Montreal Impact News Release - www.montrealimpact.com

Thursday, March 1, 2007

MONTREAL, QUE -- The Montreal Impact announced, Thursday, the signing of Brazilian forward Frederico Moojen and defender Andres Arango to two-year contracts.

Moojen, 24, was the Impact’s second-round pick in the 2006 United Soccer Leagues (USL) First Division College Player Draft. During his college career Moojen tallied 59 goals and 133 points in three seasons with Clemson University and Lincoln Memorial University.

In 2005 and 2006, Moojen also finished top scorer of the USL Premier Development League (PDL), scoring 18 goals each season with the Cocoa Expos and the defunct Augusta Fireball. In 2006, he was also named PDL Player of the Year.

“We’re very happy to have him with us,” said Montreal Impact head coach Nick De Santis. “He is a natural scorer who is dangerous around the net. It will be a new challenge for him and he will have to adapt to the league’s style of play but his offensive qualities are a great asset.”

Andres Arango returns to the Impact after spending the last three seasons with the Toronto Lynx. The 23-year-old Ontario-native played the 2003 season in Montreal but was traded on February 25, 2004 to Toronto in exchange for defender Mauricio Vincello.

Arango was named the Lynx Defensive Player of the Year in 2005 and 2006. Last year, he was the team’s leader in minutes played and sixth overall in the league, with 2430 minutes in 27 games. He also played with the Canadian National U-20 Team during the last FIFA U20 World Cup, in 2003.

“Andres gained a lot of experience in Toronto,” added De Santis. “He had a very strong 2006 season, gaining confidence and taking on more responsibilities defensively. He is another young player that will add depth to our line-up.”

The organization also announced that midfielder Masahiro Fukasawa will not be back with the team in 2007. Fukasawa signed a contract with Bangkok University FC, a first division club in Thailand. Also, midfielder Mesut Mert was released after two seasons with the team. Finally, the club also announced that forward Joel Bailey’s contract will not be renewed.

TRAINING CAMP: MARCH 15 TO APRIL 13
To prepare for its season opener, set for Sunday, April 21 against the Atlanta Silverbacks, the Impact will kick off its training camp on March 15 at the Catalogna Soccerplexe, in Lachine.

For a second consecutive season, the team will then fly to Florida, from March 22 to April 4 to continue its camp outdoors, at the Sunrise Hilton Sports Complex in Fort Lauderdale.

During their stay in Florida, the Impact will square off against USL First Division teams in exhibition play, notably against the Miami FC. The camp will conclude on April 13.

“It’s a good thing because we will have the opportunity to play games against high-caliber teams, which will increase our level of play,” said Nick De Santis. “This camp in Florida is also a good way to create team chemistry before the beginning of the season.”

Montreal’s 14th home opener in club history at Claude-Robillard Sports Complex will take place Sunday, May 20, against the Seattle Sounders.

PLAYER TRYOUTS
The Montreal Impact is organizing a “on invitation” three-day camp for soccer players who are looking to participate in the team’s official training camp. The tryouts will take place March 7, 8 and 9, at the Catalogna Soccerplexe in Lachine.

PUMA® AND MONTREAL IMPACT ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP

The Montreal Impact and PUMA® Canada proudly announced a long-term agreement commencing March 2007. The new partnership was unveiled, Thursday, during a press conference at the PUMA Concept Store in downtown Montreal, in the presence of PUMA Canada president Ted Fletcher and Montreal Impact president Joey Saputo.

Under this agreement, PUMA will become the official supplier of all on field, training, representation apparel and equipment to all the Montreal Impact until 2009. The Impact joins the roster of elite PUMA sponsored club teams including Tottenham, SS Lazio, Hamburger SV, VfB Stuttgart and AS Monaco, as well as national teams such as Italy, Cameroon, Poland, Côte d’Ivoire and the Czech Republic.

“We are delighted that PUMA is our new official partner for apparel,” said Joey Saputo, president of the Montreal Impact. “To have a company as prestigious as PUMA associated with us will clearly help in our mission to grow and develop soccer. PUMA’s international presence will undoubtedly be beneficial to our team.”

“PUMA has associated itself with some of the greatest soccer teams in the world”, said Ted Fletcher, president of PUMA Canada. “When it comes to professional teams in Canada, the Montreal Impact is at the very top of the list. We are proud to enter into a partnership with such a quality organization and we look forward to developing some great programs together for soccer in the Quebec market."

For the occasion, the Impact also officially unveiled its new custom-designed PUMA kits, which will be available in three different colour schemes: a white uniform for home games, blue for away games, and black as an alternate kit.

On the field, the club will endorse PUMA’s proprietary V-Konstrukt line. Designed to “get the players to the ball faster”, the state of the art V-Konstruct products introduce a revolutionary lightweight proposition with an absolute focus on aerodynamic advantages and comfort through advanced technology, material selection and construction.

The kit design will also be the first playing shirt to feature the addition of two stars above the team’s logo, symbolizing the two league championships won by the Montreal club in 1994 and 2004.

This agreement also grants PUMA exclusivity in developing Montreal Impact leisure wear, which will notably be available at the PUMA Concept Store on Sainte-Catherine Street, in Montreal.

PUMA® is the global athletic brand that successfully fuses influences from sport, lifestyle and fashion. PUMA’s unique industry perspective delivers the unexpected in sportlifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories, through technical innovation and revolutionary design. Established in Herzogenaurach, Germany in 1948, PUMA distributes products in over 80 countries. For further information please visit www.PUMA.com and www.PUMAfootball.com

Photo: Moojen and Arango model the new kits (Pepe)