Sidra, new Dutch coach, trialists join FC Edmonton over busy weekend 4 Apr 2011 FC Edmonton may have left the city for a week-long camp in Florida, but the front office keeps rolling. The club added fullback and local product Eddy Sidra, who had an unsuccessful trial at Toronto FC, on Saturday. The team also brought in a new assistant coach, Edwin Petersen, from the Dutch U-15 program.
New NASL commish will help with optics, broadcasting 28 Mar 2011 The North American Soccer League took a step towards stability with the hiring of an independent commissioner on Monday. David Downs will take over as the head domo of the second-division league on April 4. Downs has 30 years of broadcast experience as an executive with ABC Sports and Univision Communications. He negotiated U.S. broadcast rights for World Cups from USA ’94 to Brazil 2014. He was also the head of the U.S. bid committee for the 2022 World Cup, which lost out to Qatar in the voting.
FC Edmonton left out in the cold by NCC schedulemaker 23 Mar 2011 The needs of television have outweighed the needs of Canada’s fledgling professional team. The Canadian Soccer Association and Rogers Sportsnet unveiled the broadcast schedule for the Nutrilite Canadian Championship, and the news was awful for FC Edmonton’s front office.
Braz retires, will go into management with Impact 14 Mar 2011 He’s only 29. He doesn’t have a history of chronic injuries. But Montreal Impact fullback Adam Braz called time on his playing career Monday. The Impact announced that Braz, who spent seven seasons and played more than 10,000 minutes with the club, will move into team management. And the club admitted when Braz informed the front office of the decision, there were stunned faces all around.
Impact unveils stadium renovation plan 9 Mar 2011 The Montreal Impact announced its plan to transform Stade Saputo into an MLS-ready facility. Owner Joey Saputo lifted the curtain on a plan to increase the stadium’s capacity from 13,034 to 20,431. The plan calls for 3,500 seats in a new west grandstand and 1,250 additional seats in the southeast and southwest corners. Another 1,000 seats will be installed in the east grandstand.
Surprenant could have Impact on FC Edmonton lineup 3 Mar 2011 FC Edmonton announced that it has inked a former member of the Montreal Impact to deal to spend the 2011 NASL season in the Alberta Capital. Alex Suprenant, who struggled to find time in the Impact lineup — and played for the club’s Canadian Soccer League affiliate, the Trois-Rivieres Attak. The defender played a part in the Impact’s run to the CONCACAF Champions League quarter-finals in 2008-09, when then-coach John Limniatis had to juggle his roster because of a busy USL schedule mixed with the CCL.
Kreamalmeyer leads Impact past weakened FC Dallas side 3 Mar 2011 Luke Kreamalmeyer led the way as the Montreal Impact finally beat an MLS team in preseason play. After loss to Portland and Sporting Kansas City, Montreal defeated FC Dallas 3-0 Wednesday in Arizona. But it has to be noted that FCD left most of its starting lineup well away from the pitch for this game. No sign of league MVP David Ferreira, striker Brek Shea, midfielder Daniel Hernandez or Winnipeg-raised defender Ugo Ihemelu. Regular starting keeper Kevin Hartman didn’t play, either.
FC Edmonton news: More players signed, some ticket info for NCC 1 Mar 2011 Two more Albertans highlight the four signings FC Edmonton announced Monday. The club, which is set to make its debut in the NASL and the Nutrilite Canadian Championship in 2011, has confirmed deals with Edmonton native Chris Lemire, Lethbridge, Alta. teenager Niko Saler, former Portland Timber Mutanda Kwesele and Dutch defender/midfielder Paul Matthijs.
Timbers chop down Impact in preseason play 24 Feb 2011 Eddie Johnson scored against the Montreal Impact for the second game in a row. The Portland Timbers prospect, a veteran of the English lower leagues, scored for his new club in a 1-0 exhibition win over the Impact Wednesday in Arizona.
Impact signs keeper, announces Red Bull date 21 Feb 2011 The Montreal Impact has been making some waves over the past couple of days, announcing a friendly with the New York Red Bulls and signing a new keeper. The Impact will play Thierry Henry, Rafa Marquez and the Red Bulls at Stade Saputo May 11.