CSL

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Canada has more than 400,000 registered youth male soccer players and like everywhere else in the world, the number of talented players is directly proportional –

The CSL is holding a Showcase Event on Friday, March 2 for U-19 players and it is expected the games will be attended by more than 20 coaches from Canada and the United States.

 

There will be 12 teams taking part in the showcase, to be held at the Hershey SportZone Centre in Mississauga, Ontario and each team will play twice in the one-day event.

 

Showcase events are becoming increasingly popular in soccer and are sought by high level coaches with busy schedules. Seeing many promising players at the same location in one day is considered a highly productive way to scout and such events usually attract coaches who have the authority to recruit if they like what they see.

 

Phil Ionadi, a CSL All Star who played professionally in North America with Montreal Impact and the Toronto Lynx and who excelled as a midfielder playing at Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi, is overseeing the CSL event.

 

“Our aim is to guide these young talented players in soccer and on the right path to life. The CSL Showcase Event will provide an opportunity to be seen by university and college coaches from Canada and the United States. There is an opportunity to be awarded a scholarship leading to a degree while still playing high level soccer,” said Ionadi.

 

Ionadi believes that North America is developing a stronger professional soccer environment from the CSL to the NASL to MLS and a clear pathway is being created at home for talented young players to succeed.

 

Enquiries about the March 2 CSL Showcase Event can be made by calling the CSL office at 905 564-2297.

 

The CSL is turning its attention to the business of soccer, which is expected to be a major point of focus leading to the upcoming 2012 season and beyond. Financial strength will be given greater consideration in the league’s future development and the role the league will play as a significant member of the Canadian soccer community.

 

The league administration and the member clubs are in general agreement that CSL games are attractive to watch, having reached a good skill level over the years, but the business side has not kept pace and has some catching up to do.

 

Tony De Thomasis, owner of the CSL’s York Region Shooters, is one expressing his views on the subject. “ We have a great soccer history and soccer we are good at, but we must now give more thought to the business side of the league,” says De Thomasis, a successful businessman in the financial and investments sector who believes that a sound financial base with good, experienced ownership, will take the league much beyond what it has achieved so far.

 

“Perhaps it’s just the way the earlier clubs looked at professional soccer, but today all pro clubs must see that a stable, strong future is based on firm business principles and business skills.  At this level, it’s no longer a hobby, no longer just what takes place on the field of play,” said De Thomasis.

 

As a league, the CSL is experiencing unprecedented attention and interest from home and overseas. And for good reason. The increasing number of enquiries suggest Canada is certainly the place to be for talented individual foreign players unable to break into professional soccer in their own country, while here at home the CSL is receiving enquiries from community teams and groups with a desire to move up to the higher level semi-professional game

 

In the 2011 season, the CSL had 17 clubs in membership and fielded 14 teams in each of its first and second divisions and with last year’s member clubs committed to return for the upcoming 2012 campaign, it’s clear the top division may well be a bulky minimum 17 teams.

In a league known for its good play, it’s not surprising that during the past three seasons, no less than 27 players with CSL teams moved to higher level clubs overseas and 42 were selected for one or more of the national teams of their country – including Canada.

 

But the CSL administration and the member clubs are giving more attention and thought to the business side of the CSL and what this will mean for the future of a league that was formed back in 1926 and has faithfully maintained its Canadian identity since that time.

 

De Thomasis, a strong proponent of interfacing youth players with professional soccer to accelerate a player’s development, feels the CSL and its forerunner leagues played very good soccer, but have been short on vision when it came to building a successful league in the modern game.

 

It’s also generally agreed that a stronger CSL will contribute meaningfully to a stronger professional soccer structure for Canada, which is bound to help the Canadian national teams compete more favourably in world competition.

 

Canadian standards for professional soccer written in 1996 have been reviewed recently by the national governing body CSA and a new base line is now being set for the CSL and its teams. The CSL and the Canadian Soccer Association are presently discussing these revised standards, some media reporting of which has lacked accuracy, including the tone of the discussions taking place and suggested course of action by the CSA if the new standards cannot be met.

 

Pino Jazbec, the CSL league administrator, is confident the league will meet the CSA’s necessary requirements for professional soccer, but makes a point that a few CSL clubs for the first time in their history are facing some financial standards that translate into higher cost.  Jazbec says, however, “Given a little time, this is something the league and the clubs will come to terms with, while at the same time from a business perspective we will position ourselves to more easily adjust to such changes in the future.”

 

The CSL will release its 2012 league formation during February-March for a six-month long campaign beginning the first week of May through to the end of October.

