The Canadian Soccer League continues to receive information from the Ethnic Channels Group of an increasing number of television providers for viewing of its weekly show, GivovaCSL Primetime and scheduling times for Thursday, Friday and Saturday will be announced as they are confirmed.
Confirmation has been received that the show can be seen on BeIN Sports, a network rich in world soccer, each Thursday night at 7.30 pm ET, on channels 1412 and 1413 with Bell, 391 392 and 491 with Rogers, 859 with Cogeco, 618 with Shaw, 425 with Eastlink, 983 with Telus, 797 with Videotron, 527 and 1527 with MTS.
CSL Primetime will keep fans and the general public connected and up-to-date with the latest highlights, interviews, league statistics and what’s upcoming in Canada’s foremost soccer league.
Host Alex Bastyovanszky, accompanied Jason De Thomasis, will analyze highlights and provide insight on a number of issues, such as will league-leading York Region Shooters repeat their remarkable unbeaten 2014 season, and why is Milton SC, a team with so much early promise, in a mid-season struggle to move up from the foot of the CSL First Division.
Terry Dunfield (right) of Macclesfield gets the better of Leon Osman of Everton in FA Cup action
It’s long been recognized that being blessed with a fair share of luck is an important ingredient in any field of endeavor and soccer is no exception. Being in the right place at the right time, seen by the right people, being possessed of the necessary skills, all play an important part of being identified as a special player.
The Canadian Soccer League has had its fair share of exceptional players over the years and midfielder Terry Dunfield, now with Toronto Atomic FC, is one of the most recent and one of the most impressive.
For Terry Dunfield it all started unexpectedly as a visiting schoolboy playing in a small community in England. Born in Vancouver, Dunfield was playing with his Canadian team in a tournament at Keele, Staffordshire in the summer of 1999, unaware that a scout from Manchester City – today one of the world’s top clubs – was strolling the field perimeter hoping to pick out any teenager that might look like a real soccer player.
Canadians soccer players had earlier ventured to the UK to be identified as the real deal, so that scouts in England were familiar with Les Wilson, Frank Yallop and Craig Forrest, all having played youth soccer in British Columbia before enjoying lengthy careers at the top level with English clubs. Scouts will tell you, such players come along just once in a while, a bit like winning the lottery.
Manchester City put Dunfield on trial and under contract. He later captained the youth team and was named Youth Player of the Year. He appeared for Manchester City before moving on to make almost 200 appearances over a 17 year period in first class football in England and Scotland despite an early, serious injury that almost ended his career.
Not a bench-sitting player at any time, the Canadian became more receptive to offers that promised playing time – Bury, Macclesfield Town and Shrewsbury Town and later for Ross County in Scotland, avoiding glamour club opportunities that may result in long periods as a substitute. Newly-appointed Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan (capped 63 times for England and later managed the England team) had ongoing plans for Dunfield during those Manchester City days, but reports show Dunfield preferred other opportunities with more time on the field of play.
Terry Dunfield made one appearance for the England U-18 side while in that country, followed by appearances for Canada’s U-20 and U-23 sides and eventually made 14 appearances for the Canadian men’s team, all since 2010. He captained the team against Denmark in 2013.
Following his career in the UK, Dunfield, now 34, returned to Canada to play for Vancouver Whitecaps, then Toronto FC, and is now pursuing a broadcast career with TSN. This year, he joined the CSL’s Toronto Atomic FC for pre-season training and has become a regular. He scored his first goal against Scarborough on June 25.
“I’m enjoying playing for Atomic, well organized and professional,” said Dunfield after playing the opening games. “We’re training three times a week and the team is doing well.”
Dunfield feels soccer in Canada is moving along nicely and in the right direction, that the game needs more time to attract even more sports fans now becoming familiar with the game – what actually happens on in the field of play and the excitement it generates. “The three MLS teams have helped a lot to develop more interest in the game in Canada and the media are becoming more involved,” he said.
In addition to the CSL First Division squad, Toronto Atomic also has a second string in the Second Division and an academy team in the Canadian Academy of Futbol (CAF).
“Terry is great, obviously still a very good player and a nice guy to have around,” said Ihor Prokipchuk, the club’s owner. “His experience strengthens our first team and also his presence can be very helpful to our young players, including in the academy.”
Atomic ended its inaugural 2015 season in fifth position of 12 in the CSL First Division and is currently near the top of the standings.
