The Kansas City Wizards announced the team’s annual awards in a special pre-game ceremony held prior to the season finale against San Jose at CommunityAmerica Ballpark on Saturday. The following awards were voted on by Kansas City Wizards players, coaches and media members:
• Kansas City Wizards 2010 Most Valuable Player: FWD Kei Kamara
• Kansas City Wizards 2010 Budweiser Golden Boot: FWD Kei Kamara
• Kansas City Wizards 2010 Defensive Player of the Year: GK Jimmy Nielsen
• Kansas City Wizards 2010 MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year: DEF Jimmy Conrad
• 2010 Bob Gansler KCW Juniors Player of the Year: DEF Konner Knoll
Kamara was the top vote-getter for the Kansas City Wizards 2010 Most Valuable Player, sponsored by Sprint, and was also awarded the Budweiser Golden Boot for leading the team in goals. Kamara set personal career highs with 10 goals and six assists in 28 appearances for Kansas City, entering Saturday’s match. He ranks ninth on the MLS goal-scoring chart and is tied for fourth in the League with four game-winning goals this season. He has recorded 90 shots this season, fourth most in MLS, and placed 32 of those shots on goal, eighth most in the League. In his fifth year in MLS, Kamara doubled his previous single-season high for points in a season with 26, and his stellar play earned him a start for Sierra Leone in their African Cup of Nations qualifier against Egypt in September.
Nielsen was selected Kansas City Wizards 2010 Defensive Player of the Year, sponsored by Providence Medical Center. Nielsen, one of only two newcomers to be named an MLS All-Star in 2010, had an outstanding year in goal for the Wizards, recording 80 saves, fifth most in MLS, and a 1.17 goals against average. The Danish acquisition posted 10 shutouts, matching the second most in a season by a Wizards goalkeeper in club history, and was a six-time Napa Save of the Week winner, most among all MLS goalkeepers in 2010. Nielsen played every minute of every match for Kansas City prior to Saturday’s season finale, one of only four players in MLS to have done so thus far in 2010.
Conrad was chosen Kansas City Wizards 2010 MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year for his involvement in the community this season, going above and beyond the efforts that earned him the 2009 MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year distinction. Conrad continued his role as a player ambassador with the Autism Speaks foundation, holding his third annual clinic for children affected by Autism and promoting the Soccer Day 5k for Autism Speaks. Conrad is in his third year as a player ambassador for the Child Protection Center, volunteering this year as Honorary Chair of their golf tournament. Conrad was also the Wizards representative for the Pepsi Refresh Project contest and finished runner-up, winning $25,000 for Belvidere Park. Conrad’s wife Lyndsey was the driving force behind the Wizards Wives Club annual Stuff the Bus school-supply collection and Jimmy participated in the donation at City Union Mission. He also served as a board member for the Kansas City Zoo, taking part in the Jazzoo festival that raises funding for outreach opportunities and zoo operations. Finally, Conrad remains an active supporter of the Boys and Girls Club, and was asked to be a featured speaker for their “Graduate To Go” program.
Knoll was awarded the 2010 Bob Gansler KCW Juniors Player of the Year after anchoring the Juniors backline throughout 2010 and emerging as one of the Midwest’s most promising defensive players. He is a three-year member of the Kansas state team through the Olympic Developmental Program and a four-year starter for Wichita Southeast High School. Recently, Knoll was named the top male soccer prospect in Wichita for 2010-2011 by VYPE Magazine and is ranked No. 14 among 2011 graduates on TopDrawerSoccer.com’s Top 20 Players to Watch in the Heartland region. Knoll, who drives three hours each way from his hometown in Wichita, Kansas to weekly training sessions with the Juniors academy program, was one of three Juniors players invited to train with the senior squad for a week in August. The award is named after legendary coach Bob Gansler, who managed the Wizards from 1999-2006 and the U.S. Men’s National Team at the 1990 World Cup. He was widely respected for his role in youth soccer in the United States, also serving as head coach for the U.S. under-19 and under-20 youth national teams.
