WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
CSL players moving up……………Part 2
FROM THE CSL TO EUROPE
More CSL players ventured to Europe during the past decade, including Fidan Nika of St. Catharines Roma Wolves to German clubs FC Passau, SG Bogen II, SV Poppenreuth and most recently SV Mitterteich, while Gil Hong and Christian Kusiewicz of Mississauga Eagles FC was transferred to Gyori ETO FC Hungary and today is with Oakville Blue Devils of Ontario League 1. Marcus Godinho of Toronto FC II moved to Heart of Midlothian in the Scottish Premier League and in 2018 with Berwick Rangers, also of Scotland. David Monsalve of North York Astros was signed by FC Inter Turku of Finland, and returned to Canada recently to play for Ottawa Fury of the USL. Igor Pisanjuk of Mississauga Eagles FC and later Vasas Astros SC, both of the CSL, was with Hungarian clubs Ferencvarosi, Szolnoki MAV FC, Kecskemeti, Egri FC and Vasas FC.
THE EUROPEAN TOUCH
Jonathan Lao (above picture) an impressive Toronto area attacking midfielder over the years, played in the CSL for Toronto FC II, was signed by FC Rot-Weiss Erfurt of Germany and was later a standout for the York University side including winning the Joe Johnson Memorial Award as the most outstanding university player in 2016. Jonathan, 25, considers that talented young Canadian players should seek a spot in Europe to experience the difference in culture and mentality for the game if they desire to pursue professional football. Lao was in the Canadian youth program as early as 15 and represented Canada in the 2009 CONCACAF U-17 Championship in Mexico.
FROM THE CSL TO INTERNATIONAL DUTY
During the period following 2010, a procession of players were travelling extensively from CSL clubs to represent their country at the youth level, including Odaine Demar, Julien Edwards and Taylor Benjamin of the CSL’s Capital City of Ottawa. Demar was selected for the Jamaica U-20 national team in the CONCACAF championships, Edwards and Benjamin were selected for their native Guyana. Stephane Emard, playing for Kingston FC was selected for the St. Lucia national team for the Gold Cup qualifiers. Canadian Soccer Association coaches also stepped in to identify the promising players under contract with CSL clubs and several players with Montreal Impact II playing in the CSL were selected They included midfielder Allesandro Riggi, striker Stephan Vukovic, (the CSL’s top scorer in 2011), midfielder Kevin Luarca and defender Kai Morton. Striker Reda Agourram, midfielder Pierre Rudolph Mayard, former Trois-Riviers Attak defender Karl Ouimette, and full back Aron Mkungilwa were also selected to Canada’s youth teams.
SKYLAR THOMAS FIRST WINNIPEG SIGNING
Skylar Thomas showed good natural ability when in 2012 he entered the CSL with the Toronto FC reserve squad while also playing at Syracuse where he captained the university team. The tall (6’ 3”) Scarborough-born defender was signed by Reading United in the U.S.-based USL League Two, where in 2014 he played before returning to the Toronto FC club to make 47 appearances in the reserve team. He then signed for Charleston Battery of the USL in 2017 and played regularly through the 2018 season. Thomas, 25, is the first signing for Valour FC, the Winnipeg team in the newly-formed Premier Soccer League (PSL) which is scheduled to kickoff in 2019. Valour head coach and GM Ron Gale described Thomas on Global News radio as being “a strong centre-back, athletic and quick, and good in the air”. Thomas has made seven appearances for Canada’s U-23 squad.
SERGIO CAMARGO A CAVALRYMAN
The soccer career of Sergio Camargo kicked off in earnest when in 2009 when the Colombia-born midfielder turned out for Toronto FC II in the CSL during the 2009 season. In 2010 Camargo won both the CSL Reserve Division MVP and Rookie of the Year awards before playing college soccer with Coastal Carolina and in Syracuse with a string of achievements. In 2015 he was captain of the Waterloo, Ontario-based K-W United when the team won the USL Premier Division Championship and in 2017 was signed by Toronto FC. In 2018 Camargo, now 24, played for Calgary Foothills of USL League Two and has signed for Cavalry FC, the Calgary team to kickoff in the Canadian Premier League’s inaugural 2019 season. Camargo made his debut for Canada in the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
DRAGOSLAV SEKULARAC
Dragoslav Sekularac, the former Red Star Belgrade attacking midfielder considered to be one of the top legendary players in world soccer and who managed a successful re-launch of Serbian White Eagles of the CSL in 2006, died at age 81 last Saturday, January 5. Sekularac was considered one of the most popular players to wear a Red Star shirt due to his exceptional ball skills that raised the stadium noise volume whenever he took possession. Sekularac made his debut for Red Star Belgrade in 1955, playing 470 games scoring 119 goals in 11 seasons. He played 41 times for the Yugoslavia national team. Sekularac was not new to Canada when appointed GM in 1966, having spent time with Serbian White Eagles of the CSL’s forerunner National Soccer League in 1975. His presence in 2006 attracted some of the largest crowds to watch a CSL game and there was considerable success on the field of play, winning the International Conference with both the best offensive and defensive record with 17 wins, 4 draws and 1 defeat.
