Jan. 18, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Former UAB men's soccer player Sandy Gbandi becomes the second Blazer selected in the 2007 Major League Soccer (MLS) Draft, when he was chosen in the first round of the supplemental draft by FC Dallas on Jan. 17. The MLS Supplemental Draft occurs one week after the SuperDraft in which Gbandi's former UAB teammate, Jerson Monteiro, was selected as the eighth overall pick in the first round by the Chicago Fire, becoming the highest soccer player drafted in school history.

Gbandi's selection marks the fifth UAB played since 2004 to be drafted by an MLS team, and the second time in school history two Blazers were chosen in the same draft. The only other time two Blazers were drafted in the MLS in the same year occurred was in 2004, when Marin Pusek (46th overall) and Tony McManus (59th overall) were selected by the San Jose Earthquakes and Chicago Fire, respectively.

"I am delighted for Sandy," UAB head coach Mike Getman said. "He has worked so hard over the last several years. He is a terrific player and we are ecstatic that he has the opportunity to move on and become a professional player."

Gbandi was forced to sit out his senior season due to NCAA rules; however, he still leaves UAB as one of the top players to ever come through the program. During his three seasons as a Blazer, Gbandi played in 56 contests, starting all but one of them. After he played his first season as a defender, the Houston, Texas native showed his versatility when he made the move to midfield and blossomed into one of the top offensive threats in Conference USA. During his two years at the midfield position, Gbandi racked up 10 goals, 12 assists and 32 points, on his way to becoming a two-time All-Conference USA honoree. He was also selected by his teammates as the co-MVP following his sophomore season.

Gbandi, who will be a teammate of his older brother Chris at FC Dallas, will join Monteiro as the two UAB MLS draftees. Monteiro was selected by the Chicago Fire with their first-round pick during last Friday's SuperDraft, and became the second consecutive UAB player to be drafted in the first round of the MLS draft. Last year, Leandro De Olivera was selected No. 11 overall by the New England Revolution. UAB is one of only five schools in the nation to have a player drafted from the same school in the first round of two consecutive MLS SuperDrafts. The Blazers join North Carolina, Wake Forest, Maryland and Santa Clara as the only schools to accomplish the feat.

Monteiro, a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) second-team All-Midwest Region performer, had a career season for the Blazers in 2006. The Houston, Texas native led the team in goals (14), assists (7) and points (35) on the campaign. The 14 goals tied for fourth-most in a season in school history, while his 35points were fifth-best in UAB lore. Furthermore, the first team all-conference honoree, closed his career with 34 goals and 84 points during his outstanding career. Those numbers rank second on the school's all-time list.

Monteiro and Gbandi are the fifth and sixth Blazers selected in the MLS Draft. Along with Monteiro, Gbandi, De Olivera, Pusek and McManus, Peter Byaruhanga (2nd round, 15th overall) was selected in the 1999 draft.