from Toronto Sun
Thursday, May 1, 2003
Veenhof joins Lynx for domestic bliss
By Mike Koreen
Tired of
travelling the world to keep up with her soccer-playing husband, Toronto
resident Carolyn Peters told Jan Veenhof to settle in these parts this
year.
Thanks to Peters, the Toronto Lynx have their paws on an
experienced international defender.
Veenhof, a
34-year-old native of the Netherlands, will make his Lynx debut Saturday
when Toronto opens its A-League season in Pittsburgh against the
Riverhounds.
"She has been living here and travelling up and down
to wherever I was (since their marriage four years ago)," Veenhof said at
the Lynx's season-opening news conference yesterday. "This year, she said,
'It's your turn to come here.' "
ASKED FOR TRYOUT
Veenhof,
who asked Lynx general manager/coach Peter Pinizzotto for a tryout, played
for FC Groningen of the Dutch First Division from 1989-98. During the
mid-1990s, that team went for a two-week training camp to the Barbados,
where Veenhof met Peters.
One of nine new additions to the Lynx,
Veenhof also has played professionally in Albania and Japan.
"It
means so much to have (experience)," said Pinizzotto, whose team has
missed the playoffs the past two seasons. "You can see the difference at
the back."
The other new international player is Argentine forward
Sebastian Barclay, who had 19 goals in 10 games with Temuco De Chile of
the Chilean First Division last season.
The Lynx play their home
opener next Saturday against the Montreal Impact at Etobicoke Centennial
Stadium.
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