For a fourth consecutive year, the team will stay at the hotel of the soccer complex in Sunrise, near Fort Lauderdale, from March 21 to 31.
During their stay, the team should play three exhibition games, Sunday March 22 (4:30 pm) against the Honduran national team, Thursday, March 26 (7:30 pm), against a Haitian selection and Sunday, March 29 (5 pm) against their USL First Division rivals, the Miami FC.
“This camp will allow us to continue our work in preparation for our next season in the USL,” said Impact head coach John Limniatis. “We will continue our tactical preparation, which is already in an advanced stage. It will be good to play other games against strong teams.”
Two players who are trying out have been invited: goalkeeper Andrei Badescu and Quebec forward Massimo Di Ioia, who played for the Impact in 2006 and 2007, and with the club's reserve team, the Trois-Rivières Attak, last season.
“Badescu will get the chance to show us that he can be the third goalkeeper this year,” noted Impact technical director Nick De Santis. “It’s a good thing to have a third goalkeeper in the lineup, especially during a camp like the one in Florida. Di Ioia will get a second chance with us. He is a young player who has matured and made progress during the last year.”
A total of 23 players will make the trip to Florida. Italian defender Stefano Pesoli (knee) and midfielder Patrick Leduc (foot) will not travel with their teammates due to injuries.
“We are comfortable with the team we have right now,” added De Santis. “That being said, if we feel that adjustments need to be made during the season, we will make them.”
The Impact will kick off its regular season April 18, in Charleston. The Impact will play its home opener Saturday, May 9, as they host the Rochester Rhinos at Saputo Stadium. Season tickets are currently available by calling 514-328-3668.
IMPACT LINEUP IN FLORIDA
BADESCU, Andrei - G
BIELLO, Mauro - M
BRAZ, Adam - D
BRILLANT, Félix - M
BROWN, Roberto - A
BYERS, Peter - A
DEROUX, Stephen - D-M
DI IOIA, Massimo - A
DI LORENZO, Leonardo - D-M
DJEKANOVIC, Srdjan - G
DONATELLI, Tony - M
GATTI, Simon - D-M
GJERTSEN, Joey - M-A
GRANDE, Sandro - M
JOQUEVIEL, Cédric - D
JORDAN, Matt - G
MAYARD, Pierre-Rudolph - A
PIZZOLITTO, Nevio - D
PLACENTINO, Rocco - M-A
SAKUDA, Kevin - D-M
SEBRANGO, Eduardo - A
SURPRENANT, Alex - D
TESTO, David - M
-30-
Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668 (ext. 227)
