Players ranging from 13 to 17 years of age shared a total amount of $25,000 divided into eight bursaries of $2,000 (Elite category) and nine bursaries of $1,000 (Hopeful category). Five of the recipients were receiving the Impact Bursary for a second consecutive year.
“This unique partnership with the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence and the Quebec Soccer Federation allows us to encourage young, promising players,” said Montreal Impact president Joey Saputo. “The 17 young players from different regions we are honouring today have surpassed themselves, and we are pleased to support them since it is also part of our mission, as a professions soccer team.”
“I’m very happy to note that once again the Montreal Impact is involved early in these players’ careers with their bursary program,” said Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence president Claude Chagnon. I’m proud of the excellence of this partnership that the Foundation developed with the Montreal Impact and the Quebec Soccer Federation.”
The Impact maintained a steady presence throughout Quebec last season, notably through its Jos Louis Public Practices held in various regions. The Impact also attracted 6,532 fans for a regular-season game in Sherbrooke, on August 27, and 2,825 spectators for an exhibition match in Trois-Rivières, on May 7. To that effect, the Impact announced, on November 15, that its new farm team will be based in Trois-Rivières.
In October 2005, the Impact announced it would award $75,000 in bursaries over three years, with the creation of the Montreal Impact Bursaries program. Last year, the Impact gave a first amount of $24,000 to 16 young promising athletes.
The Montreal Impact Bursaries program is managed by the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence, in collaboration with the Quebec Soccer Federation, who identifies the elite and hopeful athletes.
THE 2006 RECIPIENTS OF THE PROGRAM
THE MONTREAL IMPACT BURSARIES
NAME AGE CATEGORY BURSARY RESIDENCE
FRANCESCO AUGUSTIN 14 Hopeful $1,000 Montreal
KARINE CONSTANTIN 14 Hopeful $1,000 Sainte-Thérèse
NIKKO VITO CONTINO 14 Hopeful $1,000 Montreal
CONSTANCE DE CHANTAL DUMONT 14 Hopeful $1,000 Saint-Alexandre
SERGE DINKOTA 15 Hopeful $1,000 Sainte-Foy
CHRISTINE DUBUC 14 Hopeful $1,000 Blainville
ALEXANDRE KÉOVONGKOTH 14 Hopeful $1,000 Longueuil
HUGO-ALEXANDER MURGAS-NERIO 13 Hopeful $1,000 Montreal
SARAH ROBBINS 14 Hopeful $1,000 Montreal
SARAH BOUCHER 15 Élite $2,000 Sainte-Brigitte-de-Laval
MÉLISSA BUSQUE 16 Élite $2,000 Saint-Bruno
CÉDRIC CARRIÉ 16 Élite $2,000 Brossard
FABRICE LASSONDE 17 Élite $2,000 Mont Saint-Grégoire
JULIEN LATENDRESSE-LÉVESQUE 15 Élite $2,000 Chambly
VANESSA MUEGGLER 16 Élite $2,000 Pincourt
KATHRYN MURAMATSU 15 Élite $2,000 Pincourt
MOHAMED SYLLA 16 Élite $2,000 Pierrefonds
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. Profits are reinvested in the development of soccer in Quebec.
ABOUT THE FONDATION DE L’ATHLÈTE D’EXCELLENCE DU QUÉBEC
The Foundation’s mission is to financially help and support athletes-students 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 2006, a half-million dollars in bursaries through its various programs. For more info, visit www.faeq.com.
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SOURCES:
Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
514-328-3668, Ext. 27
Annie Pelletier, FAEQ
514-252-3171, Ext. 3538
