York Region Shooters continued their march to the First Division title with a 4-1 defeat of London City to stretch an unbeaten streak to 10 games. It was the only game played in the CSL Friday night.

All goals came in the second half after London City held the visitors to a scoreless first half in an entertaining encounter at the Hellenic Centre in London.

York Region Shooters opened the scoring at 54 minutes, a goal by forward Ryan Dummett who brought the ball from the right wing to drive into the net from 10 yards.

Baba Fatoba increased the lead to 2-0 two minutes later and at 59 minutes Oswald Adu added a third.

London striker Marin Vucemilovic Grgic scored from the penalty spot following a foul in the box to reduce the Shooters’ lead to 3-1, the goal coming at the 74^th minute mark and it was Vucemilovic Grgic’s 10^th goal of the season to lead the CSL First Division scoring.

Adu beat London goalkeeper Vladimir Markotic at 82 minutes to make it 4-1 and the score held until the final whistle.

The Shooters now have a 8-0-2 WLT record for 26 points, eight ahead of second place Burlington, while London City are at  2-7-1 for tenth in the standings.

There was one game in the CSL Second Division Thursday night when York Region Shooters B defeated Winstars Shooters 4-0.

Remaining games this weekend are:

FIRST DIVISION

Sat Aug 2 Hershey Centre 7 pm Toronto Croatia vs Serbian White Eagles

Sun Aug 3 Queen’s West Field 1 pm Kingston FC vs North York Astros

Sun Aug 3 Warrior Field 7 pm SC Waterloo vs Niagara United

Sun Aug 3 Nelson Stadium 8 pm Burlington SC vs Brampton City Utd

SECOND DIVISION

Sat Aug 2 Hershey Centre 4 pm Toronto Croatia B vs Serbian White Eagles B

Sun Aug 3 Queen’s West Field 3.15 pm Kingston FC B vs Milton SC

Sun Aug 3 Warrior Field 4 pm SC Waterloo B vs Niagara United B

Sun Aug 3 Hayden Field 5 pm Burlington SC B vs Brampton City Utd B

 

York Region Shooters will travel to London Friday night in an effort to keep the unbeaten streak intact, but they will be without striker Richard West who is expected to be out of the line-up for some weeks after suffering a fractured collarbone. The Shooters begin the second half of the season seven points ahead of their nearest rivals Burlington and nine and 10 points respectively ahead of Kingston and Toronto Croatia.

SC Waterloo gained a long overdue second win of the season last Sunday, a 1-0 defeat at Brampton City Utd  to lift the current CSL champions three places up the standings into seventh position, but still well short of being a contender for the First Division title. Waterloo are at home to Niagara United this weekend.

Kingston FC are over most of their early season rash of injuries and their home game against North York Astros on Sunday will see the continuation of a stronger, more determined bid for First Division honours. Toronto Croatia have also hit their stride following a slow early season start.

The weekend games:

                                                 FIRST DIVISION

Fri Aug 1 Hellenic Centre 8.30 pm London City vs York Region Shooters

Sat Aug 2 Hershey Centre 7 pm Toronto Croatia vs Serbian White Eagles

Sun Aug 3 Queen’s West Field 1 pm Kingston FC vs North York Astros

Sun Aug 3 Warrior Field 7 pm SC Waterloo vs Niagara United

Sun Aug 3 Nelson Stadium 8 pm Burlington SC vs Brampton City Utd

                                              SECOND DIVISION

Thurs Jul 31 St. Joan of Arc 9 pm York Region Shooters vs Winstars Shooters

Sat Aug 2 Hershey Centre 4 pm Toronto Croatia B vs Serbian White Eagles B

Sun Aug 3 Queen’s West Field 3.15 pm Kingston FC B vs Milton SC

Sun Aug 3 Warrior Field 4 pm SC Waterloo B vs Niagara United B

Sun Aug 3 Hayden Field 5 pm Burlington SC B vs Brampton City Utd B

                                           THE CSL THIS WEEK  

       Where to see the CSL weekly show   –  all times are Eastern                        

Friday, August 1

Ten Cricket: 11:35 – 12.05 (11.35am to 12.05 pm)

Channel 671 on Rogers

Channel 847 on BellFibe

Saturday August 2

 TVI: 1:30-2:00 (1.30 am to 2 am) Channel 668 on Rogers

Channel 887 on BellFibe

RBTI: 23:00-23:30 (11 pm to 11.30 pm)

