Zurab Tsiskaridze (Zoo- rab, Tsi-ka-ri-dzé), a 24-year-old American defender, originally from Tbilisi, Georgia, played last season with the Vancouver Whitecaps. In 2010, he played 31 matches, 25 of them as a starter, for a total of 2,172 minutes played. He made his North American second division debut with Miami FC in 2009, after having played the 2007-2008 season with French club FC Sète.
Kreamalmeyer (Cream-ale-my-urr), a 28-year-old midfielder from the St. Louis area, has played with several second division clubs over his career. In 2010, he scored five goals in 25 matches with AC St. Louis. He also scored five goals in 26 matches with the Carolina RailHawks in 2009, five goals in 34 matches with the Rochester Rhinos in 2008 and 10 goals with the Portland Timbers during the 2006 and 2007 seasons. Kreamalmeyer started his career in 2005 with Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer, after getting drafted 37th overall.
"We were looking for a left-defender and a midfielder who could play the right side, so these were two very good acquisitions for next season," said Impact sporting director Nick De Santis. "Considering the suspension to Richard Pelletier for our first six matches, Zurab will be very useful from the very beginning of the season and we believe he will adapt well to our style of play. Luke has a lot of experience in our league and has done well everywhere he’s played. He proved to us at training camp that he belongs on our team. He’s a quick player who makes good decisions, he crosses the ball well and has a solid shot."
In other player news, the Impact and goalkeeper Andrei Badescu came to a mutual decision to end his current contract. Badescu, who was under contract for the 2011 season, has thereby been released. Badescu did not play a single game for the Impact’s first team.
The Impact now has 18 players under contract for the 2011 season in the North American Soccer League (NASL).
The Impact will play its second preseason match of training camp this Friday at 4:30pm, at the Centre d’activités physiques et communautaires de l’est, near Marie-Victorin College, in Montreal. It will be an inter-club game between the first team and the U-21 Academy reserve team. Fans can attend the game free of charge.
Season tickets are now available for purchase by the general public via the club’s website, impactmontreal.com or through ticket services at 514-328-3668. All season ticket holders in 2011 will automatically be given seating priority for the 2012 season in Major League Soccer (MLS).
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