Justin Soscia is a taller than avarage16 year old centre back who feels very comfortable playing for York Region Shooters reserves in the CSL Second Division where the pace is a bit quick and things can get a little physical.
But the rigours of Second Division CSL soccer is precisely why he played there during the CSL season just ended, and why he is now in Italy in a high level academy environment connected to Empoli FC, a Serie B team formed in the Tuscany region of Italy more than 90 years ago. Justin Soscia one of eight CSL players invited from a larger group to stay on for further coaching and to train with coaches from the Empoli team.
York Region Shooters have a relationship with a company called Italian Soccer Management (ISM) which partners with Empoli FC for camps and scouting of players and Soscia was spotted by Luis Pomares of Empoli during a recent visit to
“I’ve always encouraged Justin to play at a level higher than his age and it’s paying off,” said Tony Soscia, Justin’s father. The elder Soscia was explaining his son’s successful past season in the CSL and the opportunity to continue with the ISM program in
Other CSL players now in Italy for an extended stay into December are Blerie Lame, Maurizio Ragone, Jesse Rogers, Michel Downey and Marcello Tantalo of York Region and O’Neil Spencer, Nathan Harlow and Nicholas Okot from SC Waterloo.
Anita Kovacevic of the Shooters organization and manager of the contingent of players that made the trip from southern
IN OTHER NEWS………….
The CSL congratulates referee Silviu Petrescu for being named the MLS 2012 Referee of the Year. The
The Impact also have a number of academy players in national youth team projects including the selection of midfielders Yacine Ait Slimane, (he played in the CSL final), and Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare. Both are included in the Canadian youth camp now underway in California.