Channel 669 on Rogers

Channel 885 on Bell

Pro7: 19:30-20:00 (7.30 pm to 8 pm)

Channel 895 on Rogers

Channel 710 on Bell

Channel 852 on BellFibe

FTV: 18:00-18:30 (6 pm to 6.30 pm)

Channel 869 on Rogers

Channel 725 Bell

Channel 860 BellFibe

Ten Cricket: 11:30 (11.30 am to 12 pm)

Channel 671 on Rogers

Channel 847 on BellFibe

                                                            Sunday, August 3

TVI: 1:30-2:00 (1.30 am to 2 am)

Channel 668 on Rogers

Channel 887 on BellFibe

RBTI: 23:00-23:30 (11 pm to 11.30 pm)

Channel 669 on Rogers

Channel 885 on Bell

Pro7: 23:15-23:45 (11.15 pm to 11.45 pm)

Channel 895 on Rogers

Channel 710 on Bell

Channel 852 on BellFibe

FTV: 18:00-18:30 (6 pm to 6.30 pm)

Channel 869 on Rogers

Channel 725 Bell

Channel 860 BellFibe

Ten Cricket: 4:30  – 5:00 (4.30 am to 5 am) 20.40 – 21.10 (8.40 pm – 9.10 pm)

Channel 671 on Rogers

Channel 847 on BellFibe

York Region Shooters kept up their unbeaten streak with a 1-0 victory over Serbian White Eagles, SC Waterloo defeated Brampton City Utd 1-0 and a third game to be played in the CSL Sunday, the Burlington SC vs. North York Astros was postponed due to severe lightning.

The Shooters have reached the half-way mark in their 2014 regular season campaign with seven wins and two ties and now sit on top of the standings with 23 points,  seven points in front of Burlington in the runner-up position.

The Shooters needed some help from the rule book to secure the three points n their 1-0 victory at the St. Joan of Arc ground at Maple after the game was abandoned at 55 minutes due to severe lightning.  Referee Davor Krasic suspended the game early in the second half and waited 30 minutes before deciding on the abandonment due to the persistent threat of lightning. League rules award a game abandoned under these circumstances to a team leading if the first half is completed.

York Region midfielder Gerard Ladiyou struck the only goal after he collected a rebound from a save by Serbian Eagles’ goalkeeper Stefan Avramovic to drive the ball into the net from close in. The goal was scored at the 15 minute mark. The home side had other chances to score, including a penalty kick by Hector Mackie which was saved by Avramovic.

It was also a low scoring affair at the Victoria Park ground in Brampton where Waterloo striker Drazen Vukovic  scored the only goal at the 10 minute mark. Vukovic collected the ball close the half-way line to move just inside the penalty box in a solo effort, then hit a low drive out of reach of Brampton goalkeeper Cristian Montreo Velez.

The win lifted Waterloo off the bottom tenth position, moving up to tie with North York Astros for sixth spot, both teams with nine points.

A third game, Burlington SC vs the Astros scheduled for Nelson Park in Burlington, was postponed at game time due to the severe weather conditions including lightning.

There were three games played and one postponed in the CSL Second Division Sunday:

Burlington SC B 3, Milton FC 2

SC Waterloo B 3, Brampton City Utd B 1

Winstars Shooters 2, Toronto Croatia B 2

York Region Shooters B vs Serbian White Eagles B POSTPONED – LIGHTNING

 

 

Kingston FC defeated Niagara United 4-0 and Toronto Croatia also scored an away victory, a  4-2  result at London City, two games in the Canadian Soccer League Saturday night.

Akil Defreitas opened the scoring at the Kalar Sports Park in Niagara Falls, the Kingston midfielder took a pass from Edgar Soglo and found the net past Niagara goalkeeper Angelo Cavalluzzo at the 13 minute mark.

Striker Guillaume Surot struck the first of two goals to increase the Kingston lead  at 34 minutes, and with the the score 2-0 at the break Surot again found the net in the second half to make it 3-0 at 75 minutes.

Mademba Ba rounded the scoring to 4-0 at 87 minutes, the score at the final whistle.

Toronto Croatia opened the scoring at the Hellenic centre in London, midfielder Hayden Fitzwillams finding the net past London goalkeeper Vladimir Markotic at the 37 minute, but London tied the score 1-1 just two minutes later on a goal by Marin Vucemilovic Grgic.

Ivan Cutura put the visitors ahead 2-1 at the 42 minute mark, the score at half-time.

