* Wizards September 11 Game Moved to September 22
* Four Wizards Play for National Teams in International Competition
* 2011 Designated Player Omar Bravo Scores in 300th Appearance
* Kansas City Up for Pepsi Refresh Grant to Build Local Soccer Fields
* Nominations Open for Home Depot Community MVP Contest
* Davy Arnaud’s Free Kick Up for AT&T Goal of the Week
* Nielsen Nominated for NAPA Save of the Week
* Kansas City Soccer Show Airs Live at 8 p.m. Tonight on WHB 810 AM
* Jimmy Conrad Helps Kick-Off Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
* Nick Kounenakis to Take Part in 49th Annual Greek Food Festival
* Wizards U15 Juniors Win 2010 Heartland Midwest Classic
* Fans Encouraged to Support U.S. Effort to Land World Cup in 2018 or 2022
WIZARDS SEPTEMBER 11 GAME MOVED TO SEPTEMBER 22:
The Kansas City Wizards next home game, originally scheduled for Saturday, September 11th, has been moved to Wednesday, September 22nd against the Houston Dynamo.
The Wizards and Dynamo mutually agreed to the schedule change, with the match time remaining at 7:30 p.m. CT. All tickets issued for the Houston match, including season ticket packages, will be valid for the new, September 22nd date. Tickets can be purchased by visiting KCWizards.com or by calling 888-4KC-GOAL.
FOUR WIZARDS PLAY FOR NATIONAL TEAMS IN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION:
Kansas City Wizards players Kei Kamara, Shavar Thomas, Roger Espinoza, and Sunil Chhetri all represented their respective national teams in international matches held over the past week.
Kamara started and played 50 minutes for Sierra Leone on Sunday in an African Cup of Nations qualifier against Egypt in Cairo. Sierra Leone, ranked No. 137 in the world in FIFA’s most recent rankings, tied the defending continental champions 1-1 as Kamara made his sixth appearance for the Sierra Leone National Team, who will next play South Africa on October 8.
Thomas made his 29th career appearance for the Jamaica National Team on Tuesday in their 2-1 loss to Peru in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Wizards central defender started and played the full 90 minutes for the Reggae Boyz, ranked No. 82 in the world, and made an outstanding defensive play in the 74th minute to disrupt a breakaway. Jamaica next faces Caribbean rivals Trinidad and Tobago on October 10.
Espinoza was also in action on Tuesday, earning his 15th appearance for the Honduras National Team in their 2-1 loss to Canada in Montreal. Espinoza started and played 80 minutes for Honduras, ranked No. 46 in the world. Espinoza was influential in Honduras’ lone goal, drawing the free kick that was headed home in the 34th minute. Honduras returns to action on October 9 against New Zealand.
On-loan striker Sunil Chhetri played twice for the India National Team in a pair of home-and-home friendlies against Thailand. Chhetri played the full 90 minutes in both matches, striking the crossbar in Saturday’s 1-0 loss in Bangkok and again leading the attack in today’s 2-1 loss in Delhi. Chhetri impressed Thailand Manager and former Manchester United captain Bryan Robson: “The main goalie (Subrata Pal) and jersey No. 11 (Sunil Chhetri) were spectacular. Chhetri particularly was really sharp and agile. I liked the way he made the moves.” India is ranked No. 138 in the world and will play two more friendlies this month, against Namibia on September 15 and Gambia on September 19.
2011 DESIGNATED PLAYER OMAR BRAVO SCORES IN 300TH APPEARANCE:
Omar Bravo made his 300th Primera Division appearance on Sunday and scored the game-winning goal in Chivas Guadalajara’s 3-0 victory over Estudiantes at Estadio Omnilife. Bravo scored on a diving header in the 37th minute as he continued his strong start to the 2010 Apertura for the 11-time Mexican champions. Bravo started and played 70 minutes, and led all players with four shots, three of which were on goal.
The Wizards signed Bravo in August as a Designated Player for the 2011 season. The 30-year-old striker and Mexico international will remain with Chivas Guadalajara for the remainder of the 2010 Apertura, Mexico’s 17-game fall season, by the terms of a loan agreement reached between the two teams and Major League Soccer.
Kansas City and Chivas have also agreed to play home-and-home friendlies at their new stadiums in 2011 as part of the agreement. The Wizards will play at Chivas’ new Estadio Omnilife during Kansas City’s preseason, and Chivas Guadalajara will play in Kansas City’s new soccer stadium after the venue opens next summer.
Bravo now has 108 goals and counting in league competition for Chivas Guadalajara, second most in club history. He has also been a mainstay on the Mexico National Team with 16 goals, including two at the 2006 World Cup, in 65 appearances.
Chivas will next play Pachuca at 7:00 p.m. CT on Saturday, September 11. The match will air live in the United States on Telefutura.
KANSAS CITY UP FOR PEPSI REFRESH GRANT TO BUILD LOCAL SOCCER FIELDS:
Kansas City defender Jimmy Conrad is representing the Wizards bid to build and improve youth soccer fields at Belvedere Park, as part of the recently launched Pepsi Refresh Project. Beginning August 20, every Major League Soccer team outlined an idea that will vie for fan votes and an ultimate $50,000 Pepsi Refresh grant to fulfill the project. Fans can cast their votes at www.MLSsoccer.com/PepsiRefresh thru Monday, September 20 at 10:59 p.m. CDT.