 

 

 

The CSL intends to resurrect its All Star team and will be seeking opposition from visiting foreign teams for the upcoming 2012 season. The league is considering fielding two teams and if suitable opposition can be arranged, there will be a senior team of the CSL’s best and also a team of  U-19s, with the annual  Dallas Cup under consideration.

The CSL All Stars has a history of taking on the big boys in world club soccer and while the team has been short on results, the games have been competitive and exciting over the years. Here, we recap several games played during the last decade, or so.

Opposition in recent years include Glasgow Rangers and Clyde FC from Scotland, Munich 1860 of the German Bundesliga, Maritimo and Boavista FC of Portugal and a strong Moroccan U-23 side.

Let’s go back to 2001 when a CPSL Selects side took on the Moroccan U-23 team in Ottawa, a game played on July 6, 2001, just three years after Morocco took part in the World Cup Finals and their U-23 team was considered the ‘cream of the crop’ in that North African country.

The game ended in a 1-1 tie. Tony La Ferrara (North York Astros, now with the Pickering Soccer Club) was the head coach with a squad that looked like this:

 Dino Perri (St. Catharines Roma Wolves), Richard Goddard (Ottawa Wizards); Bayette Smith and Danny Sanna (Toronto Olympians), Kurt Ramsey (North York Astros), Kwame Telamaque, Russell Shaw, Andrew Waring (Ottawa Wizards); Gary Hughes (St. Catharines Roma Wolves). Lucio Ianiero (St. Catharines Roma) – Captain, Dejan Gluscevic (North York Astros), Goran Zankovic (Ottawa Wizards), Leo Incollingo (Montreal Dynamites), Orlando Rizzo (York Region Shooters), Dave McDonald (Glen Shields Sun Devils), Jerry Pean (Montreal Dynamites), John Matas and Willy Giummarra (Toronto Olympians), Jim Kuzmanoski (Durham Flames), Mario Andrijanic and Marc Enguene (Ottawa Wizards).

Just three weeks later, on July 25, 2001, the CPSL All Stars gave Maritimo of Portugal a rough time at Cove Road in London, despite the 4-0 result in favour of the visitors.

“They scored the goals and that’s what counts,” said CPSL coach Tony La Ferrara, “But we put up a real fight and gave them a rough ride.”

On May 15, 2002, the CPSL All Stars were no match for a strong Munich 1860 side, a game played before a well-attended crowd at Budd Stadium in Kitchener. The game ended 6-0 in favour of the German Bundesliga club for the highest score on record against a CPSL All Star team.

The CPSL All Stars were:

 Pieter Meuleman, Jason Faria,  Danny Sanna,  Peyvand Mossavat,  Bayete Smith
 Gentian Dervishi, Miles O’Conner,  Abraham Osman, Phil Ionadi,  Carlo Arghittu,  Jimmy Kuzmanovski Subs: Luciano Miranda (gk),  Orlando Rizzo,  Tyler Hemming,  Lucio Ianiero,  David Mancini, Dejan Gluscevic, Denny Dragonic.Technical Director/General Manager Jim Douglas…coaches Jurek Gebczynski, David Benning, Victor Cameria and Steve Nijjar.

Moving forward to 2004, the CPSL Selects played another Portuguese First Division side, Boavista FC,

  at Cove Road on May 28 and Boavista, which  won the Portuguese First Division in the 2000-2001 season, 

were too strong for the CPSL team, winning 3-0. Harry Gauss of London City was the CPSL coach, 

a team known as the CPSL Locust Selects: 

 George Azcurra (Toronto Croatia),Haidar Al Shairbani (London City),Peter Zorba (North York Astros),Mason Greene (Mississauga Olympians), 

Bayete Smith (Brampton Hitmen), Marko Peeters (London City),Sasha Kosanovic (Metro Lions),Kosta Stojkovic (Metro Lions),                                               

Justin Medeiros (London City), Kareem Reynolds (Metro Lions), Phil Ionadi (Brampton Hitmen), Billy Ninopoulos (Metro Lions), 

Marko Janjicek (Metro Lions),Darryl Gomez (Metro Lions),Paul Munster (London City).      

A year later, Glasgow Rangers, the 51-time Scottish champions, which won the Scottish Premier Division the year before, played the CPSL All Stars on the Varsity Stadium original surface but without the recently demolished stands.

The visitors, here for a nine-day training camp before kicking off their Premier Division season in Scotland at the end of July, fielded a mix of first team probables and several possibles in a 27-man roster.