Fitzwilliams scored a second goal at 62 minutes for a 3-1 Toronto Croatia lead and Cutura struck his second goal of the game for a 4-1 lead at 78 minutes, the second time the Toronto Croatia midfielder has found the net twice, scoring two goals in the 3-1 defeat of Brampton City Utd on July 19.

Grgic scored a second goal for London City at 79 minutes for his ninth goal of the season and the game ended 4-2 in favour of Toronto Croatia.

There was one game in the CSL Second Division Saturday, Kingston FC B defeated Niagara United B 3-2 and the win keeps Kingston on top of the standings.

Remaining games in the CSL this weekend:

                                                   FIRST DIVISION

Sun July 27 Victoria Park 5.30 pm Brampton City Utd vs SC Waterloo

Sun July 27 St. Joan of Arc 6.30 pm York Region Shooters vs Serbian White Eagles

Sun July 27 Nelson Stadium 8 pm Burlington SC vs North York Astros

 SECOND DIVISION

Sun July 27 Bishop Reding 12 pm Milton FC vs Burlington SC B

Sun July 27 Victoria Park 3 pm Brampton City Utd B vs SC Waterloo B

Sun July 27 St. Joan of Arc 4 pm Winstars Shooters vs Toronto Croatia B

Sun July 27 St. Joan of Arc 9 pm York Region Shooters B vs Serbian White Eagles B

 

 

 

  There are several teams in the CSL First Division – SC Waterloo, Kingston FC and Toronto Croatia to name just three –  that have been under performing and have some catching up to do if they are to be contenders for the First Division title as the league nears the half-way stage of the regular season.

CSL champions SC Waterloo, with just six points and sitting in the cellar position, appear to be hopelessly behind, while Kingston FC – last season’s First Division winner – and Toronto Croatia, are showing signs of putting in a strong second half and can still be considered to win the top division if they can start closing the gap soon.

It’s not going to be easy if Shooters (20 points at the top) keep up their impressive  unbeaten run, a ‘catch me if you can’ attitude over eight games that’s going to be hard to beat.

Burlington SC (16 points in second position and at home to the Astros) and .Serbian White Eagles (13 points in third position and away to the Shooters) are also in a position to make a successful bid for the top and it’s going to be interesting to see if they can keep up their recent good form and represent a serious challenge along with Kingston and Toronto Croatia.

The weekend games followed by television listings for the CSL weekly show:

FIRST DIVISION

Sat July 26 Hellenic Centre 7 pm London City vs Toronto Croatia

Sat July 26 Kalar Sports Park 7 pm Niagara United vs Kingston FC

Sun July 27 Victoria Park 5.30 pm Brampton City Utd vs SC Waterloo

Sun July 27 St. Joan of Arc 6.30 pm York Region Shooters vs Serbian White Eagles

Sun July 27 Nelson Stadium 8 pm Burlington SC vs North York Astros

SECOND DIVISION

Sat July 26 Kalar Sports Park 4 pm Niagara United B vs Kingston FC B

Sun July 27 Bishop Reding 12 pm Milton FC vs Burlington SC B

Sun July 27 Victoria Park 3 pm Brampton City Utd B vs SC Waterloo B

Sun July 27 St. Joan of Arc 4 pm Winstars Shooters vs Toronto Croatia B

Sun July 27 St. Joan of Arc 9 pm York Region Shooters B vs Serbian White Eagles B

                                                         THE CSL THIS WEEK   

                         Where to see the CSL weekly show   –  all times are Eastern

                                                          Saturday July 26

                       

 TVI: 1:30-2:00 (1.30 am to 2 am)
Channel 668 on Rogers
Channel 887 on BellFibe

RBTI: 23:00-23:30 (11 pm to 11.30 pm)
Channel 669 on Rogers
Channel 885 on Bell

Pro7: 19:30-20:00 (7.30 pm to 8 pm)
Channel 895 on Rogers
Channel 710 on Bell
Channel 852 on BellFibe

FTV: 18:00-18:30 (6 pm to 6.30 pm)
Channel 869 on Rogers
Channel 725 Bell
Channel 860 BellFibe

                                      Sunday, July 27

TVI: 1:30-2:00 (1.30 am to 2 am)
Channel 668 on Rogers
Channel 887 on BellFibe

RBTI: 23:00-23:30 (11 pm to 11.30 pm)
Channel 669 on Rogers
Channel 885 on Bell

Pro7: 23:15-23:45 (11.15 pm to 11.45 pm)
Channel 895 on Rogers
Channel 710 on Bell
Channel 852 on BellFibe

FTV: 18:00-18:30 (6 pm to 6.30 pm)
Channel 869 on Rogers
Channel 725 Bell
Channel 860 BellFibe

 

 

York Region Shooters increased their unbeaten streak to eight games with a 1-1 tie with Brampton City Utd, the only game in the CSL First Division Wednesday night.

