MLS Sporting Kansas City

Wizards Report for Preseason Training

Published on February 3, 2004 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


Less than three months after finishing their 2003 season with a heartbreaking overtime loss to the San Jose Earthquakes in the Western Conference Championship game, the Wizards have reconvened at Arrowhead Stadium to begin preparations for the 2004 MLS season. Wizards players and coaches reported for team physicals on Monday afternoon. On Tuesday, February 3rd, the team will have an optional training session at the Arrowhead Indoor Facility beginning at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday will mark the first official training session for the team beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the Indoor Training Facility.

Monday marked the first time that many of the newest members of the Wizards met the team. Veteran Diego Walsh and draftees Matt Taylor, William Hesmer, Jay Albert, Justin Detter and Ryan Barber made their first trip to Arrowhead as a member of the Wizards. Defender Shavar Thomas, acquired in a trade from the Dallas Burn in the offseason, did not report on Monday as he is training with the Jamaican Olympic Team in Mexico in the CONCACAF Pre-Qualifying Tournament, the same tournament that defender Jose Luis Burciaga in a part of with the U.S. U-23 team. Russian striker Igor Simutenkov, who re-signed with the Wizards last week, will not be in Kansas City for the start of preseason training as he awaits his P-1 Visa paperwork.

Beginning Wednesday, the Wizards will train in the Arrowhead Indoor Practice Facility through Monday, February 9th. The team is then scheduled to depart for Tampa, Florida.

Preseason Winter Escape Planned for Tampa, Florida and Portugal in Coming Months

The Wizards will only have to brave the harsh winter conditions of Kansas City for one week before heading to a warmer climate in Tampa, Florida on Tuesday, February 10th. The Wizards will spend two weeks in the sunny state of Florida for training and exhibition games before returning to Kansas City on Tuesday, February 24th. The team has six games scheduled against MLS and college teams while they are in south Florida.

Once the team returns to the Midwest, they will train in Kansas City until Thursday, March 4th. On March 5th, the Wizards will depart for Lisbon, Portugal where they will spend two weeks training and playing scrimmage games against various teams in Portugal. Log on to www.kcwizards.com for the latest information on the scrimmage schedule and results from Portugal once they are available.

Wizards "First Look" Practice Scheduled for Friday, February 6th

The fourth annual Wizards First Look Practice will be held at the Arrowhead Indoor Practice Facility at the Truman Sports Complex from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, February 6th. Soccer fans are encouraged to stop by the open practice for their first opportunity to see the 2004 Kansas City Wizards. Papa John's Pizza and Pepsi will sponsor the event and provide a complimentary slice of pizza and soda for all soccer fans in attendance.

This year, the Wizards are asking fans for their questions that they wish to ask members of the Kansas City Wizards. Fans can submit their questions via email and the best questions will be read during the First Look Practice by defender Jimmy Conrad and answered by the Wizards players. If you have a question for the Wizards, you may submit it by clicking here: .

Countdown to 2004 MLS Season Opener: 60 Days

The Wizards will open their 2004 MLS season at home on Saturday, April 3rd when they host the defending Eastern Conference Champion Chicago Fire at Arrowhead Stadium. The match is slated to kickoff at 7:30 p.m. CT. Season tickets are available by calling the Wizards office at 816-920-9300. Individual game tickets will go on sale through Ticketmaster, by phone at 816-931-3330 or online at www.ticketmaster.com, beginning on Monday, March 1st.

Four Wizards Players Join U.S. National Team Camp in Florida February 4th

U.S. Men's National Team manager Bruce Arena has invited 17 players to participate in a training camp beginning February 4th at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Included in the 17 players selected are four Wizards players including defender Nick Garcia, midfielders Chris Klein and Kerry Zavagnin and forward Josh Wolff. The group will train for ten days prior to a final roster selection and the departure for the USA's first road match of 2004 against fourth-ranked Holland on February 18th in Amsterdam.

The final roster for the Holland match will consist of a mix of European and domestic-based players, with a likely 20-man roster to be announced prior to the team's departure for Amsterdam on February 13th. Kickoff for the U.S.-Holland match is set for 1:30 p.m. CT, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN2.

Jose Burciaga and U.S. U-23s Begin Qualifying for 2004 Summer Olympics

Wizards defender Jose Luis Burciaga and the rest of the U.S. U-23 National Team will begin the Qualifying process for the 2004 Summer Olympics on Tuesday when they take on Panama in their opening match of Group A play. The U.S. is scheduled to play three matches over a five-day stretch as they look to gain a berth in the Olympics held in Athens, Greece (August 11-29, 2004). The U.S. along with seven other countries (Canada, Honduras, Panama, Mexico, Trinidad Tobago, Jamaica, Costa Rica) will be fighting for two spots in the Olympics from CONCACAF. The U.S. will play in Group A with Canada, Honduras and Panama.

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Major League Soccer Stories from February 3, 2004


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