Richard West struck two goals for York Region to keep his club’s winning streak intact.
York Region Shooters maintained a 100 per cent record with the eighth victory from as many games, a 4-0 defeat of Toronto Atomic FC, while FC Ukraine United took control of the second half to defeat Brantford Galaxy 4-2, two games in the Canadian Soccer League Sunday night.
Forward Aleksander Stojanovski opened the scoring for York Region with the first of two goals, scoring at close range for a 1-0 lead for the home side at the 40 minute mark.
Richard West made it 2-0 just two minutes later when he tapped in a rebound and the goal was also the first of two for this striker. The 2-0 score held to the break.
West headed into the net for his second goal, to make it 3-0 at 60 minutes, and Stojanovski completed the scoring at 62 minutes, a 4-0 score at the final whistle.
York Region continue on top of the table with a 8-0-0 record for 24 points, while Toronto Atomic FC are in third position with a 4-3-2 record for 14 points.
An own goal by Brantford Galaxy’s Boris Milicic gave FC Ukraine United a 1-0 lead at the eighth minute mark at the St. Joan of Arc ground in Maple, and Bojan Stepanovic equalized for Brantford Galaxy with a free kick just outside the box, the goal coming at 29 minutes.
Forward Stefan Vukovic gave the Galaxy a 2-1 lead at 37 minutes, a strike from 13 yards that found the net past Ukraine United goalkeeper Nazar Lytvyn and it was 2-1 at the break.
Ukraine United took control as the second half progressed and equalized for a 2-2 score at 55 minutes from a penalty awarded by referee Blake Williams following a foul inside the box. Midfielder Oleh Kerchu scored from the penalty spot, a drive out of reach of Brantford goalkeeper Luka Besenic.
Defender Vadym Gostiev put the home side into a 3-2 lead at 64 minutes and striker Sergii Ivliev increased the lead to 4-2 for Ukraine United in added time, the score at the final whistle.
Ukraine United improve to a 4-3-1 WLT record for 13 points and fourth in the standings, while Brantford Galaxy are at 2-5-1 for 7 points in seventh position.
Scarborough SC moved up to second position in the First Division standings with a 1-0 victory over Hamilton City, the only game played in the CSL Saturday night.
It was a well played scoreless first half at Birchmount Stadium with few opportunities to find the net for either side and the match appeared to be heading for a scoreless tie until the 79 minute when Scarborough broke the deadlock with a goal that started on the right wing.
Scarborough forward Kiril Dimitrov broke up the wing to pass to the oncoming forward Aleksander Stojiljkovic who found the net from 10 yards past Hamilton goalkeeper Adrian Becic. It was 1-0 at the final whistle.
It was three wins in succession for the east Toronto team which now has a 5-2-0 WLT record for 15 points and second in the standings to league-leading York Region Shooters. Hamilton City now has a 3-6-0 record for nine points in sixth position.
Givova CSL Primetime is the new title of the CSL soccer show, launched this week on the BeIN network and to be shown through the remainder of the soccer season on various channels mostly under the banner of the Ethnic Channels Group.
Producer Alex Bastyovanszky, also the host, and his crew have lined up a fast moving 30-minute weekly program that keeps soccer fans and the general public on top of what’s going on inside Canada’s semi-pro CSL loop – a league with more professional players than any other in the country.
Game highlights and plays of the week will cover the action on the field of play, there is news and interviews from around the league and an update of team and player statistics.
Studio analysis by Jason De Thomasis is an added feature this year, a former player in the CSL and a university All Star, De Thomasis will provide insight into various games and team performances each week.
The show can be seen on a variety of television channels, the best known of which is beIN Sports which is a member of the global network of sports channels bringing live soccer from some of the world’s top leagues. The Ethnic Channels Group schedules the Givova CSL Primetime on several channels , confirmed as being KHL, RTS Sat, Ten Cricket, HRT, rbti and FTV.
Viewers are advised to check with their service provider.
Aleksander Stojanovski opened the scoring for York Region
York Region Shooters stretched their winning streak to seven games with a 4-1 defeat of Milton SC, while Serbian White Eagles scored a narrow 2-1 victory over Toronto Atomic FC, two games in the Canadian Soccer League Friday night.
