OLYMPIC TEAM
Impact defender David Fronimadis (photo), midfielders Chris Williams and Sita-Taty Matondo and goalkeeper Andrew Olivieri are currently with the Canadian Olympic team, which will play two crucial qualifying games against El Salvador.
Canada will play the first qualifying match November 15 at Estadio Cuscatlán in San Salvador. The second game will be held November 19 at Apple Bowl Stadium in Kelowna, British Columbia.
"We have players who, on an individual basis, are excellent both technically and tactically," said Impact defender David Fronimadis, who played 27 games with the Impact last season and won the team’s Unsung Hero Award. "Our greatest challenge will be to develop a chemistry on the field. We know the first game in El Salvador will be difficult because they always get great crowds."
Two former Impact players will also be on the squad: defender Adam Braz and forward Rocco Placentino.
The winner of the series will advance to the final qualifying tournament, which will be held in Mexico from February 2 to 12. Eights teams will then square off for the two available spots at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
The Olympic team is made up of players under 23 years of age, but regulations allow for three overage players to compete at the Games. Canada last qualified for the Olympic Games in 1984.
WORLD YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP
Four Impact players will represent Canada at the FIFA World Youth Championship, which will take place from November 27 to December 19, 2003, in the United Arab Emirates.
In addition to Sita-Taty Matondo, who is also eligible for this competition, Impact players Andres Arango, Jason DiTullio and Chris Lemire will join the national squad. Canada, which is in Group C, will play its first game November 28 against Brazil.
The tournament, which was originally scheduled for spring of 2003, was pushed back to November because of the war in Iraq.
INTERNATIONAL GAMES
Finally, Impact midfielder Martin Nash was invited to join Canada’s senior national team for two international friendlies, against the Czech Republic and Ireland, to take place November 15 and 18, respectively.
Nash, who currently plays with the Dallas Sidekicks in the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), scored four goals and tallied six assists last season with the Impact. He also won the Montreal squad’s Newcomer of the Year Award.
Former Impact midfielder Patrice Bernier was also called up for these two games.
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SOURCE:
bcomm
INFO:
Stéphane Banfi
514-328-3668 (ext. 27)
