July 17, 2017 League 1 Ontario--League 1 Announces Final Selection For #L1OAll-Star 2017 Match Versus PLSQ (from League 1 Ontario website)
League1 Announces Final Selection For #L1OAll-Star 2017 Match Versus PLSQ
07/17/2017, 3:15pm EDT
By League1 Ontario staff
The 2017 League1 Ontario Men's All-Star match takes place this Wednesday July 19 (7:30 p.m.)
at the Ontario Soccer Centre and marks an historic occasion; the best of League1 Ontario (L1O)
takes on a visiting team for the first time - the Premiere Ligue de Soccer du Québec (PLSQ)
All-Stars.
"With the introduction of the PLSQ champions and League1 men's champions into the
Canadian Championships for 2018, our two leagues decided that we would not continue with
the Inter-Provincial Cup competition that has traditionally been held at the end of the
season for our division III leagues," said League1 commissioner, Dino Rossi.
"However, we both believe it is important to keep a connection ongoing between the only
two leagues at this tier in Canada so we agreed to stage an all-star game featuring
the top talent from both leagues."
The 2017 League1 Ontario Men’s All-Star match will be played in Ontario, with the event
already scheduled to go on tour to Quebec in 2018.
"This is ultimately a showcase platform for the best 40 or so players in our two leagues,"
said Rossi.
With the inauguration of the Canadian Premier League planned for 2018, this match will
be a fantastic way for fans and potential teams to get a look at the best players from
the semi-pro/ pro-am division III leagues in the provinces of the Ontario and Quebec
- currently the highest domestic tier of the game.
"I think this match will open some eyes. I don't think people in the soccer community
fully grasp how good the quality of football is at our level," said Rossi.
PLSQ commissioner Kambiz Ebadi mentioned that he and Rossi have been discussing an all-star
match between the two leagues for quite some time.
"Organizing the Inter-Provincial Cup at the end of the season and all-star game in both
leagues schedules was a big challenge in previous years," said Ebadi.
"Fortunately, this year with the cancellation of the Inter-Provincial, we have the
opportunity of showing our best players in the game."
(image from League 1 Ontario site)
2017 League1 Ontario Men's All-Star Final Selection:
Technical Staff: Bobby Smyrniotis (Sigma FC); Peter Pinizzotto (Woodbridge Strikers);
Hermann Kingue (North Toronto Nitros); Michael Matic (Team Manager, Sigma FC);
Joe Hanley (Equipment Manager, Sigma FC);
GK - Quillan Roberts (Woodbridge Strikers); Triston Henry (Sigma FC);
Gianluca Catalano (TFC III);
DF - Johnny Grant (Sigma FC); Victor Gallo (Oakville Blue Devils);
Bruce Cullen (Durham United FA); Jarred Phillips (Vaughan Azzurri);
Aaron Schneebli (FC London); Jamar Kelly (Windsor TFC);
Nathaniel Rodney-Scarlett (Sanjaxx Lions);
MF - Chris Mannella (Vaughan Azzurri); Giuliano Frano (Sigma FC);
Dylan Carriero (Woodbridge Strikers); Joseph Di Chiara (Vaughan Azzurri);
Carl De Abreu (North Toronto Nitros); Anthony Novak (Oakville Blue Devils);
FW - Christian Cavallini (Woodbridge Strikers); Filipe Vilela (Oakville Blue Devils);
Jarek Whiteman (Vaughan Azzurri); Lee Victor Massunda (North Mississauga Panthers);
Jose De Sousa (Masters FA Saints); Kadell Thomas (Sigma FC);
Kembo Kibato (North Toronto Nitros)
Unavailable - Julian Dunn (Toronto FC III); Justin Earle (OSU Force)
Selecting the best players was hard for Rossi, but with nominations and input
from the technical staff at every member organization in League1,
League1 Ontario (L1O) was able to draw together the best possible squad
for the event.
This year's League1 roster has a good mixture of former Canadian youth
national players, and others that have played abroad professionally.
Leading the way from the front will be former Canadian U17 and U20 player
Jarek Whiteman of Vaughan Azzurri (currently the League1 Ontario men's goals
leader) and 2016 League1 Ontario Golden Boot winner Filipe Vilela
of Oakville Blue Devils.
In the midfield, the connection between former professional players
and Canadian internationals continues.
Woodbridge Strikers' attacking midfielder Dylan Carreiro has represented
Canada at the U23 and U20 level, and has made appearances for Scottish side
Arbroath FC and Dundee FC. His teammate, Cristian Cavallini had stints
in Uruguay and Italy.
Next to them are two Vaughan Azzurri midfielders in Joseph Di Chiara and
Chris Mannella. The 25-year-old Di Chiara spent time in eastern Europe with
Russian sides Torpedo Moscow and KS Samara, Hungarian side Kecskemeti TE
and Kazanian side Okzhetpes.
His teammate Mannella was a Toronto FC Academy product who signed a first
team contract in 2014 and captained their USL team, Toronto FC II, during
their inaugural season in 2015. Mannella also represented Canada
at the 2015 Pan-Am games and was a part of their 2016 Olympic qualifying team.
In the back-line, former FC Montreal and Swope Park Rangers full-back
Jonathan Grant (Sigma FC) is one to watch down the flanks thanks to his
pace and dribbling abilities.
In goal, former Toronto FC keeper Quillan Roberts has been a rock behind
the defence for his Woodbridge team. His 0.82 goals against average leads
the league.
The experience doesn't end on the field for League1. Sigma coach
Bobby Smyrniotis has been able to develop some of the most talented
Canadian nationals in Cyle Larin, Kyle Bekker and Manjrekar James,
and he takes the lead on the coaching staff.
His assistants are former Montreal Impact assistant Peter Pinizzotto
of Woodbridge and former Cameroon international Hermann Kingue
of North Toronto Nitros.
As for League1 Ontario's opponent from Quebec, three players stand out
above the rest.
Veteran keeper and former Haitian national team goalie, Gabard Fenelon
will prove to be a daunting task for the League1 All-Stars to unlock.
Fenelon has appeared 34 times for Haiti at the senior level, and was able
to capture the PLSQ championship in 2015 when he was a starter for Lakeshore.
FC Gatineau's Dex Kaniki will also look to be a key part in this
team's lineup.
Kaniki, a teammate of Fenelon during their 2015 championship season,
leads the PLSQ in goals with seven and was named Player of The Week for
the first three matchweeks.
Joining Kaniki up front is former Montreal Impact forward Frederico Moojen.
The 34-year-old has represented Canada’s futsal senior national team
six times, scoring five times. He is also the joint leading goalscorer
this season in the PLSQ along with Kaniki.
The Quebec side will be led by CS Mont-Royal coach Luc Brutus
and FC Gatineau's Sylver Castagnet.
back to 2017 League 1 Ontario Men's index
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