Soccer Supra set high standards in '04
SAM LASKARIS
Apr. 28, 2004
The Toronto Supra is gearing up for what it hopes will be another successful season.
The Canadian Professional Soccer League (CPSL) team, which plays its home contests at Etobicoke's Centennial Stadium, posted an impressive 10-2-6 regular season record last year.
The club finished second in the league's then six-team Eastern Conference, behind only the Ottawa Wizards, who were undefeated with a 13-0-5 mark.
Toronto Supra though was upset by Vaughan in a qualifying game for the league's Final Four tournament.
As for the Wizards, they will not take part in this year's CPSL campaign. The organization is in the midst of a legal battle with the league, stemming from last season when Ottawa withdrew from the CPSL playoffs.
"That opens the door for all the other teams," said Supra general manager Victor Cameira said of the Wizards absence this season.
And Cameira is hoping it will be his club that is on top at season's end.
"I don't want to jinx myself," he said. "But we're going to be trying to compete and win the league."
Cameira is expecting the majority of the players who toiled with the team to return this season.
"We'll probably have just two to three changes," he said.
Toronto Supra hopefuls began training outdoors about two weeks ago.
The club is also entered in the eight-team Peniche Tournament that began last weekend at Toronto's Lamport Stadium. The tournament continues on weekends until the final, scheduled for May 9.
The Supra defeated a Portuguese club from the Toronto Soccer Association (TSA) 2-1 in its tournament opener this past Saturday.
They will now play the only other CPSL entrant in the tournament - the North York Astros - in a semi-final game this Saturday. The opening kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
The Supra will play in the CPSL's five-team Eastern Conference with the Astros, Scarborough's Metro Lions, Vaughan Shooters and the Oshawa-based Durham Storm.
The Supra's season opener is set for May 30 on the road versus Vaughan.
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