniors received runner-up recognition following a shootout loss in the finals. The U15's went unbeaten in the group stage, winning three of their four group matches by a combined 23-3 margin, before topping Colorado Rush 96 3-2 in the final. The U13 squad also won their group with a perfect 3-0-0 record, then advanced past the Colorado Fusion SC 98 with a 3-0 elimination round victory to reach the final where they fell 5-4 in penalty kicks after a scoreless draw with Fort Collins Dominguez.
The KCW U15 Juniors are coached by Edmond Rugova and the U13 team is coached by Dustin Ottesen. The tournament was hosted by the Colorado Rush and was played at Dick's Sporting Goods Soccer Complex in Commerce City, Colorado.
The teams will next participate in the Heartland Soccer League and Midwest Regional League through US Youth Soccer Region II. The U13 Juniors will also face members of the Kansas City soccer media at halftime of the Kansas City Wizards match on August 21 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
WIZARDS PARTNER WITH LIVESTRONG ARMY OF KANSAS CITY FOR YOUTH CLINIC:
The Kansas City Wizards teamed up with the LIVESTRONG Army of Kansas City to host a soccer clinic on Friday, August 6 for children whose lives have been impacted by cancer. The clinic gave participants the chance to play and learn with the professionals, including Wizards captain Davy Arnaud, Kei Kamara, Jack Jewsbury, Jimmy Conrad, Matt Besler, Teal Bunbury, and others, plus assistant coaches John Pascarella and Kerry Zavagnin.
"It means the world to us to partner with the Wizards because the Wizards are a phenomenal organization that's very philanthropic and having the Wizards support is tremendous for us," said Erica Brown, President of the LIVESTRONG Army of Kansas City.
The Wizards also provided complimentary tickets to the participants for their match on Saturday, August 7 against Real Salt Lake.
KEI KAMARA SHOWS SUPPORT FOR LOCAL SIERRA LEONE SOCCER CAMPAIGN:
Kansas City Wizards forward Kei Kamara, a Sierra Leone native and national team player, has pledged his support to a local youth who is organizing an effort to collect new and used soccer items to send to children in Sierra Leone. Laurel Nagengast, a soon to be senior at Lawrence High School in Lawrence, Kansas, is asking members of the soccer community to contribute soccer jerseys, t-shirts, and balls that are in good condition, and she has set up a drop-off day at the LHS parking lot from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday, August 18.
Upon finding out of this effort, Kamara spoke to Nagengast via phone to express his thanks and plans to be in attendance at the collection site to show his support. He also hopes to bring a large donation of t-shirts and soccer balls to contribute to the cause.
Kamara has made five appearances for the Sierra Leone National Team, most recently in 2010 World Cup qualifying, and lived in the West African nation until he was a teenager before coming to the United States.
MAYOR'S NIGHT KICKS TOURNAMENT REACHES KNOCKOUT ROUND:
The third annual Mayor's Night Kicks soccer tournament continues with the knockout stage this week, as the final eight teams face off in quarterfinals on Wednesday, August 11 and Thursday, August 12 at the Kansas City Wizards Swope Park Training Facility.
Established in 2008 by Mayor Mark Funkhouser, the Kansas City Wizards and the KCMO Parks and Recreation have sponsored the Mayor's Night Kicks soccer tournament for adult males between the ages of 18 and 25 each summer since. The six-week tournament has become a tremendous success both on the field for participants and off the field as a community building tool for Kansas City's diverse population.
The semifinals are scheduled for Tuesday, August 17 at the Swope Park Training Facility to decide the two teams who will reach the championship match to be played on Saturday, August 21 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark following the Wizards game against the New England Revolution.
WIZARDS LAUNCH SALE OF FIRST 2,011 SEASON TICKETS FOR 2011 MLS SEASON:
The Kansas City Wizards have begun accepting initial payments for an exclusive block of 2,011 season tickets for the 2011 MLS season to commemorate the opening of the team's new soccer stadium next year. Fans that make an initial payment of $50 per seat will receive priority consideration for seat selection among new season ticket holders, while Wyandotte County residents can reserve their season tickets with a $25 discounted initial payment.
Existing Kansas City Wizards season ticket holders who renew for the 2011 season will remain atop the priority list based on their current position, but the pre-sale is the first chance for new season ticket holders to reserve their seats in the new state-of-the-art stadium being built in Village West in Wyandotte County and scheduled for a June 2011 opening.
The 18,500 seat stadium, which measures more than 340,000 square feet in size, will boast numerous modern features, including an 1800 square feet HD video board on the south end and a 250 square feet video board on the north end. The stadium's most distinguishing element will be a dramatic roof that will cover every section of the stadium and contain crowd noise for an improved game atmosphere.
Fans can secure their seats by visiting KCWizards.com or by calling 888-4KC-GOAL.
USA FANS ENCOURAGED TO SUPPORT EFFORT TO LAND WORLD CUP IN 2018 OR 2022:
Kansas City soccer fans are strongly encouraged to support the bid to bring the FIFA World Cup(tm) to the United States in 2018 or 2022. To date, over 945,000 people have showed their support, including nearly 27,000 from Kansas City.
In addition to signing the petition at www.goUSAbid.com/kc, supporters can register their interest by texting "Kansas City" to "22442". Kansas City is one of 18 cities still in the running to host games should the USA bid be successful. FIFA will select the host nation for both 2018 and 2022 on December 2, 2010.
The highly successful Summer of Soccer saw over 30,000 soccer fans gather for World Cup watch parties in the Kansas City Power & Light District and a new attendance record set for a soccer match in Kansas City when 52,424 turned out to see the Wizards upset English powerhouse Manchester United 2-1 at the New Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, July 25.
The Kansas City Wizards next home match is Saturday, August 21st at 7:30 p.m. CDT at CommunityAmerica Ballpark against the New England Revolution. Tickets can be purchased by visiting KCWizards.com or by calling 888-4KC-Goal. The Wizards are also now accepting initial payments for season tickets for the 2011 season, highlighted by the opening of their state-of-the-art stadium next summer.
Major League Soccer Stories from August 11, 2010
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- Kansas City Wizards Weekly Update - Sporting Kansas City
- Earthquakes Sign Jamaican International Khari Stephenson - San Jose Earthquakes
- Chicago Fire Forward Nery Castillo to Chat on ESPN Deportes - Chicago Fire FC
- Chicago Fire Rookie Goalkeeper Sean Johnson Earns Award - Chicago Fire FC
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