Adrian Cann is in for a tough time.
The tall, athletic-like defender, known for his on the field intelligence, has been a very good player for more than a decade now and really did grow up kicking a soccer ball many years before that.
That was in Thornhill, Ontario, just above Toronto at St. Luke’s Elementary School, to be followed by more soccer at St. Robert Catholic High School where he was named Athlete of the Year. A scholarship moved Cann to the University of Louisville in Kentucky where he was named the team’s most valuable player in both his sophomore and junior seasons and was eventually described by his coach as the most complete soccer player ever to play at the university.
He was a sought-after talent and played in North America – Colorado Rapids, Montreal Impact, Vancouver Whitecaps – before signing for Esbjerg in Denmark. He then returned to North America during 2010 to become a popular defender with Toronto FC, making 48 appearances before moving to San Antonio Scorpions in the North American Soccer League. Cann was capped nine times for the Canadian national team following three appearances for Canada’s U-20 squad.
Adrian Cann is now with Scarborough SC of the Canadian Soccer League and made his first appearance on August 8, winning a 4-3 see-saw battle with FC Ukraine United at the St. Joan of Arc Stadium in Maple. “We made a few mistakes, but worked through that to win a game I enjoyed,” said Cann the following day.
Adrian Cann will be 36 in September and is in the twilight of his playing career. While his intelligent play, obvious talent and physical fitness will continue for a period of time to translate into the effective and attractive soccer player he is, it is these same attributes that makes the inevitable switch to soccer spectator a difficult process.
But in the meantime, Cann will be of considerable help to Scarborough in the east Toronto team’s bid for the First Division title and the CSL playoffs leading to the championship, and there’s always coaching or managerial considerations later to ease the transition from what has been a sparkling career for the amiable York Region native.
Scarborough has been a force in the CSL since being launched as an expansion team in 2015 by Kiril Dimitrov. The Bulgarian-born midfielder entered the CSL when transferred from Bulgarian club Belasica to Serbian White Eagles in 2009, later moving to SC Waterloo.
Now playing out of Birchmount Stadium in Scarborough, the team is in a position to bid for the league title and there is little doubt that having Adrian Cann as a defender will increase its chances of success.
