July 21, 2009 CSL visit of world coach Hannibal Najjar (from CSL media release)
THREE GAMES IN FRIDAY'S CSL SCHEDULE, TWO MORE OVER THE WEEKEND........Brampton Lions vs. Serbian White Eagles on 'Dixie Day' highlighted by visit of world coach
2009-07-21
Hannibal Najjar at Brampton Lions game Friday
Three games are scheduled in the Canadian Soccer League Friday night, with two more Saturday and Sunday, and a highlight of the weekend is the visit of former Trinidad & Tobago head coach Hannibal Najjar at the Brampton Lions vs. Serbian White Eagles encounter and a coaching clinic in Mississauga the following day.
Three CSL games have been relocated over the weekend due to the continuing closure of city stadiums during the civic workers strike. The Brampton Lions vs. Serbian White Eagles game moves from Centennial Stadium to Victoria Park, while Saturday’s North York Astros home game with Italia Shooters and Sunday’s TFC Academy vs. Portugal FC have both been switched from Esther Shiner Stadium to Downsview Park.
The complete weekend revised schedule is: Friday, July 24 Club Roma 7.30 pm St. Catharines Wolves vs. Trois-Rivieres Attak Victoria Park 8 pm Brampton Lions vs. Serbian White Eagles Cove Road 8.30 pm London City vs. Toronto Croatia Saturday, July 25 Downsview Park 3 pm North York Astros vs. Italia Shooters Sunday, July 26 Downsview Park 3 pm TFC Academy vs. Portugal FC
The Brampton Lions vs. Serbian White Eagles is a highlight of the CSL weekend and the game is played in the evening on Dixie Day, so designated by the Dixie Soccer Club and Brampton Lions at what is expected to be a sell-out crowd to greet coach Hannibal Najjar and a number of Mississauga teams in attendance before the 8 pm kickoff.
Najjar will conduct a coaching clinic at the Hershey Centre the next morning – a 9am start – and all coaches are welcome There is no fee for attending the coaching clinic, but donations made to The Sick Kids Foundation are being accepted.
With over thirty years of coaching experience, Hannibal Najjar returns to a country he still calls home. He was a coach of the Ontario Provincial Program from 1990 to 1993, and was head coach of the Canada Games team in 1993. In 1994, he left Canada to become the Head Coach and Athletic Director for Belhaven College in Jackson Mississippi. During his four years at Belhaven, the Blazers were ranked #1 throughout the nation and remained in the top #13 during his four years. In 1995, he was named head coach of the Jackson Chargers of the USL where they were two-time Conference Champions and National Finalist.
In 2002, Najjar became head coach and technical director of the Trinidad & Tobago National Team. As head coach of Trinidad & Tobago he had an impressive record going 8-3-1 and being ranked #47 in the world by FIFA. Hannibal currently holds the following licenses UEFA “A”, USSF “A”, FIFA ACADEMY II, ENGLISH FA Full Badge, USSF Goalkeeping License.
Known to many players as their mentor, Hannibal Najjar is considered a scholar, having completed his MA in Business Education, MA in Sports Administration, and PhD in Business Administration with a 4.0 GPA.
Canadian National Team head coach Stephen Hart, who has known Najjar for more than 20 years was pleased to hear of the coach’s visit to Canada, commenting: “He has been an inspiration to many players and coaches, with his philosophy that the game of soccer goes beyond simply a game to be played.”
Jason Bent of Toronto FC says “He had a massive influence on me, and I hope Hannibal returns to Canada one day because he is a great role model for both players and coaches.”
Phil Ionadi of the Brampton Lions FC of the Canadian Soccer League also had high praise for Najjar : “ He made me a better soccer player, but more importantly, a better person”.
Enquiries should be emailed to: ionadi13@cogeco.ca
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