Players aged 13 to 16 shared a total amount of $20,000 divided into fiver bursaries of $2,500 (Elite category) and five bursaries of $1,500 (Hopeful category).
“Once again this evening, we are extremely proud to support the province’s future soccer hopefuls in the interest to continue to develop local players,” declared Montreal Impact President Joey Saputo. “By awarding the Montreal Impact bursaries for a sixth straight year, the Impact is committed to overseeing the development of young Quebec soccer players. These young soccer players are tomorrow’s future role models.”
“The Montreal Impact Bursary Program is a concrete example of the club’s desire to be present in the Quebec community. This not only represents significant financial support for the young recipients, but it also serves as a major source of motivation, encouraging athletes to pursue their dreams and strive for excellence,” declared Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence executive director Pierre Dubé.
Radio-Canada Sports, new partner of the Foundation, becomes the official presenter of the Montreal Impact Bursary Program. Official broadcaster of the Montreal Impact matches, of the 2010 World Cup and various other FIFA tournaments, this partnership will enable Radio-Canada to contribute to the development of Quebec’s soccer elite.
"Soccer is the most practiced sport in the province and the recent success of the Montreal Impact demonstrates how it can raise passions when our home team excels at it." mentioned Radio-Canada director of sport Mr. Francois Messier. "As national broadcasters, it is important for us to promote talented young athletes who can act as role models and inspire young Radio-Canada audiences.”
The Montreal Impact Bursaries program, created in 2005 and now in its sixth edition, is managed by the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence, in collaboration with the Quebec Soccer Federation, which identifies the Elite and Hopeful athletes.
In 2009, the Montreal Impact became three-time USL First Division champions, while its reserve team, the Trois-Rivières Attak, won its first championship in its short Canadian Soccer League history.
2010 RECIPIENTS OF THE MONTREAL IMPACT BURSARIES PROGRAM
NAME LAST NAME AGE CATEGORY BURSARY RESIDENCE
Raphael De Chantal Dumont 14 Hopeful $1, 500 St-Alexandre
Nicholas Kéovongkoth 14 Hopeful $1, 500 Longueuil
Simon Mikaba 13 Hopeful $1, 500 Notre-Dame-de-Grâce
Aron Mkungilwa 14 Hopeful $1, 500 Joliette
David Paulmin 14 Hopeful $1, 500 Ste-Thérèse
Marco Lapenna 16 Elite $2, 500 Montréal-Nord
Shadrack Mmunga 16 Elite $2, 500 Québec
Samuel Piette 15 Elite $2, 500 Le Gardeur
Cody Roach-Griffith 16 Elite $2, 500 Laval
Gregory Turfan 16 Elite $2, 500 Brossard
ABOUT THE QUEBEC FOUNDATION FOR ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE
The mission of the Foundation is to financially support and encourage student-athletes in their pursuit of excellence and to promote athletes as role models in Quebec society. Over the past five years, the Foundation has awarded close to $2.9 million in bursaries to student-athletes, and plans to increase its yearly amount in bursaries to $1 million as part of its plan for 2010-2015. For more information, visit the Foundation’s website at www.faeq.com.
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SOURCES :
Annie Pelletier, FAEQ
514-252-3171 (ext. 3538)
Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
514-328-3668 (Ext. 227)
