As United return to the Nation's Capital, the club is poised and focused on their Atlantic Cup rivals, the New York Red Bulls. Prior to stepping on the field Sunday night, a host of welcome home events, appearances and media interviews crowd an already full training schedule.
The team will be introduced to the public for the first time on Tuesday at the annual First XI Charity Kick-off Luncheon, presented by Blue Eagle Industries and the DC Sports & Entertainment Commission. Several United players, including Ben Olsen and Clyde Simms, will then make their way to the Barry Farm Recreation Center for the kick-off event of the United Soccer Club.
Bryan Namoff and John Wilson will be in attendance at Stanton Elementary School on Wednesday afternoon to help hand out books and sign autographs. Head coach Peter Nowak and Freddy Adu are slated to lead a clinic on Thursday in support of the U.S. Soccer Foundation passback program.
United players will be prevalent on the airwaves this week, as well, promoting Sunday's Atlantic Cup clash. Olsen and Nick Rimando will visit DC101's Elliott in the Morning Tuesday during the 8 o'clock hour. Adu is set to call WPGC's Donnie Simpson Thursday morning during the 8 o'clock hour and Alecko Eskandarian will join WJFK's The Sports Junkies by phone at 9:00. Brandon Prideaux will finish the week by visiting Mix107.3's Friday morning live studio audience during the 8 o'clock hour.
The week's event culminate Sunday at 5:00 p.m., when the Black-and-Red open the 2006 MLS campaign.
Honoring a friend and former teammate
Jaime Moreno will continue to collect frequent flier miles this week. Recently listed as one of 10 Major League Soccer players to be in the league since inception, Moreno will travel to Bolivia this week to participate in his national team's tribute match honoring Marco Etcheverry. United's top goal scorer of all time will fly to his native country Tuesday night, play Thursday night and return to Washington on Friday in order to prepare for Sunday's season opener.
Convey reaches the English Prmier League
Former United midfielder Bobby Convey will soon be lining up across the field from former United defender Ryan Nelsen.
Convey's side, Reading FC, clinched promotion to England's highest league with their victory last Saturday. The event marks the first time in the club's 135-year history that Reading will play in England's top flight. Nelsen is currently captaining the Blackburn Rovers, who sit fifth among EPL sides.
