May 6, 2011 CSL--Kickoff weekend story (from CSL website)
KICKOFF WEEKEND IN THE CSL - Four games scheduled to begin six-month long campaign Friday, May 06, 2011 This weekend will kickoff a record 162 regular season games to be played by 14 teams in a six-month long Canadian Soccer League season, details of which were revealed at a well-attended press conference at the BMO Field Thursday. The two senior academy teams of Toronto FC and Montreal Impact will meet at Lamport Stadium in Toronto’s west-end on Friday night, May 6, just a stone’s throw from the BMO Field on the shores of Lake Ontario. It’s an 8 pm kickoff and will be the first of four games during the opening three days. Following the opener on Friday night, Montreal Impact Academy travel to Windsor for a game Saturday against expansion team Windsor Stars and there will be two games on Sunday when Serbian White Eagles travel to Maple for the York Region Shooters home opener at 6 pm and the opening CSL weekend will wrap-up with a match two hours later at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke where new team Mississauga Eagles FC play TFC Academy. The annual send-off press conference explained that 70 games will be televised by Rogers TV in Ontario and that this, said Rogers’ Supervising Producer Willy Jong, is a record. Philippe Eullaffroy, the Academy Director for Montreal Impact has explained his squad has been training with the first team and are looking forward to their weekend swing through southern Ontario. Looking ahead to the opener, he said: “The TFC Academy team was very strong in 2010 and qualified easily for the playoffs.” Academy Director Stuart Neely of Toronto FC reports that many of their academy players are involved in Canada’s U-17 World Cup roster and this will affect selections for the opening games of the CSL season. Danny Dichio is the TFC Academy senior team head coach, while Jim Brennan will coach the TFC Academy junior team in the CSL Second Division. There is considerable excitement at Windsor where professional soccer returns with the opener on Saturday with the visit of Montreal Impact Academy. Filip Rocca, restaurateur and president of Windsor Stars commented last week: “As with any new experience, you never know what to expect. I’m very proud of what we have achieved so far in terms of our team and sponsors. As a non-profit, the support from our sponsors and the community is fundamental to our success. The hard work involved in making this team a reality is well worth the effort seeing the excitement from the kids and having a professional soccer team in Windsor.” said Rocca. “It is truly something special to see your dreams unfold before your eyes. It is an honour to bring professional soccer back to Windsor and restore the prestigious sport of soccer in our community. I cannot wait to start working with the youth in the city and helping them achieve their dreams.” vice president, Gino Berardi explained. The team was born out of a need to create an avenue for youth players in Windsor-Essex, both girls and boys, to advance in their soccer careers and to continue chasing their dreams through development and recruitment. “It’s exciting to have pro soccer back in Windsor. The team will be very competitive and enjoyable to watch.” says coach Jeff Hodgson. Josef Komlodi, head coach of Mississauga Eagles FC making their CSL debut against TFC Academy on Sunday has announced the following roster: Melford James Jr. and Scott Cliff (goalkeepers), Tristan Scott, Thierry Mangwa Batomen, Antoine Paul, Sherwin Emmannuel, Jordan McMorris, Kwesi Klass (defenders), Ivan Juric, Jeff Asmah, Matthew Macri, David Guzman, Igor Pisanjuk, Andrew Ornoch, Jose Melo (midfielders) and Joevannie Peart, Roshard Gilbert, Dave Simpson (forwards). The earlier game on Sunday at 6 pm is expected to produce an exciting, tough encounter with two teams, York Region Shooters and Serbian White Eagles, coming together at Maple to resume a season-long battle for the 2010 CSL league title. Both teams have been prominent in recent years and both have won the CSL Championship – York Region Shooters (then Italia Shooters) in 2006 and Serbian White Eagles in 2008. At the media gathering, Tony Taylor, an ex-professional in England and Scotland and now technical director for the Burlington Youth Soccer Club, spoke of the difficulties faced in producing the a required number of good young players for Canada’s national teams, CSL league administrator Pino Jazbec outlined the upcoming regular season schedule and playoffs, while Eric Barber, a senior director with Realstar Hospitality will organize CSL accommodation at Days Inn and Days Hotels for CSL teams. Locust is the official ball of the CSL. CSL Chairman Vincent Ursini spoke of his return to the CSL and the promising future of the league and the important part it will play in the Canadian professional soccer structure. The weekend games: Fri May 6 Lamport Stadium 8 pm TFC Academy vs.Montreal Impact Academy Sat May 7 Windsor Stadium 7 pm Windsor Stars vs. Montreal Impact Academy Sun May 8 St. Joan Of Arc 6 pm York Region Shooters vs. Serbian White Eagles Sun May 8 Centennial Stadium 8 pm TFC Academy vs. Mississauga Eagles FC
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