Sporting Kansas City Weekly Update
January 18, 2012 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
SPORTING KANSAS CITY OPENS PRESEASON MONDAY
Sporting Kansas City will begin preparations for the 2012 season with the team's first official day of training on Monday, Jan. 23 at 10:00 a.m. CT at the Kansas City Chiefs Indoor Practice Facility. All members of the media are invited to attend, and interviews with Sporting KC players and coaches will be available immediately following the training session at approximately 11:30 a.m. CT.
Please note: training times and durations are subject to change and media are encouraged to arrive early for photo and b-roll opportunities.
All training sessions next week are open to the media and will be held at the Kansas City Chiefs Indoor Practice Facility, located west of Arrowhead Stadium at the Truman Sports Complex. Media members are asked to please park in theextended portion of the player lot on the west side of the practice facility and enter through the doors on the side of the practice field.
The team will then train in Kansas City starting at 10:00 a.m. CT on Monday, Jan. 23 and continuing through Saturday, Jan. 28 before departing for Tucson, Ariz. on Sunday, Jan. 29. Please note that next week will be the only opportunity for in-person interviews until the team returns from Tucson, Ariz. in mid-February.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY TRIO EXCELS IN U.S. MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM CAMP
Sporting Kansas City's own Graham Zusi, Teal Bunbury and C.J. Sapong are finding success at the U.S. Men's National Team training camp under Jurgen Klinsmann. Bunbury and Zusi netted a goal a piece in the senior team's 4-0 victory over the U.S. U-23 side last Friday. Bunbury slotted in the third goal of the match from a Zusi pass and was followed just moments later by a goal from Zusi, who played 72 minutes. Zusi followed up his strong performance with the only goal for the senior team yesterday in a rematch against the U-23 side.
The U.S. will face Venezuela at 8 p.m. CT this Saturday in Glendale, Ariz. Fans are invited to cheer on the Sporting Kansas City trio at Johnny's Tavern in Power and Light . The Yanks will face Panama on Jan. 25 in Panama City.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY ACQUIRES OLATHE NATIVE MICHAEL THOMAS
Sporting Kansas City has signed midfielder Michael Thomas . The 23-year-old Olathe, Kan. native joins Sporting Kansas City after spending the last two seasons with Ljungskile SK of the Swedish Superettan. Per club policy, terms of the agreement will not be disclosed.
Thomas attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School where he helped lead the Saints to three state titles while being named to the 2005 NSCAA/adidas Boys High-School All-America team. Following the conclusion of his high-school career, where he spent time in the same club soccer setup as current Sporting Kansas City defenders Seth Sinovic and Matt Besler, Thomas went on to join Besler at the University of Notre Dame. Thomas started 81 matches for the Fighting Irish,scoring 19 goals and contributing 13 assists while earning first-team all-BIG EAST honors in his senior season.
Thomas was drafted by the San Jose Earthquakes with the 19th overall selection in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft before opting to sign with Halmstads BK of the Allsvenskan, Sweden's top division.
DEFENDER SETH SINOVIC SIGNS NEW CONTRACT
Sporting Kansas City announced Wednesday that defender Seth Sinovic has signed a new contract with the club . Per club policy, terms of the agreement will not be disclosed.
Sinovic, 24, joined Sporting Kansas City in May 2011 en route to making 23 appearances in Sporting Kansas City's run to the Eastern Conference Championship match. He was then selected by the Montreal Impact in the 2011 Expansion Draft last November but was re-acquired by Sporting Kansas City five days later in a trade between the two clubs.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY SELECTS FOUR IN SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT
Sporting Kansas City made four selections in the 2012 Supplemental Draft on Tuesday, adding defenders Shawn Singh, Stefan Antonijevic and Kyle Miller, along with midfielder Pablo Punyed to the team's preseason roster.
Sporting Kansas City selected Singh in the first round, drafting the UCLA defender with the 16th overall pick. The 22-year-old appeared in 61 matches for the Bruins, recording three goals and 10 assists in a three-year career. A two-time All-Pac-12 selection, Singh attended the 2012 Player Combine in Fort Lauderdale last week, where he was teammates with Sporting Kansas City 2012SuperDraft selection Dom Dwyer.
Punyed was chosen with the 32nd overall pick in the second round of the Supplemental Draft following a career as a four-year contributor at St. John's University. Punyed was named co-BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year in 2011 after scoring four goals and contributing three assists for the Red Storm this fall. Punyed tallied 10 goals and six assists in 84 games played at St. John's and also represented the United States Under-20 men's national team at the 2008 Copa Chivas.
Sporting Kansas City's 43rd overall pick produced Antonijevic, a Valparaiso University defender who was named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year in 2011. Despite playing primarily as a central defender, Antonijevic recorded eightgoals and three assists in 59 appearances over three seasons for the Crusaders. After earning Second TeamAll-Horizon League honors his sophomore and juniorseasons, Antonijevic was a First Team All-League honoree and NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region First Team selection in 2011.
Miller, a former member of the Sporting Kansas City Juniors youth academy and a product of Blue Valley Soccer Club, was taken in the third round with the 48th overall selection out of Rockhurst University. The Overland Park, Kan. native and St. Thomas Aquinas graduate anchored a Hawks' defense which allowed only seven goals during the 2011 season, fewest in the nation, and helped the team reach the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals.
Miller appeared in 80 matches in his collegiate career, recording three goals and seven assists, and enjoyed a standout senior season in 2011 that saw him receive recognition including All-Conference, All-Midwest and All-America honors.
THE SPORTING KC SHOW RETURNS TO 610 SPORTS RADIO ON THURSDAY
Sporting Kansas City fans will once again be able to share their views on the beautiful game beginning Thursday when the Sporting KC Show returns to 610 Sports Radio.
