Winning is only part of the story behind the four clubs to reach the Canadian Soccer League championship finals which concluded the CSL season on October 26. York Region won the CSL Championship and Kingston reserves captured the second Division title.
The desire to develop players is an overriding feature of York Region Shooters, Toronto Croatia, Kingston FC and SC Waterloo.
These clubs – and others in the CSL – are making player development, together with the all important will to win attitude demonstrated on the field of play, a force that will bring short and long-term results that benefit the player, the league and Canadian soccer in general..
New CSL champions York Region Shooters – undefeated in 2014 – have been developing players for several years now with strong coaching and technical staff, but the recently announced addition of the high profile Bob de Klerk takes player development to a whole new level.
De Klerk, a promising professional in Europe whose career was cut short through injury, spent 10 years with the Ajax youth system before moving to North America January 2011 where he joined Toronto FC to work with fellow Dutchman, former TFC head coach Aron Winter.
Known as a soccer educator par excellence, de Klerk also spent time with Ajax Cape Town in South Africa and recently was director of youth development with Dalian Aerbin FC of the Chinese Super League.
York Region Shooter’s owner Tony De Thomasis said in making the announcement: “I believe there are enough promising young players in our region that can achieve high level pro soccer with the right training and skills development and with Bob de Klerk’s help we intend to offer that opportunity. We need even more highly qualified people who can spot promising players with the trained eye.”
Toronto Croatia, the most prominent team in the CSL in recent years following the club’s entry into pro soccer in 1956, has announced the launch of the Toronto Croatia Academy as a member of the Canadian Futbol Academy (CAF). Toronto Croatia Academy will teach and coach the technical side of the game, participate in tournaments at home and abroad, and will pursue soccer scholarships.
The club’s impressive record of nine championships in domestic competition and success in the Croatian World Club Championships is an attractive proposition for young players looking to develop their skills and overall potential as a player at the higher levels of the game.
“The success we have enjoyed in competition here in Canada and internationally at the pro level will now include player development to give young players an opportunity to see how far they can go,” said Joe Pavicic, president and owner of the club following the announcement.
Players can call a direct line for information on the new Toronto Croatia Academy at 416 400-1192 or send an email to torontocroatiaacademy@outlook.com.
Kingston FC recently announced a comprehensive development program to accommodate youngsters at age four through to their upper teens, and will be on the lookout for players of the higher age group showing a sufficient skill level to eventually be good prospects for high level professional soccer.
This all means that whatever the age group and level of ambition, the Kingston FC Pro Soccer Academy and the already successful Kingston City Soccer Academy will be working together to offer a program to suit every young individual interested in playing good football.
Kingston FC has helped raise the awareness of soccer in the region to a new level in a very short time period with the club’s two championships – the 2013 CSL First Division title and the 2014 CSL Second Division win – both achieved since coming under the new management of chairman Lorne Abugov and president Joseph Scanlon less than three years ago.
SC Waterloo is the focal point for soccer in the Waterloo Region which stretches from the twin cities of Kitchener-Waterloo to Cambridge, Guelph and Stratford, and the club’s presence with Ginga Soccer in the Canadian Academy of Futbol (CAF) has provided a more serious developmental platform for young players in that part of Southwestern Ontario.
Ginga Soccer, to which SC Waterloo is affiliated, is partnered with Cesc Fabregas Academy, an organization poised for greater expansion including more high level technical skills personnel ready to step on board during 2015.
Head coach Lazo Dzepina’s background with his abundance of coaching and technical skills (and CSL championship victories (with both Waterloo and Brantford Galaxy) has also helped to make SC Waterloo an attractive proposition for young players in that part of the province.
The CSL is changing. While improving its position as the professional soccer league in Canada it continues to interface with more player development, a trend that will reap benefits in the near term and for many years to come.