The Impact has reached a new agreement with forward Joel Bailey for the 2006 season, and has also signed two young prospects from the National Training Centre, midfielder Ibrahim Baldeh and forward Massimo Di Ioia.
Baldeh, a Sierra Leone native, has signed a three-year deal while Di Ioia, a St-Leonard resident, has signed a one-year amateur contract. Both are 18 years of age.
Bailey, 26, was once again obtained on loan from the Baltimore Blast, after winning the 2006 Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) championship, on April 30. In 2005, Bailey had missed the first few months of the season due to a groin injury. He made his season debut with the Impact on August 26. The previous year, he had finished the season third in scoring with four goals, and fourth in points with nine. He was also on the Impact starting eleven for the 2004 championship final.
“Bailey’s return with the team will give us more depth offensively,” said Impact head coach Nick De Santis. “In the past two seasons, he has been bothered with injuries but we know what he can bring to the team when he is healthy.”
Baldeh and Di Ioia are players from the Montreal-Concordia AAA Elite Soccer Club. They have been playing with the National Training Centre for the last five years and were also part of the U20 Canadian national team that played in the Francophone Games in 2005.
“We are pleased to sign these two players,” said De Santis. “It’s important to keep our eye on the best young Quebec talent available. Ibrahim is a strong midfielder able to play offensively and defensively. Massimo is good technically and he has the ability to score goals. Yes, they need more experience but their presence with the club will be beneficial for their development.”
The Impact played its first two regular season games on the road, settling for a 0-0 tie in Miami April 23 and clinching a 1-0 win against the Puerto Rico Islanders, April 30.
The Impact will play its next two games on the road again, as it will square off against the Battery in Charleston, this Saturday, May 13 (7:30 pm, CJAD, Sport-Plus XM-172) and against the Virginia Beach Mariners the next day (7:30 pm, CJAD, Sport-Plus XM-172). Montreal’s 13th home opener in club history at Claude-Robillard Sports Complex will take place Sunday, May 21 at 4 pm against the Minnesota Thunder.