The game was played on July 9, 2005 and following a scoreless first half, Rangers eventually won 4-1. Many believed the score would have been closer had team manager Bruno Ierullo kept the first-half lineup on the field, but he was applauded for playing his full roster, giving all players selected the experience.of playing against one of the best club sides in world soccer. The squad

 Carlo Arghittu and Danny Gallacher (St. Catharines Wolves), Dennis Peeters and Eris Tafaj (London City), Marcus Chorvat (Border Stars), Michael Silva (Toronto Supra), Fitzroy Powell and Craig Williams (Durham Storm), Fuseini Dauda, Ricardo Marquez, Daniel Milojevic, Zelko Dukic, Johnny Annisi, Roberto Ferrari (Hamilton Thunder), Hugo Herrara (Brampton Stallions), Gabriel Pop, Darren Baxter, Aaron Steele, Igor Prostran, Sergio De Luca (Oakville Blue Devils), Justin Phillips (Vaughan Shooters) and Joseph Feifoo (North York Astros).
Head Coach: Jorge Armua, General Manager: Bruno Ierullo, Team Manager: Hector Marinaro Sr., Team Doctor: Scott Howitt, Physiotherapist: Dean Grima and the Equipment Manager: Elio Scarcello.

On May 7, 2006, Clyde FC of Scotland scored a 2-1 victory over the CPSL All Stars at Esther Shiner Stadium in North York. The game was decided on a penalty kick awarded to Clyde FC in the second half by referee Steve De Piero following a shirt tugging incident by CPSL defender Antonijo Zupan of Toronto Croatia.

The CPSL All Stars had opened the scoring for an early 1-0 lead after just six minutes when Sasa Viciknez took a pass from Peter Curic to find the net, but that was cancelled out by Clyde forward Douglas Imrie who, at the 18 minute mark headed the ball out of reach of All Star goalkeeper George Azcurra to tie the score 1-1.

CPSL All Stars: Dusan Belic (Serbian White Eagles), Haidar Al Shaibani (London City), George Azcurra (Toronto Croatia), Deny Velastegui (Oakville Blue Devils), Orlin Chalmers (Oakville Blue Devils), Fitzroy Christey (Italia Shooters), Domagoj Sain (Toronto Croatia), Antonijo Zupan (Toronto Croatia) (CAPT.), Mirko Medic (Serbian White Eagles), Mario Ostojic (Serbian White Eagles), Zeljko Dukic (St.Catharines Wolves), Danny Draganic (Toronto Croatia), Selmir Sehic (Toronto Supra Portuguese), Desi Humphrey (Italia Shooters), Gentjan Dervishi (London City), Eris Tafaj (London City), Geoffrey Attard (St.Catharines Wolves), Caswain Mason (Toronto Croatia), Hayden Fitzwilliams (Toronto Croatia), Judah Hernandez (Oakville Blue Devils), Alex Braletic (Serbian White Eagles), Sasa Viciknez (Serbian White Eagles), Peter Curic (Toronto Croatia), Jean Tshimpaka (North York Astros). Velemir Crjlen (Head Coach, Toronto Croatia) Milodrag Akmadiz (Assist. Coach, Brampton Stallions) Nedo Radman (Equip. Manager, Toronto Croatia), Nino Sonsini (Sports Therapist, Brampton Stallions), Hector Marinaro (CPSL Chief Scout), Tony De Thomasis (Assistant Manager, Italia Shooters), Bruno Ierullo (General Manager, North York Astros).

 

The CSL off season usually brings happy stories, but invariably some sad news also and this close-season is no exception.

 

GERARDO LEZCANO – North York Astros

We were saddened by the news early January of the passing of Gerardo Lezcano, the popular coach with North York Astros who lost a battle with cancer at the age of 65. Gerardo Jose Lezcano was born in Argentina’s Corrientes Province and soccer soon became his favourite sport as he developed into a defender, a position he played on arrival in Canada in 1972.

 

Gerardo played in the Spanish League in Toronto and joined North York Astros of the CSL in 2009 to assist in coaching and team management. The senior Gerardo was joined at the Astros by his son, Gerardo Jr. who is also a coach with the CSL First Division side.

 

GREGOIRE AKCELROD – Mississauga Eagles

Mississauga Eagles’ striker Gregoire Akcelrod made for a heart-warming story by paying a visit to the Children’s Hospital in Paris during the Christmas period. The former Paris Saint-Germain and Cmwbran Town (Wales) player, who shook hands, signed autographs and posed for photographs with children in the hospital’s neuroscience ward, admits he likes to see smiles on children’s faces and enjoyed the experience.

 

Akcelrod, who is under contract with Mississauga through to 2013, has reportedly caught the interest of Italian Serie B club Brescia.

 

PINO JAZBEC – CSL Administrator

Pino Jazbec, the versatile, hard working league administrator at the Canadian Soccer League, was elected president of the South Region Soccer League at the league’s annual general meeting on January 14.

