Chicago Fire @ Kansas City Wizards - Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - Fire Match #20 - MLS Match #131
TV:
DIRECT KICK, MLSLive.tv
RADIO:
WRTO-1200 AM (Oscar Guzman, "Batata" DaSilva, Enrique "Tico" Fernandez)
Chicago Fire vs. Kansas City Wizards - Saturday, August 25, 2007 - Fire Match #21 - MLS Match #135
TV: HDNet (Glenn Davis, Marcelo Balboa)
RADIO: WRTO-1200 AM (Oscar Guzman, "Batata" DaSilva, Enrique "Tico" Fernandez)
Fire - Kansas City Wizards
The Chicago Fire (6-8-5, 23 pts.) will see double this week as they take on the Kansas City Wizards (2-9-6, 12 pts.) this Wednesday night (7:30 p.m. CT, DIRECT KICK, MLSLive.tv) at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. and Saturday night (7:30 p.m. CT, HDNet) in a return leg clash at TOYOTA PARK in Bridgeview. Chicago comes to Kansas City with confidence, as the "Men in Red" offense sparkled in a 2-0 win at Real Salt Lake Saturday that saw MLS career-first tallies from high-profile signings Cuauhtémoc Blanco and Paulo Wanchope. Kansas City looks to bounce back into form after winning just one out of their last four league games and falling 1-0 to the New England Revolution at home this past Sunday. Both Fire - Wizards match-ups will be broadcast live over the airwaves locally on Chicagoland radio station WRTO-AM 1200 (Spanish).
Chicago Fire Weekly Agenda
** Sites/times subject to change. Please call 708.496.6726 to confirm training schedule. All times Central.
Monday, August 20 - Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 10:00 a.m.
Tuesday, August 21 - Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 10:00 a.m., Depart for Kansas City, 2:55 p.m.
Wednesday, August 22 - Chicago Fire @ Kansas City Wizards, 7:00 p.m. - Arrowhead Stadium - DK, MLSLive.tv
Thursday, August 23 - Arrive from Kansas City, 11:30 a.m.
Friday, August 24 - Training at TOYOTA PARK practice field, 9:00 a.m.
Saturday, August 25 - Chicago Fire vs. Kansas City Wizards, 7:30 p.m. - TOYOTA PARK - HDNet
Sunday, August 19 - OFF
"Chicago Fire Soccer Weekly" Radio Show - Fire President/CEO John Guppy
"Chicago Fire Soccer Weekly", a half-hour weekly soccer talk show, will air its next broadcast via WXAV 88.3 FM from the campus of Saint Xavier University (SXU) this Tuesday, Aug. 21, at 6:00 p.m. CT, and each week throughout the rest of the Fire's 2007 MLS campaign. Hosts Kevin Kellam, Angelo Bonadonna, and Terry Bonadonna will talk with Fire President/CEO John Guppy, as well as preview this week's games on versus Kansas City. Fans are encouraged to call in at 773.429.0463 to talk about all things Fire-related - live over the airwaves and the internet, with podcasts available through Chicago Fire or WXAV subscriptions on iTunes. For more information visit www.wxav.com or www.chicago-fire.com.
Fire Sign Defender Wilman Conde
Chicago Fire Soccer announced today the signing of Colombian international defender Wilman Conde (pronounced will-mahn cōn-DAY) and will be available to play for the "Men in Red" pending work visa approval and the opening of a roster spot. Per Major League Soccer (MLS) and team policy, specific terms of the deal were not disclosed. Conde, 24, has been with Millonarios in the Mustang Cup first division since the 2006 season, where he played under Fire head coach Juan Carlos Osorio. The native of Cali, Colombia has represented his country at the U15, U17, U20, and U23 levels and has also played for Colombian clubs Aucas (2005), Deportivo Cali (2001-04), and Deportes Quindio (2000). Osorio brought Conde to Millonarios after the defender trained with Argentine club Tigre and Colombian side Real Cartegena through the beginning of the 2006 season.
