Raymundo Contreras Loaned To Ukrainian Club

The San Diego Sockers and defender Ray Contreras have agreed to accept a loan of the veteran defender to the Ukranian club Kyivmiskbud (KMB) in Kiev, the capital city of Ukraine. Contreras, along with Monterrey striker Edgar “Torrez” Gonzalez, will join KMB in the Ukrainian Mini-Football League for approximately 70 days, beginning in the final week of June.

“I’m very happy to be able to begin a new adventure in Europe,” said Contreras of the upcoming experience, “Not only to be able to represent the colors of Mexico, but of course the San Diego Sockers, who I support 100%, as I go to Ukraine.”

Contreras, 32, featured in 18 matches for the Sockers in the 2019-20 Major Arena Soccer League season, netting a goal and assist, while contributing 33 fouls and 15 blocked shots to the defensive cause. In three seasons with San Diego, Contreras has accrued 61 appearances, 8 goals, 5 assists and 65 blocks.

“I hope my going to Ukraine provides a platform for the young footballers who are pushing forward strongly, so that I can help show them the keys to a future in the sport, and to see the American continent.”

The country of Ukraine and capital city of Kiev have been named the future site of the 2021 WMF World Cup, the bi-annual competition to identify the top mini-football country in the world. In 2019’s WMF World Cup, Team Mexico, including both Contreras and Gonzalez, captured the Cup, defeating Brazil in the final. The WMF World Cup Mexican club featured eight Sockers players and two coaches.

Both Contreras and Gonzalez should be back with their MASL parent clubs in plenty of time for any 2020-21 season. The MASL suspended their 2019-20 campaign in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.