London Free Press; Two Londoners Picked for CPSL All-Star Tryout
April 26th, 2002.

Two Londoners picked for CPSL all-star tryout

By Kathy Rumleski -- London Free Press


 Two London City soccer players have been picked to try out for the Canadian Professional Soccer League all-star team, which will meet First Division Bundesliga's 1860 Munich squad in an exhibition match.
  City's player-coach Jurek Gebcznyski will help coach the team, which at this point includes Londoners Gentjan Dervishi and Tyler Hemming.
The German consulate general in Toronto has arranged to have 1860 Munich come to Canada for the May 15 game, which will be played in Kitchener. A match against Toronto Lynx is set for May 18 in Toronto.
Hemming, a defender, was in England for a two-week stint of training and games with the Grimsby Town organization last month.
Dervishi, a midfielder, had a trial with Hannover of the German Second Division last September.
The final all-star squad will be selected following a couple of exhibition matches in May.
CPSL's Stan Adamson said 1860 Munich will play its top guys while in Canada.
"This squad clearly is bringing pretty well the full strength, except for one or two of them which are going to the World Cup."
Gebcznyski said he's pleased to be a part of the all-star coaching staff. "It's really a good challenge. That's a real competitive level."
Last season he also helped coach the all-star team, which played Maritimo, a Portuguese First Division team, at Cove Road field. Maritimo won 4-0.
Dervishi and Hemming were also on that squad.
Gebcznyski said the German players will want to promote themselves while in Canada and give spectators value for their money.
"They will try to show the people what they are about. It will be interesting (but) I think our guys will be up to the job."
He said in the second half of the game against Maritimo, the Portuguese used their less experienced players.
"The second half was tougher than the first half. Those guys must prove to the coaches that they belong on the team. That may happen this time."
CPSL will also get a chance to promote its players with this match.
Gebcznyski said Kitchener is an area where CPSL is looking to expand.
Lynx owner and chief operating officer Nicole Hartrell said that when Varsity Stadium was demolished, she didn't think Toronto would see a national or international soccer match again.
"This event will allow us to highlight Canadian elite soccer play and also underscore the acute need in our city for a large capacity stadium," Hartrell said.
The game will be played at the 2,500-seat York University Stadium.

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