London City midfielder bidding for spot with Scottish pro team
Kathy RUMLESKI = London Free Press Soccer Reporter

July 15, 2000
London City midfielder bidding for spot with Scottish pro team
By KATHY RUMLESKI -- London Free Press

A London City midfielder has joined a growing list of Canadian Professional Soccer League players who are heading overseas for professional team tryouts.

City rookie Ryan Thomson, 17, caught the eye of Aberdeen of the Scottish Premier League and has left for his tryout.

City manager Harry Gauss said Thomson will be gone a minimum of three weeks but hopes to stay permanently.

"He figures even if Aberdeen doesn't like everything they see in the package, there should be a Scottish team at some level that will keep him."

Gauss said the Kitchener native has the skills and size (six feet, 165 pounds) to be a professional player, but he may not be ready for a Premier team yet.

"What holds him back is the fitness at this level that he's going to. That's going to be an issue."

Three Toronto Olympians -- Elvis Thomas, Brian Bowes and John Matus -- are travelling to Greece for tryouts with three First Division teams.

CPSL leading scorer Leo Marasovic of Toronto Croatia has a three-week tryout with NK Split of the Croatian National League.

"It's really hard to crack their lineup and the competition is very fierce, but the opportunity to train with NK Split on a daily basis is great. I know it will improve my overall soccer skills," Marasovic said.

Olympians coach David Gee is happy his team is getting international attention but he'll miss Thomas, a midfielder, Bowes, a goalkeeper, and striker Matus in his lineup.

The three Olympians will practise with Athens teams Panionios and Ethnikois Astras and then will travel to Patra in southern Greece.

Olympians president Tom Katsavrias believes this exposure overseas will bring more scouts to Canada to look at the talent here.

Gauss said professional teams take a look at City players because the club is known to scout and develop young talent.

"We're getting a major look because we keep producing the rookie-of-the-year for the league. They know that we pick up a lot of the young talent."

A London player has won the rookie award for the last three seasons. London also had the top rookie in the last two years of the former Canadian National Soccer League, which became the CPSL.

Although Gauss is sorry to lose Thomson, he has a replacement ready to go.

Paul Victor arrived from the island of Dominica this week and will play tomorrow in London's Cup game against the Olympians at Birchmount Stadium in Toronto. "This one is a diamond," Gauss said.

Victor, 16, is the youngest member of the Dominica national soccer team. The national team coach, Kenrick Emanuel, played for City last season and sent Victor to London for some experience.

City was forced to cancel its Cup game last night against the Glen Shields Sun Devils due to flood conditions at Cove Road field. It has been rescheduled for Aug. 4.

Posted on Jul 15 2000 , 05:16 PM
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