KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City Wizards have announced plans to honor soccer legend Preki prior to the team's final regular season home game on October 8th against the Eastern Conference leading New England Revolution. A presentation will take place on the field just prior to kickoff at 7:00 p.m. CT.
"It is fitting that Preki will end his 26-year playing career in Wizards blue, contributing to a team looking to make its way to the 2005 MLS Cup", said Wizards General Manager Curt Johnson. "I am thrilled that we will be able to honor him Saturday in front of the wonderful fans he has entertained for much of the last decade. I encourage all Wizards fans to be in attendance for this special event."
During the pregame festivities, the Wizards will present Preki with a framed Kansas City Wizards jersey to commemorate his accomplishments with the team. Peter Gansler from adidas® will also be on hand to present Preki with a special gift. Preki's family and youth team, FC Rangers will accompany him on the field prior to the game.
Following the presentations, the Wizards will show a highlight video of Preki's incredible MLS career and will also have a very limited number of commemorative Preki t-shirts, signed by the soccer legend that will be tossed into the crowd throughout the game.
A two-time MLS Most Valuable Player and eight-time MLS All-Star, Preki announced that he will retire at the end of the 2005 season. He will end his 26-year professional career as arguably the best player in Major League Soccer history.
The 42-year-old Preki spent nine of his ten seasons in MLS with the Wizards, playing the 2001 season with the Miami Fusion before returning to Kansas City prior to the 2002 season. Entering the final home game of the season against New England, he has scored 78 career goals (6th all-time) and added 112 assists, just two shy of the MLS record of 114 held by Carlos Valderrama.
Kansas City's regular season home finale against the Revolution will have huge playoff implications for the home team. The Wizards control their own playoff fate, currently holding down the fourth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, leading the 5th place MetroStars by three points. Saturday is also Team Poster Night. Fans entering the stadium will receive a team poster, compliments of Pittcraft Printing. The Wizards will host a postgame autograph session with all players and coaches in the Pavilion at Arrowhead following the game.
Tickets for Preki's final regular season home game at Arrowhead Stadium on October 8th are available by calling Ticketmaster at 816-931-3330 or online at www.kcwizards.com and clicking on "Tickets". Tickets can also be purchased at the Arrowhead Box Office, located at Gate D1 of the stadium, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:0o p.m. and from 9:00 a.m. to halftime on the day of the game.
