For a third consecutive year, the team will stay at the Sunrise Sports Complex, in Fort Lauderdale, from March 19 to 31. The team will play three exhibition games, including a match-up against their USL First Division rivals, the Miami FC Blues, Sunday, March 30.
“Our rhythm, cohesion and team mentality are better than the previous seasons when we were leaving for Florida, so we will have the chance to concentrate on tactical aspects and on our system of play,” said Montreal Impact head coach Nick De Santis. “I’m comfortable with the team we have right now but we are still looking for a quality forward.”
De Santis will count on a 24-player roster, including a few guest players, such as forward Dwight Barnett, recently released from the Chicago Fire, a Major League Soccer team.
Defenders Stefano Pesoli and Cédric Joqueviel, midfielders Chris Williams and Ibrahim Baldeh, as well as goalkeeper Andrew Olivieri are still fighting for a spot with the Impact in 2008, and will also be in Florida with the club.
The Montreal Impact will kick off its 15th season in club history April 12 in Vancouver and will play its first game at Saputo Stadium, May 19, against their Canadian rivals.
The club also announced that forward Fabian Dawkins and defender Andres Arango were released. Both players had played the 2007 season in Montreal.
IMPACT ROSTER IN FLORIDA
BALDEH Ibrahim M
BARNETT Dwight F
BIELLO Mauro M
BRAZ Adam D
BROWN Roberto F
DI LORENZO Leonardo M
GATTI Simon M
GBEKE Charles F
GERVAIS Gabriel D
GJERTSEN Joey F
JOQUEVIEL Cédric D
JORDAN Matt G
LEDUC Patrick M
MATONDO Sita-Taty M
NUNEZ Christian M
OLIVIERI Andrew G
PALLESCHI Matthew M
PESOLI Stefano D
PIZZOLITTO Nevio D
RIBEIRO Antonio M
SURPRENANT Alex D
TESTO David M
WEBER Andrew G
WILLIAMS Chris M
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Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668, ext. 227
