Real Salt Lake has announced that the Utah MLS side will hold the first three practices of its 2008 preseason schedule at the Spence Eccles Field House on the campus of the University of Utah from Jan. 27-29. A roster of 32 players, including trialists, will convene in Salt Lake City this Saturday, Jan. 26, for entrance physicals and fitness training before hitting the Spence-Eccles field on Sunday afternoon from 12:00-2:00 p.m. MT for the first practice of the club's fourth season of play.
Sunday's session will be open to members of the media, with availability for all RSL players and coaches to follow. Media members with any questions are asked to contact John Koluder, RSL Manager of Media Relations, at 801-918-5050 or jkoluder@RealSaltLake.com. An updated itinerary for RSL's 2008 preseason is listed below. In addition, the team's official 2008 preseason roster is listed below and has been attached.
Three RSL players will be unable to begin practicing with the team on Sunday due to injuries. DF Nik Besagno underwent successful surgery earlier today to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. MF Carey Talley will sit out of the Spence Eccles sessions as he continues to rehab from a right knee injury, but the 11-year MLS veteran is expected to return to training around Feb. 1. MF Duke Hashimoto will miss the majority of the team's preseason schedule as he continues to return from a torn left ACL he suffered last June.
2008 Real Salt Lake Preseason Schedule
Saturday, Jan. 26: Players report to Salt Lake City for entrance physicals / fitness testing
Sunday, Jan.27: Training at Spence Eccles Field House in Salt Lake City, 12:00-2:00 p.m. MT
Monday, Jan.28: Training at Spence Eccles Field House in Salt Lake City, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. MT
Tuesday, Jan.29: Training at Spence Eccles Field House in Salt Lake City, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. MT
Jan. 30-Feb. 9: Preseason Trip #1 to Oxnard/Ventura, Calif.
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- Dates/sites of 2 scrimmages TBD
Feb. 10-13: Training in Utah (sites/times TBD)
Feb. 14-23: Preseason Trip #2 to Sunrise/Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
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- Dates/sites of 3 scrimmages TBD
Feb. 24-28: Training in Utah (sites/times TBD)
Feb. 29-March 12: Preseason Trip #3 to Rosario, Argentina
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- Dates/times of 3 exhibitions TBD
March 22: Exhibition contest - Opponent/Site TBA
March 29: MLS First Kick 2008 - RSL v. Chicago Fire at Rice-Eccles Stadium - 4:00 p.m. MT
RSL Selects Three Players in Today's MLS Supplemental Draft
Real Salt Lake's roster building continued with this afternoon's 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft, as the club's Technical Staff selected three players that will join the club in time for the opening of the team's preseason schedule this weekend. RSL's draft day began in the second round with the selection of another UC-Santa Barbara product, FW Tino Nunez, with the 17th overall pick. After plucking Michigan State midfielder Kevin Reiman with the 31st overall pick in the third round, the RSL brain trust closed out its 2008 drafting duties by picking up another striker, Cincinnati's Kenny Anaba, in the fourth round. Bios for each of RSL's three 2008 Supplemental Draft picks are listed below:
Tino Nunez
Position: Forward
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 180 lbs
Date of Birth: August 22, 1984
Hometown: Long Beach, Calif.
College: UC-Santa Barbara
Acquired: Selected by Real Salt Lake in second round (17th overall) of the 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft
Tino Nunez becomes the third UC-Santa Barbara player drafted by RSL in the last two years, joining former Gauchos GK Kyle Reynish (2006) and MF Brennan Tennelle (2007) at the Utah MLS club ... A talented striker, Nunez played three years at UCSB after transferring from Compton Community College ... The Long Beach native played his club soccer for NHB Soccer Club from the U-12 to U-18 levels, leading the club in scoring every season and guiding his team to three league titles and three National State Cup runner-up finishes.
Kenny Anaba
Position: Forward
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 195 lbs
Date of Birth: January 20, 1986
Hometown: Westerville, Ohio
College: University of Cincinnati
Acquired: Selected by Real Salt Lake in fourth round (45th overall) of the 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft
Kenny Anaba joins Real Salt Lake from the University of Cincinnati after four seasons with the Bearcats ... The three-time All-Region and All-BIG EAST selection finished his collegiate career with 26 goals and 13 assists ... The high-scoring striker played his club soccer for Premier adidas, helping the squad to three Ohio South State Cup Championships ... A standout player in high school at Worthington Christian, Anaba finished his career with 81 goals and 42 assists, including 40 goals and 20 assists his senior year.
Kevin Reiman
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 145 lbs
Date of Birth: March 14, 1986
Hometown: Yorktown Heights, New York
College: Michigan State
Acquired: Selected by Real Salt Lake in third round (31st overall) of the 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft
Another NCAA Champion to join the RSL roster, Kevin Reiman played two seasons at Michigan State after spending his freshman and sophomore years with the University of Maryland ... Joins RSL teammate GK Chris Seitz as members of the Terrapins' 2005 NCAA National Championship team ... A seven-year captain of the Yorktown Spirit club team, Reiman led his squad to four Eastern New York State Cup Championships and was twice named an NSCAA/adidas All-American in high school.
