April 3, 2011 CSL--CSL Pre-Season Program A Boost To Fitness And Development (from CSL news release)

CSL PRE-SEASON PROGRAM A BOOST TO FITNESS AND DEVELOPMENT - Record teams, games in soon-to-be released 2011 schedule
Sunday, April 03, 2011

When the Canadian Soccer League First Division kicks off early May with a record 14 teams playing 182 regular season matches, fans will notice an influx of new, younger players very capable of taking an extra step in the pace and rigours of Canada’s only professional soccer league.

On the eve of the official schedule being released some will sign a professional contract for the first time and it will be an early test of skills and talent that will eventually determine if they are equipped to make a future bid for even higher honours. Many will be seeking the upper professional level over time and a crack at one of Canada’s national teams.

Several new players with the academy teams of Toronto FC and Montreal Impact have already made the grade and moved to a higher level, including TFC Academy players defender Doneil Henry, forward Nicholas Lindsay, defender Ashtone Morgan, midfielder Matt Stinson, midfielder Oscar Cordon and Keith Makubuya, all stepping up to the Toronto FC team following impressive performances in the 2010 CSL league competition.

Similarly, Bastien Bourgault, a midfielder and goalkeeper Dominic Provost were moved up to the Montreal Impact first team in 2010, while Reda Agourram, a forward and Pierre-Rudolph Mayard, a midfielder, were moved up to the first team from Trois-Rivieres Attak, which earlier served as the Impact second string playing in the CSL.

Players with other CSL teams have been practicing and improving fitness levels indoor during recent weeks and several players with North York Astros went to Argentina hoping to fast-track their careers under the watchful eyes of some of the shrewdest coaches anywhere in the world.

Returning from South America earlier in the week, several of these players took part on Saturday in the popular weekly CSL indoor program held at the Major League Sportsplex in Toronto’s east end. This program has served to boost the fitness level of many players and has been an ideal forum for tryouts and player development. to remove almost entirely the necessity for the traditional pre-season practice or exhibition series of games at this time of year just prior to the new season kickoff.

On Saturday, the Astros vs. Brampton City Utd indoor game showed signs of being close to the real thing, with Brampton picking up a 2-1 victory, while in other games York Region Shooters looked strong, picking it up where they left off last season to defeat Serbian White Eagles, 3-2. In other games, the Astros and Shooters fielded younger players, most of whom will bid for a spot in the reserve team, and that game ended 3-3. The visiting Toronto Lynx nipped Brampton City Utd 1-0 and in another game The Astros and Brampton tied 2-2.

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