MONTREAL, QC — The Montreal Impact announced Monday that its 2009 MVP, American midfielder David Testo, had signed a new two-year deal with the club.
“I’m truly excited to be back with the Impact. The decision was very easy to make because I feel at home in Montreal,” declared Testo. “What we have accomplished in 2009 is exceptional, but we need to leave that behind us and keep on winning. If we want to be successful every year, we need to play with the same mentality and the type of attitude that allowed us to take the championship.”
David Testo, a 28-year-old defensive midfielder, was the most active player of the club during the regular season after playing 26 matches, all as a starter, for a total of 2,235 minutes of play. In his third season with the Impact, he tallied one goal and one assist, and led the team with 38 fouls. At the end of the season, he was selected to the All-League Second Team of the Year for the first time in his career.
Testo also helped the Impact win its third championship in history by taking part in all six playoff games for a total of 494 minutes. He notably scored one goal in the first match against Charleston on September 24 at Saputo Stadium.
“We definitely wanted to come to terms with this year’s MVP,” declared Impact technical director Nick De Santis. “David had other options and received some offers, yet he wanted to stay with the Impact. He is a player who is increasingly forming part of the team’s core. At his age, he can still make progress and have excellent seasons.”
“David (Testo) plays a crucial role for the team,” noted Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos.
“It’s not easy to play in his position, but his excellent tactical learning favours him a lot. He also has a great vision of the game. In our systems of play, it’s important to have quality players like him. Last season he did very well, notably in his defensive role by recuperating numerous balls.”
Moreover, the Impact also announced that left-footed defender Zanzan will not be back next season, while midfielder Félix Brillant was released.
“Zanzan did not really adapt to North-American soccer and Stephen deRoux is our key player in that position. In Félix (Brillant)’s case, he didn’t tally a single point in 10 games in 2009. It’s unfortunate to let him go, but despite his experience and age, he never showed consistence,” mentioned De Santis.
Montreal Impact Bursaries
MONTREAL, QC — Eight promising young soccer players from across the province were awarded Saturday a Montreal Impact bursary during the Quebec Soccer Federation’s Annual Meeting, held at the Auberge Universel Hotel, in Montreal. Players aged 15 to 17 shared a total amount of $12,000 divided into four bursaries of $2,000 (Elite category) and four bursaries of $1,000 (Hopeful category).
“We value highly the effort and dedication of local athletes to surpass themselves in their discipline and we are proud to encourage promising talent from Quebec once again this year,” said Montreal Impact president Joey Saputo.
“Local players are an invaluable resource that we wish to develop and bring to their full potential. By investing in young people through the bursary program, we are expressing our will to see the pool of Quebec talent spread, which by the same token, will allow our sport to branch out in a sustainable and continuous manner.”
“The Montreal Impact Bursary Program is a concrete example of the club’s desire to be present in the Quebec community. This not only represents significant financial support for the young recipients, but it also serves as a major source of motivation, encouraging athletes to pursue their dreams and strive for excellence,” declared Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence executive director Pierre Dubé.
Radio-Canada Sports, new partner of the Foundation, becomes the official presenter of the Montreal Impact Bursary Program. Official broadcaster of the Montreal Impact matches, of the 2010 World Cup and various other FIFA tournaments, this partnership will enable Radio-Canada to contribute to the development of Quebec’s soccer elite.
“Soccer is the most practiced sport in the province and the recent successes of the Montreal Impact demonstrate how it can raise passions when our home team excells at it,” mentioned Radio-Canada director of sports Mr. Francois Messier.
“As national broadcasters, it’s important for us to promote talented young athletes who can act as role models and inspire young Radio-Canada audiences.”
The Montreal Impact Bursaries program, created in 2005 and now in its fifth edition, is managed by the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence, in collaboration with the Quebec Soccer Federation, which identifies the elite and hopeful athletes.
In 2009, the Montreal Impact became three-time USL First Division champions, while its reserve team, the Trois-Rivières Attak, won its first championship in its short Canadian Soccer League history.
2009 RECIPIENTS OF THE MONTREAL IMPACT BURSARIES PROGRAM
| NAME | AGE | CATEGORY | BUR$ARY | HOME |
| Matthew Alfonzetti | 16 | Hopeful | 1,000 | Laval |
| Maxime Crépeau | 15 | Hopeful | 1,000 | Candiac |
| Michelot Hyacinthe | 15 | Hopeful | 1,000 | Laval |
| Jean Lamothe | 15 | Hopeful | 1,000 | Longueuil |
| Hugo Lapointe-Senécal | 16 | Elite | 2,000 | St-Augustin |
| Karl W Ouimette | 17 | Elite | 2,000 | Terrebonne |
| Samuel Piette | 15 | Elite | 2,000 | Le Gardeur |
| Alessandro Riggi | 15 | Elite | 2,000 | Montreal |
ABOUT THE MONTREAL IMPACT
Since its relaunch in 2002, with the participation of major partners such as the Quebec Government, Hydro-Quebec and Saputo, the Montreal Impact has become a non-profit organization. All profits are reinvested in the development of soccer in Quebec and in children’s causes.
ABOUT THE QUEBEC FOUNDATION FOR ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE
The Foundation’s mission is to financially help and support student-athletes in their pursuit of excellence and to contribute to providing role models for Quebec society at large. The Foundation will have given, by the end of 2009, $600,000 in bursaries through its various programs. Visit the website at www.faeq.com.
No comments yet.