York Region Shooters took the lead at the 45^th minute mark at the Terry Fox Stadium in Brampton  when midfielder Hector Mackie collected the ball  in a goalmouth scramble to find the net out of reach of Brampton goalkeeper Christian Montero Velez. It was 1-0 at the break.

Each side had few opportunities to score, but the home side succeeded when Leaford Allen collected a right wing cross from Marcus Baker to drive the ball past Shooters’ goalkeeper Adrian Ibanez at the 55^th minute mark to tie the game 1-1, and the score held until the final whistle. It was Allen’s sixth goal of the season.

York Region now have a 6-0-2 WLT record for 20 points and lead the CSL First Division by four points over second place Burlington SC, while Brampton are at 2-4-2 for eight points in 8^th position in the standings.

 

 

York Region Shooters maintained their hot pace at the top of the First Division with a 2-1 defeat of Niagara United while Burlington SC moved into second position in the standings with a 4-3 away victory at Waterloo, two games in the CSL Sunday.

Following a scoreless first half, Niagara opened the scoring at the St.Joan of Arc ground at Maple, a goal at 49 minutes by forward Mohammed Mohammed, his fifth of the season,  but the lead was short lived when three minutes later Richard West tied the game 1-1 for the home side. The goal was scored when he followed a cross from the right wing to head into the net out of reach of Niagara goalkeeper Angelo Cavalluzzo.

York Region’s Yora Enzam, a substitute at resumption of the game following the break, struck the winner at 83 minutes when he tapped the ball in from close range and it was 2-1 at the final whistle.

The victory brought York Region Shooters undefeated streak to seven games for a three-point lead over second place Burlington at the top of the table.

Burlington are proving to be consistent with a four-game undefeated streak including a tough 4-3 victory over the current CSL champions SC Waterloo at Warrior Field in Waterloo.    Burlington jumped into a 2-0 early lead, the opening goal by forward Domagoj Zubac at five minutes and this was followed by a goal immediately after the re-start by Marijan Vuka.

Waterloo responded with two first half goals, the first by midfielder Harris Fazlagic at the 36^th minute mark and a goal one minute later by Kiril Dimitrov for a 2-2 score a the interval.

Burlington took a 3-2 lead on a second  goal by Vuka at 47 minutes and the visitors went further ahead 4-2 with a goal by defender Nenad Nikolic at 51 minutes.

Defender Vladimir Zelenbaba struck for Waterloo at 83 minutes and the game ended 4-3 in favour of Burlington.

In CSL Second Division action Saturday Winstars Shooters tied 2-2 at home to Milton FC and in the late game York Region Shooters B are at home to Niagara United B.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Serbian White Eagles scored late to defeat Kingston FC 1-0, while Toronto Croatia controlled their game with Brampton City Utd for a 3-1 victory, two games in the Canadian Soccer League Saturday night.

It was a cliff hanger at the Queen’s West Field in Kingston that went almost to the final whistle when forward Sahjah Reid took advantage of a falling save by Kingston goalkeeper Jaroslav Tesar to find the top left corner of the net, a 1-0 final score.

The well-attended game could have gone either way with Kingston midfielder Catalin Lichioiu close to scoring on two occasions late in the second half.

Toronto Croatia scored three unanswered goals for a 3-0 lead at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, two by midfielder Ivan Cutura at 12 and 29 minutes and a third by Bohdan Sulypka at 48 minutes before  Leaford Allen struck for the visitors at the 78th minute mark, a 3-1 score at the final whistle.

In the CSL Second Division, Kingston FC reserves blitzed Serbian White Eagles B 12-0 with Mademba Ba finding the net seven times to almost repeat a similar scoring spree on June 29 when the prolific striker struck eight times in a 10-1 rout of Burlington SC reserves.

In one other Second Division match played Saturday, SC Waterloo B and Burlington SC B tied 2-2.

 

A last-gasp equalizer by London City salvaged a 1-1 tie with North York Astros in a well-played encounter at the Hellenic Centre in London, the only game in the Canadian Soccer League Friday night.

The Astros took the lead at the 19 minute mark, the goal coming from a free kick then headed down to midfielder Jose Melo who sent the ball into the back of the net out of reach of London goalkeeper Vladimir Markotic. It was Melo’s fifth goal of the season.

