Mirror-Guardian: Supra Eye Etobicoke May 7th, 2002.
Supra squad eyes Etobicoke as possible relocation site
Soccer
Sam Laskaris, Sports Correspondent
After playing its
inaugural season at Brockton Stadium, the Toronto Supra is in all likelihood on
the move.
Victor Cameira, the coach/manager of the local Canadian
Professional Soccer League club said his franchise has already made plans to
play out of Etobicoke's Centennial Stadium this year.
The Supra would
prefer to stay put at Brockton Stadium. But so far they've been unable to sign a
long-term lease to use the facility. They only had a one-year deal for last
season.
Cameira said Supra officials were looking to ink a 10-year lease
at the local stadium. In fact, they've also offered to throw in some money so
the city can make some upgrades at the stadium.
Supra officials though
are not demanding a 10-year-or-nothing lease.
"We're willing to
negotiate," said Cameira. "I think we'd settle for five years. But even if they
were open-minded about it and said let's do it for three years, then we'd
consider it."
The Supra kick off their 2002 regular season on May 25 on
the road against the Oshawa-based Durham Flames.
The Supra's home opener
is scheduled for June 13 against an expansion franchise, the Scarborough-based
Metro Lions.
"I'm 99.9 per cent sure that game will be at Centennial,"
Cameira said.
Though where they will play home contests is still in
question, the Supra know what their on-field product will look like.
"Basically we have the same team we had last year," Cameira said.
The Supra has also signed three players that were also in the CPSL last
season with the Scarborough-based Toronto Olympians. The Olympians franchise has
since relocated to Mississauga.
The former Olympians who will suit up
for the Supra are striker Eddy Berdusco, who is a former national team member,
midfielder Dave Mancini and defender Tony Marshall.
Toronto Supra posted
a respectable 12-5-5 regular season mark a year ago and placed third in the then
12-team league.
The Supra also advanced to the league's playoff final,
which was won by St. Catharines Roma Wolves. The Supra also made it the CPSL's
Cup final, a season-long tournament, won by the Ottawa Wizards.
"Basically, we want to win everything this year," Cameira said. "
Hopefully, we'll do well. I don't want to jinx anything but I want to compete
for everything."
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