Conrad and the Wizards’ goal is to develop soccer fields at Belvedere Park in urban Kansas City, MO, which will provide a facility to keep kids engaged, build self-confidence and avoid negative influences. Over 600 youth currently play soccer on these fields from diverse backgrounds, including over 45 ethnicities.
“The Pepsi Refresh Project allows for fans to make a positive impact on local communities,” said Kansas City Wizards defender Jimmy Conrad. “The Wizards want to make a difference here in Kansas City, and we hope our fans will go vote and help us win the $50,000 grant.”
As of Wednesday, Kansas City’s proposed project was in second place in the contest, behind Philadelphia.
NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR HOME DEPOT COMMUNITY MVP CONTEST:
Kansas City Wizards supporters have the opportunity to nominate individuals in the local community who go above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of others as part of the Home Depot Community MVP Contest going on now through Friday, September 17. The league-wide contest launched in July and will culminate with one winner being selected to represent each market. The winner will receive VIP tickets and team merchandise, as well as recognition at a Kansas City Wizards home game in October and national recognition during halftime of MLS Cup 2010 in Toronto. The individual will also be eligible for the national prize package, an all-inclusive trip for two to MLS Cup 2010 in Toronto.
Individuals will be selected based on their efforts in one of the following areas:
• Community Service for a local, national or international charity or community organization
• Positive impact on youth
• Environmental sustainability
• Health, wellness and education
• Military or Civic Service
Fans can submit their nominations online here. MLS W.O.R.K.S. was launched in 2007 as Major League Soccer’s community outreach initiative dedicated to addressing important social issues and serves as a platform for both League and club philanthropic programs.
DAVY ARNAUD’S FREE KICK UP FOR AT&T GOAL OF THE WEEK:
Kansas City midfielder Davy Arnaud is one of five nominees for Major League Soccer’s AT&T Goal of the Week. Arnaud’s free kick curled over Union goalkeeper Chris Seitz and into the top right corner of the goal in the 71st minute of the Wizards 1-1 draw at Philadelphia on Saturday.
Arnaud scored in his second straight game, after also tallying the game-winning goal in Kansas City’s 2-0 win over Los Angeles the week before. He now has four goals and three assists on the year. The Wizards captain leads the league in shooting percentage, having put 22 of his 39 shots on goal this season (56.4%).
Fans can vote for Arnaud online here. Voting closes Thursday, September 9 at midnight. Other Week 23 nominees are: Colorado striker Omar Cummings, New England forward Kheli Dube, San Jose Designated Player Geovanni and Chicago acquisition Collins John.
NIELSEN NOMINATED FOR NAPA SAVE OF THE WEEK HONORS:
Kansas City Wizards goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen is once again nominated for Major League Soccer’s NAPA Save of the Week. The Denmark native was nominated for his save on Philadelphia Union forward Sebastien Le Toux in the 66th minute of Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Philadelphia. Le Toux got on the end of a free kick from Justin Mapp but Nielsen sprawled to his left to block the header from close range.
The 2010 MLS-All Star made five saves in the match to give him 68 on the season. Nielsen is a five-time winner of Save of the Week in 2010, most among all goalkeepers in the League. Other Week 23 nominees are: Dallas goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid, New York goalkeeper Greg Sutton and Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando.
JIMMY CONRAD HELPS KICK-OFF RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM & BAILEY CIRCUS:
Wizards defender Jimmy Conrad made a special appearance Wednesday to help kick-off the 139th Edition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus being held in Kansas City through Sunday. Conrad was a special guest for the “Elephant Lunch” held at noon in front of the Sprint Center. Kids of all ages were in attendance for the event as Conrad shared the stage with Asian elephants and spoke about the importance of nutrition and eating a healthy diet. Conrad also signed autographs following the event.
NICK KOUNENAKIS TO TAKE PART IN 49TH ANNUAL GREEK FOOD FESTIVAL:
Kansas City Wizards defender Nick Kounenakis will be in attendance at the 49th Annual Greek Food Festival on Sunday, September 12. The Wizards will have a booth set up, where Kounenakis will visit with attendees, sign autographs, and take pictures from 1 – 2:30 p.m. CT on Sunday. Kounenakis’ hometown is on the Greek island of Crete, where he played for OFI Crete FC from 1994-1999 and 2003-2009. The event is held at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation at the corner of 120th and Wornall in Kansas City, Mo.
WIZARDS U15 JUNIORS WIN 2010 HEARTLAND MIDWEST CLASSIC:
The Kansas City Wizards U15 Juniors went a perfect 4-0-0 in capturing the championship of the 2010 Heartland Midwest Classic at the Overland Park Soccer Complex last weekend. The U15 Juniors won their three group games by a combined score of 9-0 before defeating BVSC Benfica 4-2 in the final on Monday.
The U13 Juniors also competed in the U15 age division at the tournament, going 1-1-1 with their lone loss coming in a 1-0 defeat to the runners-up. The U13’s will travel to Omaha, Nebraska this weekend while the U15’s stay in the Kansas City area to compete locally.
FANS ENCOURAGED TO SUPPORT U.S. 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™ to the United States in 2018 or 2022. More than one million people have showed their support by signing the online petition, including over 29,000 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.