 

The SRSL plays in Mississauga stretching to the Hamilton District and Niagara, with about 500 teams involving more than 8,000 members – players, coaches and team officials.

 

Jazbec, who was elevated from the position of vice president, has been with the SRSL since 1994 and was president of the Ontario Indoor Soccer League from 2001 to 2009. Earlier, he was an executive with the Ontario Youth Soccer League from 1998 to 2002.

 

Pino  Jazbec was the Toronto Croatia representative in the CSL for three years leading to his appointment as the CSL’s League Administrator in 2010.

 

ANDREW CROWE AND MANUEL HERNANDEZ – London City SC

Andrew Crowe and Manuel Hernandez are now the club’s principals following  change of ownership of London City Soccer Club

 

Crowe, a Hamilton, Ontario entrepreneur, successful in the environmental recycling business, is the new London City president, while Hernandez assumes the role of general manager..The team will remain in London where it has been a fixture and important part of that community under the Gauss family managed by Ryan Gauss, son of the late Harry Paul Gauss and Harry’s father Marcus (Max) Gauss since 1973.

 

THOMAS RONGEN – TFC Academy

Thomas Rongen the new Academy Director at Toronto FC, takes over from Stuart Neely who recently resigned that position.

 

 Rongen, 55, a native of Amsterdam, was recently head coach of the national team of America Samoa after serving two terms as the head coach of the Under-20 United States men’s national team. He led the team to two FIFA U-20 World Cups in 2007 and 2009 during his five year tenure.

 

Rongen  was one of the inaugural coaches in Major League Soccer and began his MLS career with the Tampa Bay Mutiny in 1996. His team won the MLS league title in his first season and Rongen was named MLS Coach of the Year. He then moved to New England Revolution for two seasons, following which he moved to D.C. United and led the club to the 1999 MLS Cup title. He left D.C. United in 2001 to begin his first stint with the United States U-20 team, where he remained until 2005. In 2005, Rongen was hired as Chivas USA’s head coach for the club’s inaugural season.

 

Stuart Neely held various positions in Canadian soccer before joining Toronto FC, the most notable role being that of  technical programs manager with the Canadian Soccer Association, a position he held for five years from 2001 to 2006. The Scottish-born Neely will practice sports consultancy.

 

NICOLAS GAGNON – Montreal Impact Academy

Nicolas Gagnon has been appointed assistant coach of the Montreal Impact Academy team

 

 

 

 

Canada, perhaps more than most countries in membership with FIFA, has often experienced difficulty defining its professional soccer structure and this is due in part to Canadian teams playing in leagues based in the United States, while at the same time a number of North American leagues have come and gone during the second half of the last century.

 

Today, there are three Canadian teams – Montreal Impact, the Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC – in membership with the U.S.-based Major League Soccer, while Edmonton FC is the lone Canadian team in a new North American Soccer League which was launched in the United States and Canada on April 9, 2011. (The old NASL ran from 1968 to 1984).

 

 The other component of Canada’s professional soccer structure and designated  semi-professional soccer by the CSA, is a growing Canadian Soccer League, a continuation of forerunner leagues NSL, CNSL and CPSL, going back to 1926.

 

It’s been hard to define the three Canadian MLS teams as a Canadian division in Canada and it’s even more difficult to see one team – Edmonton FC – defined as another division in the context of the Canadian soccer community. What can be said is that these teams now form the upper level Canadian professional soccer structure in which the teams play under U.S. league rules.

 

The CSL is the only league in direct membership with Canada’s national soccer governance CSA.  It’s also 100 per cent Canadian, having resisted approaches over the years from teams in New York State and Michigan wanting to play the CSL level of soccer unavailable in their respective regions.  The CSL occupies the upper level semi-professional structure as designated by the CSA, while semi-professional leagues launched within the jurisdiction of the provincial governing bodies form a next level, usually more accessible to a greater number of players wanting to step up from the vast amateur soccer population that is today the largest of all Canadian team sports.

 

 The CSA has commissioned James Easton, a former Canadian youth and national team player with his company, the Rethink Management Group, to examine the viability of a Canadian professional league to be played as the highest level in a Canadian league structure.

 

The feasibility study will include similar work done in other countries and is expected to be concluded by the spring of 2012.

 

The CSL, which has an opportunity to fill that role under the guidance and rules of the CSA, has already planned for eventual expansion on a regional basis. This  means except when required for special once-in-a-while championship games involving teams from each region, there will not be extensive travel with the attendant costs that caused the demise of numerous teams and leagues and which plagued North American soccer through to the end of the last century.

 

It now appears the day is not too far off when this country’s professional soccer  will be clearer for everyone and stronger, a favourable development that should help Canada be more competitive on the world stage.