Thursday's show will be hosted by Josh Klingler and will feature live interviews with goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen, assistant coach Kerry Zavagnin and rookie forward Dom Dwyer. The hour-long show will air live beginning at 8 p.m. CT.
FOLLOW SPORTING KANSAS CITY ONLINE
Sporting Kansas City fans looking to keep up with the club on the world wide web now have a place to go. This new page on SportingKC.com features Twitter account information for the club, its players as well as many staff members. Additionally, fans may take advantage of the Media Recap page for all the latest independent news coverage available online.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY SELECTS TWO IN 2012 MLS SUPERDRAFT
Sporting Kansas City selected University of South Florida forward Dom Dwyer and CoastalCarolina central defender Cyprian Hedrick in Thursday's 2012 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas at the Kansas City Convention Center.
Dwyer, 21, was taken with the 16th overall selection in the first round of the SuperDraft. A Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy semifinalist in 2011, he led the University of South Florida with 16 goals and two assists in 21 matches. The speedy Dwyer earned NSCAA All-American Second Team honors in 2011 and was named the Big East Offensive Player of the Year as the conference's leading goal scorer.
Hedrick, 22, was the No. 30 overall selection in the SuperDraft, following a distinguished career at Coastal Carolina University. Primarily playing central defense, Hedrick earned Big South Defensive Player of the Year designation in 2011 and was named to the First Team All-Big South and the NSCAA's All-South Atlantic Team. He was also recently announced as a NSCAA Men's Collegiate Scholar All-American first team selection.
Follow Dom Dwyer ( @ddwyer14 ) and Cyprian Hedrick ( @Cyp_on_it ) on Twitter through their rookie season.
SPORTINGKC.COM POSTS TRANSACTION TRACKER FOR PLAYER MOVEMENT
Stay updated on all the offseason developments via the Sporting Kansas City Transaction Tracker on SportingKC.com. The new tool allows Sporting Kansas City supporters to quickly review all player moves made since the end of the 2011 Major League Soccer season, including a timeline of the transactions and a side-by-side view of players acquired and released.
Sporting Kansas City's roster has continued to take shape ahead of the 2012 season with the addition of Brazilian midfielder Paulo Nagamura and U.S. international Bobby Convey. The team will also be welcoming new names through the 2012 MLS SuperDraft and Supplemental Draft later this month.
For all the latest Sporting Kansas City news and information, visit SportingKC.com and SportingMembership.com .
SERIES TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR OLYMPIC QUALIFYING AT LIVESTRONG SPORTING PARK
Series tickets for the elimination-round matches of the 2012 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park are now available to purchase by the general public.
A series ticket consists of a ticket to all three matches at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park, beginning with the decisive semifinal matches on Saturday, March 31 at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. CT and culminating with the championship match on Monday, April 2 at 7 p.m. CT. Series tickets begin at $56 for all three matches (seating and pricing chart on right) and can be ordered online at ussoccer.com, by phone at 1-800-745-3000, at local Ticketmaster ticket centers and at the LIVE STRONG Sporting Park box offices .
Individual tickets will go on sale at a later date, pending availability
FOLLOW SPORTING KANSAS CITY TO DISNEY WORLD
Join Sporting Kansas City in sunny Orlando, Fla. as they prepare for the 2012 season by participating in the 2012 Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic. Travel packages are available through Anthony Travel and include: Accommodations for 3-nights at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, two-day Magic Your Way Base Ticket, admission to games at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, VIP access to Pro Soccer Classic Player Meet & Greet and Anthony Travel on-site assistance. For more information, click here.
2012 HOME OPENER SET FOR MARCH 17
Major League Soccer's 17th season will kick off on Saturday, March 10, 2012 with six matches. Sporting Kansas City will play their first home match of 2012 at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park on March 17. Opponent and kickoff time are still to be determined. Major League Soccer anticipates that the full 2012 fixture schedule will be released prior to the new year.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY UNVEILS PROVIDENCE FAMILY PLAN
Sporting Kansas City has introduced a the new Providence Family Plan to make season tickets affordable for families. Purchase two regular South Stand season tickets for receive two free youth (13 and under) South Stand season tickets. Thewhole family can enjoy Kansas City's most electric sports atmosphere all season long for less than $800. Payment plans are available. To take advantage of this offer, click here or call 888-4KC GOAL.
2012 SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Season tickets for the 2012 Sporting Kansas City season at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park are now on sale .
Fans ages 21 and older now have the option to purchase season tickets in the Budweiser Corner at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park, an all-inclusive terrace area which provides stadium-style food options and draft beer choices.
Major League Soccer Stories from January 18, 2012
- Timbers Weekly Update - Portland Timbers
- Galaxy Re-Sign David Beckham - LA Galaxy
- FC Dallas Loans Jackson to Brazilian First Division Side Cruzeiro - FC Dallas
- Sporting Kansas City Weekly Update - Sporting Kansas City
- Veljko Paunovic Announces Decision to Retire from Soccer - Philadelphia Union
- Seth Sinovic Signs New Contract with Sporting KC - Sporting Kansas City
- Toronto FC Waive Yourassowsky - Toronto FC
- Whitecaps FC Add Four Players to Residency Program - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Sounders FC Signs Trinidad & Tobago U20 Forward - Seattle Sounders FC
- Chicago Fire Sign Re-Sign Pavel Pardo - Chicago Fire FC
- Red Bulls Sign Defender Stephen Keel to New Contract - New York Red Bulls
- Sporting Kansas City Announces Acquisition of Olathe, Kansas Native Michael Thomas - Sporting Kansas City
- Philadelphia Union Decline Options on Houapeu, Langley, Richter and Tait - Philadelphia Union
- D.C. United Signs Forward Maicon Santos - D.C. United
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
