Vancouver Whitecaps News Release - www.whitecapsfc.com

Thursday, February 7, 2008

VANCOUVER, BC -- Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today the signing of United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1) veteran defender Omar Jarun and re-signing of midfielder Alfredo Valente. Jarun and Valente have both agreed to one-year contracts, plus an option.

Jarun, 24, signs with Vancouver after a successful two-week trial in late 2007, which culminated with the Whitecaps exhibition match against the Los Angeles Galaxy on November 7. The six-foot-five, 205-pound centre back has played the previous two seasons with the Atlanta Silverbacks. This includes playing in every minute of Atlanta’s run to the 2007 USL-1 championship match.

Prior to joining the Silverbacks, Jarun played two seasons in the USL Premier Development League (PDL) with Chicago Fire in 2005 and Fort Wayne in 2004. During this time, Jarun was also a forward at Dayton University. In his senior year at Dayton, he was named to the All-Atlantic 10 team after scoring 10 goals and adding seven assists. From 2002 to 2004, Jarun attended the University of Memphis.

Jarun, who was born in Kuwait City, Kuwait, but raised in Peachtree City, Georgia, earned his first senior cap with the Palestinian men’s national team last October, in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Singapore. Jarun’s father was born in Palestine.

Alfredo Valente, 27, returns for his eleventh season with the Whitecaps. The five-foot-six, 155-pound native of Vancouver, B.C., tallied two goals and added two assists in 24 games last season. During the 2002 season, Valente led Vancouver in assists with nine, finishing tied for fifth overall in the USL-1 as a result. Valente also led Vancouver in goal-scoring in 2000 with 10 markers. Valente joined the club from Burnaby’s Alpha Secondary as Vancouver’s top draft pick in 1998.

Valente ranks seventh in Vancouver’s all-time (regular season and playoffs) scoring list with 32 goals and 35 assists in 234 games and is a former member of both the Canadian U-20 and U-23 national teams.

Vancouver Whitecaps open the 2008 regular season at Swangard Stadium against the Montreal Impact on Saturday, April 12. Season tickets are now on sale, starting at $199. Call 604.669.WAVE (9283) or visit whitecapsfc.com for more information.