Djordje Jocic opened the scoring after 10 minutes for Serbian White Eagles at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke, the attacking midfielder capitializing on a play set up by Marko Marovic who moved a long ball to Mirko Medic, on to Jocic who caught the top left corner with a volley from eight yards, well out of reach of Atomic goalkeeper Vasyl Shpuk.
Atomic tied the game on a goal by Ihor Mihalevskyy who found the net past Serbian White Eagles goalkeeper Goran Skaric at the 14th minute mark.
Defender Milan Kusic struck the winner at 24 minutes for the home side, finding the net from five yards off a corner kick taken by Branislav Vukomanovic. It was 2-1 at half time and following a hard-played second half, it was 2-1 at the final whistle.
Serbian White Eagles improve to a 3-5-0 WLT record for nine points in fifth position in the standings, while Atomic remain in second position with a 4-2-2 record for 14 points.
York Region Shooters took a 2-0 lead at the interval on goals by forward Aleksander Stojanovski and Richard West in the game played at the Jean Vanier Field in Milton. Adnan Smajic cut the lead to 2-1 with a goal from the penalty spot for the home side following a hand ball in the box.
Defender Halburto Harris found the net twice for York Region Shooters late in the second half and the visitors controlled the remainder of the game for a 4-1 victory, their seventh since the season opening win on May 29.
The Shooters increase their lead to seven points with a 7-0-0 record for 21 points, while Milton still search for their second win with a 1-6-0 record for three points at the foot of the table.
The Canadian Soccer League wants to re- establish itself as the foremost soccer league in Canada and is doing so with the help of Italian equipment supplier Givova. Givova is now one of the fastest growing suppliers of soccer uniforms, apparel and equipment in the world and is the official supplier to 51 of the world’s top clubs.
The CSL and Givova have entered into a working relationship that will revive and expand an agreement struck in 2010 to re-brand the league’s championship for the Givova Cup and to return to the Givova Canadian Soccer League banner. The new-look CSL will unfold immediately .
The CSL, with 14 teams in two divisions, is considered to be the top league in Canada, attracting players from overseas, mostly from Europe, playing at a semi-professional level under the pyramid of three Canadian teams in Major League Soccer (Toronto FC, Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps) and two Canadian teams (FC Edmonton and Ottawa Fury FC) of the North American Soccer League. Both of these leagues are based in the U.S. and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation.
In 2012, the CSL was identified as a league with more than 40 players selected for various national teams, mostly youth national teams, during the period 2009 to 2012.
The CSL-Givova partnership will focus on promotion of the league and its member clubs, of attractive First Division soccer and improving attendances and the development of players in the CSL Second Division and clubs with an academy structure. It resumes a popular television soccer show, The CSL This Week, in conjunction with the BeIN and Ethnic Channels Group networks. The show will kick-off Thursday night with the following schedule this week:
Thursday July 14, 2016
7:30pm and 10:30pm
Friday July 15, 2016
4:00pm and 11pm
Saturday July 16, 2016
7:30am and 12:00pm
Sunday July 17, 2016
7:00pm
“We are looking to build a larger, better CSL and will be doing so with the help of Givova, a company we are familiar with and which has grown in recent years to be a highly regarded supplier to the soccer community,“ said Pino Jazbec, the CSL’s league administrator, in announcing the new agreement.
Other features of the Givova-CSL agreement are under discussion and further details
to view The CSL This Week will be released Thursday.
Two goals in the last 10 minutes gave FC Ukraine United a 3-1 victory over Serbian White Eagles at Birchmount Stadium in Scarborough, the only game in the Canadian Soccer League Monday night.
Serbian White Eagles took the lead on a goal by Branislav Vukomanovic who found the net past Ukraine United goalkeeper Nazar Lytvyn at the 16 minute from free kick mark.
Ukraine United tied the game 1-1 on a goal by midfielder Vitally Dnistryan who beat Serbian Eagles’ goalkeeper Goran Skaric at 27 minutes and it was 1-1 at the break.
There were few opportunities for either side after Serbian Eagles struck the crossbar at 48 minutes, following which at 82 minutes Oleh Kerchu of Ukraine United was brought down in the box and referee Mike Bradley pointed to the spot. Kerchu scored from the penalty to give the home side a 2-1 lead.
Kostiantyne Derevlov increased the lead three minutes later after taking a cross from the left wing to volley into the net, a 3-1 score at 85 minutes and at the final whistle.
