May 12, 2004. 01:00 AM Toronto Star
Wilde season is in store for Lynx
New coach says young team will be entertaining
$5 million in debt and still hanging in with A-League
MICHAEL CLARKSON
SPORTS REPORTER
It would be easy for critics to turn up their noses at the Toronto Lynx and professional soccer's A-League.
But, while they continue to lose money and struggle to become a major-league product in the GTA's competitive sports market, the Lynx are quietly providing an important service for Canadian soccer, says new coach Duncan Wilde.
"All five Canadian teams (in the 16-team A-League) have a big responsibility to provide young talent to develop and to get professional exposure,'' said Wilde, whose club opens its home season Sunday at 4 p.m. against the tough Rochester Raging Rhinos at Etobicoke's 3,000-seat Centennial Stadium.
"Right now there are a lot of good quality players in Canada and I think Canada will get better in (international play).''
The Lynx are 1-3 after their opening road matches, but Wilde expects his greenhorn club to improve with experience. "We're rebuilding with a good strong core of Canadian players.''
Toronto has 12 new faces on its 19-man roster from last year's 11-13-4 campaign, including 20-year-old midfielder Andres Arango of Toronto, who has played for Canada's under-20 team.
The Canadian teams are allowed five imports, but Wilde has a keen eye for Ontario products — he has run youth soccer camps in the GTA for many years.
The Lynx, who have a dozen corporate sponsors, are about $5 million in debt, but they are something of a success story by virtue of being afloat after seven years. The team has a player budget of $280,000 with salaries ranging from $10,000 to $23,000 for the four-month season, which ends Aug. 29.
Over the years, a half-dozen Lynx players have been with the Canadian national team, including Paul Stalteri, now with German league champion Werder Bremen.
"And we're also a developmental league for the pro leagues in Scandinavia and Europe,'' said chief financial officer Bruno Hartrell, whose wife Nicole is listed as owner of the Lynx. "Professional soccer still has a long way to go in North America, but we're coming along, inch by inch.''
The Lynx also operate a soccer program in Toronto schools.
Probably the top two strikers for Toronto this year will be Cameroon-born Ali Gerba, who grew up in Montreal, and John Barry Nusum of Bermuda. Imports include Lewis Blois, formerly of Norwich City in England, and former Scottish Premier League midfielder Kris O'Neil.
"We'll be entertaining and there'll be no 0-0 games with my team,'' says Wilde, who played for Burnley and Everton pro teams in England, as well as the Manchester United reserves, and is known for his aggressive style.
"Being an attacking team has backfired on us in the early games. We're a little excitable and naïve defensively, but we'll learn through mistakes,'' Wilde said.
Eventually, the Lynx may play just three defenders at the back at the narrow Centennial Stadium, allowing a midfielder to join the attack.
A big loss from last season was star goalkeeper Theo Zagar, the team's captain since 1998, to Rochester. Toronto may platoon new goalies Bryheem Hancock of the U.S. and Richard Goddard of Kanata.
The Lynx opened their season with a 1-0 win at Puerto Rico, but lost games to Rochester, Richmond and Virginia Beach.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $7.50 for fans 17 and under and those 60 and over.
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