For the occasion, all players under contract, as well as nine invited players who participated in the Impact’s “on invitation” camp last week, reported to camp.
“I felt that the players were excited and motivated to be back in training,” said Montreal Impact head coach Nick De Santis. “As early as this morning, we saw great things and I already know that we will have to make some difficult decisions. We are notably looking for a goalkeeper with experience and a lateral defender. But our door is open to any player who could prove he can play with the Impact.”
LEONARDO DI LORENZO IS BACK
The Impact also announced that midfielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo will be back for the 2007 season. Proclaimed Newcomer of the Year in 2006, Di Lorenzo scored two goals and collected six assists for 10 points, the second highest total among Impact players. In his rookie season, he played in 19 games and spent 1,427 minutes on the field.
Defender Jason DiTullio, still recovering from a knee injury, did not take part in training, while forward Massimo Di Ioia is currently with Canada's U-20 training camp in British-Colombia. As for defender Lars Lyssand, he is still under contract with the team but is presently trying out with an MLS team.
In other player moves, the club announced that contracts for Darko Kolic and Bill Sedgewick will not be renewed.
After a week at Catalogna, training camp will move to Florida, from March 23 to April 4 at the Sunrise Hilton Sports Complex in Fort Lauderdale. The Impact will square off against USL First Division teams in exhibition play, notably against the Rochester Raging Rhinos, March 29, and the Miami FC, March 30 and April 3.
The Impact will kick off the 2007 First Division United Soccer Leagues season on Sunday, April 21 in Atlanta against the Silverbacks. The Impact will play its 14th home opener of its history at Claude-Robillard Sports Complex on Sunday, May 20, against the Seattle Sounders.
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TRAINING SCHEDULE
PHOTOS PÉPÉ
Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668 (ext. 27)