Ukraine United improve to fourth position in the standings with a 3-3-1 WLT record for 10 points and Serbian White Eagles suffer their second defeat in three days following the 1-0 loss to York Region Shooters on Friday, now in seventh position with a 2-5-0 record for six points.
York Region Shooters coasted to a 2-0 victory over Milton SC to continue a winning streak that now stretches to six games and increases the Shooters lead at the top of the table to four points. It was the only game in the CSL First Division Sunday.
York Region forward Shawn Brown found the net past Milton goalkeeper Zoran Pusica to open the scoring at the St. Joan of Arc ground in Maple, the goal coming at the 10 minute mark and the 1-0 lead held through to the interval.
Striker Richard West increased the lead for York Region at 74 minutes, a solo effort from just inside the Milton half through to the penalty box and West beat Pusica from close range for a 2-0 score that held up to the final whistle.
It’s the second win in three days for York Region following a 1-0 defeat of Serbian White Eagles on Friday and Shooters have conceded just three goals in the six games played since May 29 in their 6-0-0 record and 18 points.
Milton SC now have a 1-5-0 record for three points at the foot of the table.
There was one game in the CSL Second Division with York Region Shooters B defeating London City 6-1.
Drazen Vukovic tying goal in losing cause for Hamilton
Scarborough SC scored a 2-0 victory at Brantford, while Toronto Atomic held second position in the First Division standings with a 3-1 home win over Hamilton City, two games in the Canadian Soccer League Saturday night.
Midfielder Adis Hasecic opened the scoring for Scarborough at Lions Park in Brantford, finding the net past Galaxy goalkeeper Luka Besenic at seven minutes and Aleksander Stojiljkovic struck from the penalty spot for Scarborough after being brought down in the box at the 20 minute mark. It was 2-0 at the interval and the score held throughout the second half to the final whistle.
Midfielder Felipe Souza opened the scoring for Toronto Atomic at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke at 25minutes and Drazen Vukovic tied the score 1-1 for Hamilton. Vukovic scored from 35 yards lifting the ball over Atomic goalkeeper Ihor Vitiv well out of his nets.
Atomic’s Ihor Fedishin put his team into a 2-1 lead at 36 minutes and it was 2-1 at the break.
Fedishin beat a Hamilton offside trap for his second goal which came on a breakaway at 47 minutes for a 3-1 score in favour of the home side, it was 3-1 at the final whistle.
The victory improved Atomic’s record to 4-1-2 WLT for 14 points, a point behind league-leading York Region Shooters with 15, while Hamilton City are now at 3-5-0 for nine points in fourth position.
Scarborough are in third position as a result of their win, a 4-2-0 for 12 points in third position in the table, while Brantford Galaxy have a 2-4-1 record for seven points in fifth position.
There were two games in the CSL Second Division Saturday with Serbian White Eagles B defeating SC Waterloo 2-0, while Toronto Atomic B and Brantford Galaxy B played to a 2-2 tie.
A well-placed free kick from 24 yards by midfielder David Guzman gave York Region Shooters a 1-0 win over Serbian White Eagles and their fifth victory of the season, the only game played in the Canadian Soccer League Friday night.
Guzman’s strike gave Serbian Eagles goalkeeper Goran Skaric little chance as the ball made its way inside the left post with seconds remaining in the first half.
The visiting York Region came close to increasing their lead following the interval with several raids on the Serbian Eagles goal. Attempts by Richard Edwards, followed by Richard West coming close at 57 and 73 minutes, and later it was forward Shawn Brown who failed to find the net after taking a pass close to goal following a breakaway.
Another attempt by the Shooters resulted in referee Marco Jaramillo showing the red card to Marko Marovic of Serbian White Eagles for a foul while preventing a goalscoring opportunity just outside the box.
Midfielder Milos Ljubenovic came close for the home side at 65 minutes and midfielder Dordje Jocic was prominent, but the 1-0 York Region lead held to the final whistle.
The victory repeats the 1-0 win by York Region Shooters over Serbian White Eagles on June 10 and keeps the side from just north of Toronto on top of the standings with a 5-0-0 WLT record for 15 points, while Serbian White Eagles now have a 2-4-0 record for six points in seventh position.
Scarborough will visit Lions Park for a game with the Galaxy on Saturday
There’s a gap in the CSL schedule this weekend and it’s on Sunday afternoon when host country France takes on Portugal for the European Championship Final at 3 pm.
