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Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake Weekly Update

February 4, 2008 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


RSL Camp Watch '08: Ins-and-Outs in Cali

The first half of Real Salt Lake's 11-day stay in Southern California has come and gone, as have some of the players in the team's camp. Coming into the squad for the first time in 2008 are the team's three U.S. Under-23 National Team training camp representatives - FW Robbie Findley, D/M Nathan Sturgis, and GK Chris Seitz - who rejoined their RSL teammates in Oxnard on Sunday, in addition to MF Carey Talley, who entered camp today after rehabbing his injured right knee in Salt Lake City since camp began last Wednesday.

Already removed from RSL's preseason plans were five players that were sent home over the weekend - recent MLS Supplemental Draft selection FW Kenny Anaba and trialists GK Brent Douglas, FW Léster Moré, MF Jesus Mendoza, and D/M Giuseppe Funiciello. Real Salt Lake still has four players taking part in the squad's California training camp on a trial basis:

Matt Bredehoft: A goalkeeper out of the University of Denver who just finished his four-year collegiate career ... Served as a team captain during his senior season in 2007, when he finished with a record of 10-4-1 with five shutouts and a 0.81 GAA which earned him All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation First-Team honors ... For his career the Fort Collins, Colo., native recorded 21 shutouts and accumulated 192 saves in 57 appearances in goal as a Pioneer.

Salim Bullen: A 23-year-old wide midfielder that spent the 2006 season with the USL1's Portland Timbers and, more recently, played in nine contests for the MISL's Milwaukee Wave during the early portion of the 2007/08 season ... Spent his four-year collegiate career at Bradley University from 2002-05, playing in 65 contests and contributing three goals and nine assists during his time with the Braves ... Earned All-Missouri Valley Conference Second Team honors following his senior season after starting all 21 games and registering a goal and six assists.

Sergio Comba: 29-year-old striker who has bounced around the globe since making his professional debut with side Atletico Rafaela in his native Argentina in 1996 ... Spent 2006/07 season with Italian Serie C club Sangiovannese, and the season prior to that with YF Juventus Zurich of the Swiss Challenge League ... Has also suited up for Mexico's Cruz Azul in 2003, Serie B's AC Pistoiese in 2000/01, French Ligue 1's Nantes FC in 1999/2000, and Argentine First Division teams Defensores de Belgrano (2000-03) and Huracan (2002) during his career.

Dusan Simic: Serbian midfielder who has plied his trade across Europe and beyond over the last decade ... 27-year-old started career with Sumadija 1903 and OFK Beograd in his native Serbia from 1997-2001 before jumping to Karpaty Lviv of the Ukrainian First Division for the next two years ... Also played in Korea (Busan I'cons) and Hungary (Bekescsabai Elore FC) before spending his last two seasons in the Romanian First Division for FC Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt (2006/07) and FC Brasov (2007).

Real Salt Lake will kick off the match portion of its preseason plans this Friday, Feb 8, when RSL will take on local USL PDL side Ventura County Fusion at Buena H.S. in Ventura, Calif. at 7:30 p.m. local (8:30 p.m. MT). RSL also has an exhibition slated for Saturday morning against an opponent that has yet to be finalized, a scrimmage that will wrap up the team's stay in Southern California. Real Salt Lake will take on four more days of training from Feb. 10-13 along the Wasatch Front before heading to Sunrise, Fla. on Valentine's Day for its second spring training stint. The Real Salt Lake Communications staff will continue to update the team's 2008 preseason calendar as details become available.

Infirmary Update

A week after MF Kyle Beckerman left the U.S. MNT camp with a left foot bruise, another member of Real Salt Lake, FW Robbie Findley, returned from the U.S. U-23 MNT's training camp with a foot injury of his own, a minor left ankle sprain that has the 22-year-old striker officially day-to-day for training. MF Carey Talley joined camp today and is expected to overcome a nagging right knee injury to hit the field in the upcoming days.

MF Kyle Beckerman - L foot bruise - day-to-day

DF Nik Besagno - R meniscus tear/surgery - out 2-3 weeks

FW Robbie Findley - L ankle sprain - day-to-day

MF Duke Hashimoto - L ACL tear/surgery - out 6-8 weeks

MF Carey Talley - R knee injury - day-to-day

2008 Real Salt Lake Preseason Schedule

Jan. 30-Feb. 9: Preseason Trip #1 to Oxnard/Ventura, Calif.

- Friday, Feb. 8: Exhibition v. Ventura County Fusion at Buena H.S. in Ventura, CA; 7:30 p.m. PT

- Saturday, Feb. 9: Scrimmage v. Opponent TBA

Feb. 10-13: Training in Utah (sites/times TBD)

Feb. 14-23: Preseason Trip #2 to Sunrise/Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

- Friday, Feb. 15: Scrimmage (closed door) v. Colorado Rapids

- Dates/sites/opponents for 2-3 additional scrimmages TBD

Feb. 24-28: Training in Utah (sites/times TBD)

Feb. 29-March 12: Preseason Trip #3 to Rosario, Argentina

- Dates/times of 3 exhibitions TBD

March 22: Exhibition contest - Opponent/Site TBA

March 29: MLS First Kick 2008 - RSL v. Chicago Fire at Rice-Eccles Stadium - 4:00 p.m. MT

DF Chris Wingert Signs Multi-Year Deal to Remain with Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake today announced that the club has re-signed DF Chris Wingert to a multiple-year contract that will keep him a member of the Utah MLS side. Per club policy, terms of the deal will not be released. Wingert was acquired by Real Salt Lake last July 13 in a trade with the Colorado Rapids, after which the 25-year-old started 12 of his 16 appearances for RSL while adding a pair of assists. The St. John's University product is entering his fifth season of MLS play, having notched four assists during his 81 League appearances (56 starts) since his rookie season of 2004.