Midfielder Willian Oliveira Waived
The Chicago Fire also announced Monday that the team has waived midfielder Willian Oliveira. As a result, the Fire have opened a Youth International slot on the team's 28-man full roster. The native of Sao Paulo, Brazil played eight games (four starts) for the "Men in Red" in 2007, his lone MLS career goal proving to be a game-tying one on June 3, helping the Fire defeat Columbus Crew 3-2 at TOYOTA PARK.
Blanco's Blast Up for Goal of the Week
Scoring his first MLS career goal in the 43rd minute against Real Salt Lake on Saturday, Blanco trapped the ball and ripped a strike from 20 yards out into the upper-right corner of the goal. That game-winning goal is now among the five contenders for the Sierra Mist Goal of the Week in Week 20. Check out the "Blanco Blast" and vote him the winner of this week's competition at www.chicago-fire.com.
Band "OK Go" Supports Fire in MLS Represent Campaign
Local Chicagoland band "OK Go" has contributed their talents to the new adidas "MLS Represent" campaign with the song "Here Comes the Fire" as the Chicago Fire's promotional song. MLS Represent is a call to action for all MLS fans, asking them to pick their favorite MLS team and support them via the originally created song by each local artist. Fans have the opportunity to customize music videos online using the anthems mashed-up with MLS footage and can then share their videos with friends and rivals, giving all U.S. soccer fans a new way to "represent" their favorite MLS team. For more information on the latest MLS Represent campaign, visit www.adidas.com/us.
2007 Frank Klopas Golf Outing Set for September 10
On Monday, Sept. 10, the FireWorks for Kids Foundation will hold its sixth annual golf outing at Silver Lakes Country Club, in Orland Park, Ill. Former Fire forward Frank Klopas, who also serves on the Board of Directors for the FireWorks for Kids Foundation, gives his name and support to this golf outing. Celebrities who have attended in the past have included: Billy Pierce, Gene Heiser, Willy Roy, Paul Popovich, Ronnie Bull, Mike Pyle, Bill Wennington, Bob Love, and Billy Leagans. The entire Chicago Fire team and coaching staff will be on hand for the day as well. Every foursome will golf with a celebrity in a scramble format. The day will include 18 holes of golf with a chance to win a car, lunch, a cocktail reception, and conclude with a buffet dinner and prizes. For more information please call the FireWorks For Kids Foundation at 708-496-6740 or e-mail jyavitz@chicago-fire.com.
The Professor: Juan Carlos Osorio (2-1-1)
Juan Carlos Osorio became only the third coach in the Chicago Fire coaching family, following Bob Bradley (1998-02) and Dave Sarachan (2003-07) on July 9, 2007. Osorio, 46, steps in after a successful stint from 2006-07 as manager for Club Deportivo Los Millonarios, one of the most storied clubs in the Fútbol Profesional Colombiano (Copa Mustang). The Colombian native, known as "El Profesor" in his country of birth, led the Bogotá-based club to an 11-6-7 record during the 2007 Finalizacion (closing) season and a fourth place finish out of 18 teams in the Mustang Cup. Osorio's management helped Millonarios qualify for the 2006 Copa Sudamericana, one of the top club competitions in South America.
Join the Fire's Fight Against Malaria
Join Chicago Fire midfielder Diego Gutierrez in the battle against malaria. Major League Soccer joined the effort against malaria through its community outreach initiative - MLS W.O.R.K.S. - collaborating with the Nothing But Nets and Malaria No More campaigns. For more information on malaria awareness and how to donate, log on to www.NothingButNets.net or www.malariaNOMORE.org.
Chicago Fire Commemorative Bricks Still Available
Reserve your place in TOYOTA PARK and Chicago Fire history by placing your order for a commemorative brick from the FireWorks for Kids Foundation. Memorial bricks still remain for those who missed the opportunity to purchase last year. Engraved bricks are available in two sizes, with donations starting at $150.00. The bricks will be prominently displayed just under the signature archway near the main entrance of TOYOTA PARK. For more information, visit http://web.mlsnet.com/t100/community/memorial_bricks.