But there is one game in the CSL First Division and one in the Second Division on Sunday, both evening games to begin following the conclusion of the Euro final in France.
York Region Shooters are at home to Milton SC, a 6.30 pm kickoff at the St. Joan of Arc ground on Sunday, to be followed by a Second Division encounter on the same ground between the York Region Shooters reserve team and London City at 8.30 pm.
Another First Division game previously scheduled for Sunday evening between FC Ukraine United and Serbian White Eagles has been moved to Monday night at Birchmount Stadium where it will kickoff at 9 pm.
In a full slate of CSL games, Serbian White Eagles and York Region Shooters will kickoff this upcoming weekend schedule when they meet at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke on Friday, that’s a 7 pm start and there are two First Division games on Saturday when Brantford Galaxy host Scarborough SC at Lions Park at 7, and Toronto Atomic FC will host Hamilton City at Centennial Stadium at 7.30 pm.
Two Second Division games go at Centennial Park on Saturday, the first at 3 pm when Toronto Atomic B are at home to Brantford Galaxy B, to be followed at 6 pm by Serbian White Eagles B vs. SC Waterloo B at 6.
Richard West opened scoring for York Region Shooters
York Region Shooters gained a 2-0 away victory at Hamilton City, while Scarborough SC defeated FC Ukraine United, two games in the CSL First Division Saturday.
Following a hard fought first half at the Cardinal Newman ground at Hamilton, York Region took the lead at the 56th minute mark on a goal by midfielder Richard West who found the net past City goalkeeper Adrian Becic. The visitors increased their lead to 2-0 when forward Aleksander Stojanovski collected a through pass to slot the ball past Becic at the 70th minute mark.
The Shooters played with 10 men during the second half after defender Gerard Ladiyou received a second caution and was ejected, and at 90 minutes Domagoj Zubac of Hamilton was shown the red card. It was 2-0 at the final whistle.
It was a well-played encounter at Birchmount Stadium in Scarborough where forward Aleksander Stojiljkovic put the home team into a 1-0 lead at the 4th minute mark and Adis Hasecic made it 2-0 at 42 minutes for a 2-0 Scarborough lead at halftime.
Midfielder Oleh Shutov struck for Ukraine United with a solo effort which started on the left wing before cutting into the box to beat Scarborough goalkeeper Imad Hakura at the 52nd minute mark.
There were few opportunities for the remainder of the second half and it was 2-1 in favour of the home side at the final whistle.
There are no First Division matches Sunday, but two in the Second Division are scheduled. There is one game at London where London City will host Brantford Galaxy B at the Hellenic Centre, a 6.30 pm kickoff, and at Woodside Park in Waterloo the home side will host Toronto Atomic B at 8 pm.
One change in the CSL First Division has been announced. The FC Ukraine United vs. Serbian White Eagles match previously scheduled for an 8.30 pm kickoff on Sunday, July 10 has been rescheduled for the following day, Monday, July 11 at the St. Joan of Arc ground in Maple, a 9 pm start.
Three goals by FC Ukraine United striker Sergiy Ivliev lifted his team from a 2-0 deficit to a 4-2 victory over Milton SC, the only First Division game in the CSL Sunday night.
Milton took the lead at the St. Joan of Arc stadium in Maple, a goal by midfielder Adnan Smajic at the 26 minute mark and it was 1-0 at the interval.
Smajic beat Ukraine goalkeeper Nazar Lytvyn a second time immediately following the second half whistle for a 2-0 lead for the visitors at 46 minutes.
Ivliev scored his first of three with a spectacular scissor kick from outside the box, dropping into the net out of reach of Milton goalkeeper Zoran Pusic for a 2-1 score at 50 minutes and the striker’s second goal came just two minutes later following a breakaway.
Ivliev completed his hat-trick at 79 minutes off a corner kick, a 3-1 lead in favour of Ukraine United and Vitaliy Dnistrian scored a fourth goal at 94 minutes, a 4-2 final score.
FC Ukraine United improve to 2-2-1 WLT for seven points in the First Division standings as a result of the win, while Milton SC are at 1-4-0 for four points
There were three games scheduled in the CSL Second Division Sunday:
London City 6, York Region Shooters B 1
Brantford Galaxy B 2, SC Waterloo 1 Abandoned after 62 minutes at Woodside Park (game stands as is)
