Matondo, a 22-year-old Montreal native, is back with the Impact for the second time after having played the 2003 and 2005 seasons in Montreal, during which he was used as a substitute player, with five starts in 21 games played. In 703 minutes, he scored four goals.
Matondo left the Impact at the end of the 2003 season to join second division Swedish club Landskrona. He then signed with the Whitecaps on the eve of the 2006 season and during that year, he scored three goals in 21 games, four of which as a starter.
“It’s great to bring back to Montreal a player from here,” said Montreal Impact head coach Nick De Santis. “Matondo is a speedy forward who gained a lot of experience last year in Vancouver by winning a championship. He has a better attitude and is more disciplined. In the past, he scored several important goals. We are hoping that he will help us in the very same way, as a starter or as a substitute player.”
“I’m very excited to be back with the Impact,” said Matondo. “I will have the chance to play again in front of my family and friends. I will try to earn a spot on the starting lineup but I know there are many good players here. I will do my best to help the team.”
McLaughlin, a 24-year-old American, will not have played a single game with the Impact. McLaughlin was acquired with forward Fabian Dawkins from the Atlanta Silverbacks, last January 11, in return for forwards Mauricio Salles and Daniel Antoniuk.
On another note, the Impact will play its fifth and last pre-season game of its training camp this Friday (10 am) against its farm team, the Trois-Rivières Attak, at the Catalogna Soccerplexe in Lachine. The Impact will then kick off the 2007 USL D1 season April 21, in Atlanta, against the Silverbacks.
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Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668 (ext. 27)