North York defended the lead for the rest of the first half and almost the entire second half until at 94 minutes and just before the final whistle, London’s Marin Vucemilovic Grgic sent a volley into the net from 12 yards to tie the game 1-1.

It was Grgic’s seventh goal of the season and follows the prolific striker’s hat-trick in London’s 5-2 victory over the current CSL champions SC Waterloo July 11. Grgic was the CSL’s MVP in 2012 for his outstanding goalscoring and attacking ability while playing with Toronto Croatia.

The Astros are fifth in the standings with nine points following the tie, while London City are tied for seventh position with seven points.

Remaining games this weekend:

                                                     FIRST DIVISION

Sat July 19 Queen’s West Field 6.45 pm Kingston FC vs Serbian White Eagles

Sat July 19 Hershey Centre 8 pm Toronto Croatia vs Brampton City Utd

Sun July 20 St. Joan of Arc 6.30 pm York Region Shooters vs Niagara United

Sun July 20 Warrior Field 7pm SC Waterloo vs Burlington SC

                                                   SECOND DIVISION

Sat July 19 Warrior Field 10 am SC Waterloo B vs Burlington SC B

Sat July 19 Queen’s West Field 4.30 pm Kingston FC B vs Serbian White Eagles B

Sun July 20 St. Joan of Arc 4 pm Winstars Shooters vs Milton FC

Sun July 20 St. Joan of Arc 9 pm York Region Shooters B vs Niagara United B

 

 

York Region Shooters will continue their unbeaten hot pace at the top of the First Division with a home encounter against Niagara United Sunday evening as the CSL resumes to a full schedule of games following the World Cup,  and the initial television listings are released this weekend for the popular The CSL This Week show. The show is now available Canada-wide and the initial listings are shown here.

While the First Division is underway with a game in London Friday night, followed by games Saturday and Sunday, there are four games in the Second Division and certain games listed in both divisions are under a revised schedule.

FIRST DIVISION

Fri July 18 Hellenic Centre 8.30 pm London City vs North York Astros

Sat July 19 Queen’s West Field 6.45 pm Kingston FC vs Serbian White Eagles

Sat July 19 Hershey Centre 8 pm Toronto Croatia vs Brampton City Utd

Sun July 20 St. Joan of Arc 6.30 pm York Region Shooters vs Niagara United

Sun July 20 Warrior Field 7pm SC Waterloo vs Burlington SC

SECOND DIVISION

Sat July 19 Warrior Field 10 am SC Waterloo B vs Burlington SC B

Sat July 19 Queen’s West Field 4.30 pm Kingston FC B vs Serbian White Eagles B

Sun July 20 St. Joan of Arc 4 pm Winstars Shooters vs Milton FC

Sun July 20 St. Joan of Arc 9 pm York Region Shooters B vs Niagara United B

                                   THE CSL THIS WEEK

                                     30-minuteTV Show <a
                                     (All Times Eastern)     

  Saturday July 19
 TVI: 1:30-2:00 (1.30 am to 2 am)

Channel 668 on Rogers

Channel 887 on BellFibe

RBTI: 23:00-23:30 (11 pm to 11.30 pm)

Channel 669 on Rogers

Channel 885 on Bell

Pro7: 19:30-20:00 (7.30 pm to 8 pm)

Channel 895 on Rogers

Channel 710 on Bell

Channel 852 on BellFibe

FTV: 18:00-18:30 (6 pm to 6.30 pm)

Channel 869 on Rogers

Channel 725 Bell

Channel 860 BellFibe

 Sunday, July 20

TVI: 1:30-2:00 (1.30 am to 2 am)

Channel 668 on Rogers

Channel 887 on BellFibe

RBTI: 23:00-23:30 (11 pm to 11.30 pm)

Channel 669 on Rogers

Channel 885 on Bell

Pro7: 23:15-23:45 (11.15 pm to 11.45 pm)

Channel 895 on Rogers

Channel 710 on Bell

Channel 852 on BellFibe

FTV: 18:00-18:30 (6 pm to 6.30 pm)

Channel 869 on Rogers

Channel 725 Bell

Channel 860 BellFibe

 

 

Paolo Di Canio may well be given the title clown prince of soccer.

Blessed with considerable skills which took him to Lazio, Juventus, Napoli and AC Milan before embarking upon a stay in the UK where he played for Celtic, Sheffield Wednesday, West Ham and Charlton, the Rome-born forward was certainly the most entertaining and controversial  player to venture outside of Italy.

