While Canadian international Atiba Hutchinson (York Region Shooters) is the most outstanding example of a player from the Canadian Soccer League being selected for his country, there were many more, including 40 players during the three seasons 2010 to 2012. Andre Manders (York Region Shooters) and Bermuda, Adam Janssen (Brampton City United) Canada U-23, Nikola Paunic (Serbian White Eagles) Canada U-20, Odaine Demar (Capital City) Jamaica, are just a few.
“Playing for the Shooters definitely helped me get into the national team of Bermuda and probably helped me get into the starting 11,” he said at the time. “Playing here has helped me physically and mentally”.
While many member teams of the CSL have favoured searching their community for good young amateurs that deserve to be in a player development environment, many member teams have also favoured importing professional players for an immediate benefit on the field of play and improved performance which shows up in the league table.
Others have a mixed roster of players from out of the country together with players from the local community, a blend that often becomes a strong player development environment while the amateurs play alongside and learn from the seasoned pros.
In the coming days we will look even more closely at the CSL.
Nikola Paunic