The starting elevens warm up.
December 17-19, 2019--York 9 FC U-21 Identification Camp Open Trial...The three days of trials...Day 3 (by Rocket Robin)
Thursday December 19, 2019...Day 3 of the Trials
Today was the final day of the identification camp with thirty players back from the first few days which started at just about 100 trying out. This meant there could be enough for an 11 v 11 game with proper subs. As the players warmed up I noticed there looked like the 22 starters plus 13 other pinneyed players on the field which means the count was actually 35.
I was a bit unsure of the format but there were three distinct 30 minute games with those thirteen spares starting that second game. I didn't notice any substitutions made during the first two games. The final game was a variation with frequent substitutions and players rotated back onto the field even if they'd come out...actually this game only appeared to last 25 minutes so it would end at exactly 4:00pm. As the games went on I noticed there were five goaltenders.
These games had harder checks than the previous days. There was no officiating staff but one of the coaching staff was actually on the field whistling down freekicks and awarding cornerkicks.
All players were wearing full but un-numbered York 9 FC kits, either home or away, and then given a numbered pinney to wear in either green or white. Only the coaching staff had any programs of lineups. I asked them at the end of the game if I could at least ask who the goalscorers were from my own notes. Players today and the two days were told to leave their pinneys in a pile before the cuts were read out but were able to keep the full York 9 FC kit. That gear would probably retail for more than the $150 registration fee of this camp!
Game 1
Greens Whites
x x
16 25 21 18 2 19 15 13
17 11 22 20 36 24 30 8
5 10 32 11
16 min...Green 11 Martim Lopes GOAL...Lopes is centered a pass from the right and shoots a low 10 yarder
forward into right side of net over diving goalie.
22 min...Green 27 Ugatua Ebikeme GOAL...Ebikeme is fed pass putting in alone on right and 20 yard shot
is batted down by goalie on short side but the ball bounces back to Ebikeme who sends low 12 yard
roller to left side of empty net.
Game 2
Greens Whites
x x
20 19 15 34 19 16 21 28
23 16 18 8 4 34
4 21 29 32 12 23
14 min...White 29 (player unknown) GOAL...White 4 Moyse Bombyto on right sends low cross from 25 yards
and White 29 at 15 yards also on right but more centered tips ball low to just inside left post.
21 min...Green 34 Camilo Siabato GOAL...Siabato beats goalie to bouncer at 30 yards and in all alone
walks into net finishing with 7 yard shot.
Game 3 (this was the game with the frequent subs)
Greens Whites
x x
16 21 19 2 19 24 13
27 22 11 15 20 30 34 15 8
23 28 32 4
11 min...Green 23 Israel Nnoruka GOAL...Green 27 Ugatua Ebikeme near right end line sends low centering
cross to Nnoruka who one-touches 12 yarder into middle of open net as goalie was guarding near post.
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Now let me try to figure out who these guys are!
Martim Lopes---This was the easiest. I heard a man cheering after his goal so I went over to talk
to him. He was his father! He says that his son is age 16 and plays for the Inter Milan Academy.
They have an academy in Toronto and Mississauga.
These others I did a brief search on Google. (should be easier than names like 'John Smith')
Ugatua Ebikeme---(Nigeria) he's repped by "Can Sports Consulting" and he was on the York University
Men's Track and Field roster in 2017-18.
the mysterious 'White 29'---didn't find out his name
Moyse Bombyto---(could find nothing on him)
Camilo Siabato---appears to have played with Eurostar Academy located in London Ontario
Israel Nnoruka---(a few Nigerian profiles but most likely the guy who is at York University who
played in their Intramural Outdoor soccer tournament as captain of 'Jiggy boys 3 VC'.
My thanks to assistant coach Ryan Brennan for taking the time and going through the list of goalscorers
with me. The lists were on oversized printer paper (tough to flip through) and contained
'personal information' I was told so I kept a step back.
Without knowing who the players are it was just seeing a player who could pass for cartoon character
'Archie Andrews' (unfair as he was the only ginger haired player) or 'Bucky' (for the haircut) from
the 'Fat Albert' gang (now that would be just racist and because he was a Bill Cosby creation,
cause other problems too).
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So just after 4:00pm the players were called together (I made my way to field level waiting for the one-way door to open somewhat expecting that a few players would be instantly invited for a tryout. This was forgetting that last year players at the CPL trials were informed months later.
It would make sense to keep the players waiting with "We'll let you know" as the team wouldn't be sure who exactly they need with at this time with only ten players re-signed and the two CPL-U Sport Draft definitely showing up at training camp. If, let's say, Ryan Telfer returns that would mean there'd be less likelihood of a lot of midfielders being called in.
It is important to have a number of U-21 players on the roster because I have not heard of any modifications to the league's '1000 minutes rule' whereby young players collectively would total 1000 minutes at a minimum. Rumours I'd heard during last season was that quota might even be increased.
I asked around as to where the training camp would be held this year. Dominican Republic? Local? It has not been decided but appears to be a league decision but one answer was that the teams are not too enthused about "showing their hand" to other CPL teams so it might be games against 'University of Somewhere in Florida' or even 'Oakville Blue Devils' (sorry my suggestions).
I asked if the coaching staff was the same as last year and was reassured that 'everyone is back' and assistant coach Carmine Issaco (who also coaches York University) was not available this week. The club is also adding former Canadian national team player Paul Stalteri. I have seen him helping coaching staff at a few of the northern GTA League 1 Ontario teams the last few years.
Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca
twitter @RocketRobin01
The starting elevens warm up.
More starting warm-ups.
Goalie runs to top corner of box before punting away ball.
Some action from the second mini-game.
Trialists get a thank you for coming out.
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