MLS 2008 Regular Season Schedule to be Announced Thursday, Feb. 7

Major League Soccer will unveil its 13th season on Thursday, Feb. 7 with the announcement of the 2008 Regular Season Schedule and national broadcast schedule. Each of the 14 MLS teams will play 30 regular season games and Thursday's announcement will include the broadcasts details of all four national television partners - ESPN2/ABC, Fox Soccer Channel/Fox Sports en Español, HDNet and TeleFutura. First Kick, the opening weekend of Major League Soccer's season, is March 29-30. Opening weekend and home openers for each of the 14 Major League Soccer teams - including Real Salt Lake's season opener on Saturday, March 29 against the Chicago Fire at Rice-Eccles Stadium - have already been announced and can be found at the clubs' web sites or at www.MLSnet.com.

RSL Front Office to Host U.S. v. Mexico Viewing Party Wednesday Evening

The Real Salt Lake front office plans to play host to soccer fans once again this Wednesday, Feb. 6, when the team's staff will hold a viewing party for the latest edition of the ever-growing rivalry between the United States and Mexico. Fans of the stars-and-stripes and the tri-colores alike are invited to join the RSL staff at its offices - located in Suite 2R at the Trolley Corners building in downtown Salt Lake City (515 S. 700 East) - for the viewing party, which kicks off at 6:30 p.m. MT, a half hour in advance of the game's 7:00 p.m. broadcast start. Real Salt Lake will provide food and refreshments for the viewing party, and fans in attendance can also receive a whopping 60% off any products purchased from the RSL merchandise office during the party. Fans wishing to attend next week's USA-Mexico Viewing Party are asked to RSVP to RSL Community Relations Manager Morgan Bramble via email at mbramble@RealSaltLake.com or by phone at 801-924-8574 by the close of business tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb. 5.

RSL to Sponsor Score Goal 24/7 Presidents' Day Futsal Cup

Real Salt Lake is proud to announce that Utah's MLS side will be a co-sponsor of the Fourth Annual Score Goal 24/7 Presidents' Day Futsal Cup, scheduled to take place at the Salt Palace Convention Center (100 S. West Temple) in downtown Salt Lake City over the Presidents' Day weekend from Feb. 15-18. Over 80 teams have already signed up for the tournament, which will have three age classifications this year: Youth (Boys & Girls U-8 through U-19 divisions), Adult (Men's & Women's), and Over-35 (Men's).

This year's edition of the Presidents' Day Cup will mark the first with an international flavor, as the tournament will highlight the culture and distinct soccer style of Brazil. Famed Brazilian futsal player and coach Renato Lopes will appear at the Presidents' Day Cup for the second straight year, this time bringing with him two teams from the Ipanema Sports Academy from his hometown of Porto Alegre to compete in the tournament, marking the first international teams to ever take part in the Cup. The Brazilian U-12 and U-13 Boys teams will visit Utah for two weeks from Feb. 8-20, staying with the families of local teams during the trip.

In addition to the action on the courts, the tournament will also take time to feature some of the cultural aspects of South America's largest country, as a troupe of martial arts dancers from Salt Lake Capoeira will perform capoeira and samba dances throughout the weekend, helping to highlight the influence these rhythms and movements bring to futsal, or "samba soccer."

For more information on the Score Goal Presidents' Day Cup tournament; including how to register your USYSA or FIFA affiliated team, tournament rules and regulations, and registration fees; please visit www.score-goal.com or contact Score Goal 24/7's Peter Minenno at 801-706-7363.

Give "the Galaxy" with the RSL Valentine's Day Pack

Stumped as to what to get that special someone in your life for Valentine's Day this year? If you plan on going with the same old roses and chocolates, let Real Salt Lake, Huddart Floral Co., and Xocolate kick it up a notch with the gift that will keep on giving for months, the limited edition "RSL Valentine's Day Pack," featuring:

- Two tickets to Opening Day 2008 against the Chicago Fire on March 29

- Two tickets to RSL's 2008 home contest against the Los Angeles Galaxy, featuring "soccer heartthrobs" David Beckham and Landon Donovan (date TBA)

- Two longstem roses, courtesy of Huddart Floral Co.

- One box of chocolates from Xocolate

The special RSL Valentine's Day Pack is available in two prices ranges - just $79 for Corner Flag section seats for both games, or $149 for VIP section seats to the contests. To order your RSL Valentine's Day Pack in time for the special day (yes, it's just two weeks away), please visit the "TICKETS" section at www.RealSaltLake.com, or call the RSL offices at 801-924-8585.

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