May 25, 2006 CSL news and previews (from CSL website)
ITALIA VS. EAGLES FUNDRAISER HIGHLIGHT OF CSL WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Thursday - May 25, 2006
It’s a return engagement for Serbian White Eagles and Italia Shooters this weekend as the two teams that created such excitement in the CSL season opener on May 19 clash again this coming Sunday at The Soccer Centre in Vaughan.
This CSL International Division encounter is the main attraction, an all-day annual “Kick the Hospital Fund Raiser” of special events including two other local amateur soccer matches, the first of which starts at 4.45 p.m. and the pro game that gets underway at 7.
The league on Thursday announced one postponement when the Toronto Supra Portuguese vs. London City encounter set for Brockton Stadium on Sunday was called off due to poor ground conditions.
Serbian White Eagles won the opener last week by the skin of their teeth, a 3-2 cliffhanger after leading 3-0 at halftime. It was the first game in the new Canadian Soccer League to be followed by a game in Windsor the following day when Border Stars were held to a scoreless tie by London City.
Both games brought good crowds despite the less than ideal weather to reflect a league endeavor to build attendances throughout the 5-month campaign which runs to mid-October.
CSL commissioner Cary Kaplan was pleased with the start and has made a point that the league’s schedule of 150 league, cup and exhibition matches will result in a very substantial aggregate attendance in 2006.
"The Canadian Soccer League is very excited that the league's first two official matches had a cumulative of attendance of over 3,000. That’s more than any previous year of record. "We hope that as the season progresses, these significant numbers will continue. Fans are the key to the success of the league and we are confident of providing enough entertainment and quality soccer to keep them coming,' said Kaplan following the opening weekend.
There are three games scheduled on the weekend, all on Sunday when defending CSL champions Oakville Blue Devils under new coach Phil Ionadi visit Victoria Park in Brampton for a clash with the Stallions at 6 p.m., North York Astros visit Centennial Stadium to take on newcomers to the International Division, Caribbean Selects at 7, and at the same kickoff time the hospital fundraiser brings together Serbian Eagles and Italia Shooters.
.
.