On the skills side, Di Canio is credited by Dutch great Marco van Basten with scoring one of the most memorable strikes ever seen, an acrobatic scissor kick for West Ham again Wimbledon March 2000. On the lighter side a few months later Di Canio won the FIFA Fair Play Award for a ‘special act of sportsmanship’ rarely witnessed in any sport.

While playing for West Ham against Everton and with the opposing goalkeeper on the ground injured 20 yards away, Di Canio took a cross from the right wing and was poised to head the ball into the empty net. But he stunned the crowd when instead he elected to catch the ball like a goalkeeper. He then pointed to the injured player. West Ham manager Harry Redknapp said at the end of the game “I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry”.

Di Canio was adored by the fans at West Ham, playing more games for the east London club than any other team in Italy or the UK, but was banned while at Sheffield for pushing a referee to the ground. The fiery Italian walked away from his first job as manager with League One side Swindon, and was fired by Premier League club Sunderland in 2013 after just 13 games, a decision that disappointed his large fan base in north-east England.

Even in his native Italy, Di Canio was not without controversy, particularly when in 2005 he was suspended for giving a straight arm fascist salute to Lazio fans during his side’s 3-1 win over rivals Roma. The incident has dogged him, but he has insisted ever since that he is not and never was, a fascist.

Paolo Di Canio will be in Toronto Sunday July 20 with a group of Italian soccer legends and will attend a banquet that night staged by the CSL’s York Region Shooters owner Tony De Thomasis. The following night, Monday. July 21, the Italian legends meet a Portuguese legends team at the BMO Field, an 8 pm kickoff.

The banquet on Sunday is being held at the Embassy Grand, 8800 Gore Road in Brampton and tickets may be obtained by following the details on the display ad on the CSL website.

The Italian legends listed as coming to Toronto are: Roberto Baggio, Cudicini, Galli, Paolo Maldini. Baresi, Alessandro Nesta, Costacurta, Zambrotta, Grossi, Annoni, Paolo Di Cannio, Camoranesi, Perotta, Eranio, Baroni, Marcolin, Toto Schillaci, Delvecchio, Giordano, and  Materazzi, while the Portuguese side is listed as Neno, Paulo Santos, Pauleta, Miguel, Beto, Paulo Madeira, Bruno Basto, Abel Xavier, Rui Bento, Fernando Meira, Pedro Mendes, Luis Boa Morte, Fernando Gomes, Sa Pinto, Paulo Ferreira, Costinha, Maniche and Dimas.

It looks like a once in a while opportunity for fans in southern  Ontario to see some greats of the recent past and De Thomasis, who promotes the world game at every opportunity, is donating the proceeds to the Sick Kids hospital in Toronto.

 

CSL intern Thiago Freire has just completed an adventure of a lifetime – working for FIFA at the World Cup in Brazil.

While Jonathan De Guzman was the only Canadian player in the World Cup finals, and Joe Fletcher the only Canadian match official, Freire may well have been the only Canadian to be in the FIFA workforce where he was a member of the FIFA marketing group.

Freire, who attended Port Credit Secondary School, worked in the CSL office from January through August 2013 on an internship from Humber College where he studied sports administration and marketing He was also a member of the broadcasting team during the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2013 and before leaving for the World Cup in Brazil was for four months a Marketing, Communications and Volunteer Services Intern with the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games Organizing Committee.

Thiago Freire was involved in a World Cup that will go down as one of the most successful. An average attendance pegged at 53,592 (a total 3.4 million fans attended the 64 games), was the second highest ever – next to the World Cup in the U.S. in 1994.

The 171 goals scored equaled the World Cup record with some of the greatest goals ever seen, and it was certainly the most colourful World Cup.

 For Canadian fans as a member of CONCACAF, we have pride in the stirring performance and the strong showing of the United States and tiny Costa Rica and as North Americans, the good showing of the United States will have a positive effect for soccer in Canada.

Thiago Freire is of Brazilian ancestry – his knowledge of the country and command of the language added to his strong experience working and being educated in sports when selected to be on on-site member of the FIFA team.

If he has a sinking feeling at all it will be the two games that devastated Brazil on home soil, the 7-1 crunch by Germany followed by the 3-0 loss to the Netherlands for third place, which no doubt played a part in the decision to drop coach Luiz Scolari.

But even those events will not belittle his enormous satisfaction of playing a part and contributing to one of the world’s most successful sporting events ever.