PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

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