Steven Sandor's Blog, page 36

Miami FC’s begins legal action in fight for pro-rel: What it could mean for Canadian clubs is muddy

At the start of the season, we were promised a nicer, friendlier NASL. One that would would be less litigious and would play well with its neighbours. After all, despite bleeding teams and being reduced to an eight-club circuit, it got a fairly sizable reprieve when the United States Soccer Federation allowed it to keep Division 2 status.

Well, many of us had heard last week that Miami FC had a major Aug. 2 announcement. The Twitterverse, thanks to a proliferation of wannabe journalists with “sources,” declared that team owner Riccardo Silva was going to partner with the Miami MLS bid.

Well, not exactly.

What Miami FC, along with the lower-division Kingston Stockade FC (a team based in New York state), did is initiate an international legal proceeding targeting FIFA, CONCACAF and the United States Soccer Federation. What do the two clubs want? They have gone to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, claiming that FIFA is violating Swiss law (the body’s headquarters are in Switzerland) by not compelling the USSF to have a system of promotion and relegation between its professional divisions. MLS is Div-1, while USL and NASL are Div-2.

From Miami FC’s release issued Thursday morning:

“The claim contends that, unlike the way the game is played throughout the world where results on the pitch define which division a team plays in, American teams are illegitimately blocked from the same opportunity because of the USSF’s failure to follow FIFA’s rules.

“The international soccer federation (FIFA) requires its members to practice promotion and relegation. The claim simply asks the USSF, a FIFA member, to comply with FIFA’s rules. By not practicing promotion and relegation, the United States and Australia are the only two members among FIFA’s 211-member associations that violate this basic rule. In addition to FIFA, CONCACAF and the USSF are named as respondents in the claim.”

Even though the Canadian Soccer Association is the official sanctioning body of the three Canadian MLS teams, the three Canadian USL teams and FC Edmonton of the NASL, it was left out of the suit.

So, how does this all affect Canada? Well, we are partners with the USSF in a World Cup bid. Any sort of litigation involving a World Cup-bidding soccer body looks bad. And, while we are in the works of launching our own Canadian Premier League, we currently have teams in MLS, NASL and USL.

But, USSF doesn’t control those Canadian teams. Canada Soccer sanctions the Canadian clubs. What if, by some chance, the legal action is successful? Would promotion and relegation be adopted, but the Canadian clubs immune from it? Could Toronto FC, the Whitecaps and the Montreal Impact, theoretically, finish as the bottom three in the MLS overall table, and all be guaranteed to play in MLS the next season? 

As well, there are some issues with the lawsuit. It’s clear that the lawyers haven’t done their homework on how club soccer in CONCACAF works. Below you will find paragraph 48 of their claim.

OK, there is so much wrong with this. The United States AND Canada do not have four spots. The United States does, alone. Canada has a single spot unto itself. At this time, Canadian teams cannot qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League out of league play in North America. Canadian teams, at the moment, can only qualify out of the Canadian Championship, which isn’t even mentioned in the paragraphs. Canada Soccer recognizes the Canadian Championship as our official national competition.

It’s actually a pretty big thing for the lawyers to get all wrong. You’re suing the system, but you show that you don’t even know how the system works. It’s sloppy.

But Miami FC owner Riccardo Silva must understand that, with a CONCACAF World Cup bid going forward, a primarily American bid with Canada and Mexico tossed in, that the timing of this action couldn’t be worse for the USSF.

Meanwhile, there are those at the USSF who might be wondering why exactly they gave NASL a break in the first place.

If anything, for Canadian clubs, the messiness of American soccer might be just another reason to embrace having our own system through our own league. If Canadian Premier League President Paul Beirne ever got a better argument why investors should stay away from the hybrid North American system, well I’d like to see it.

Large number of players, agents already making inquiries about CanPL

A couple of weeks ago, I was in a downtown Regina bar with about 60 soccer supporters, attending an information session with Canadian Premier League President Paul Beirne and investors looking to bring a team to Saskatchewan.

As I tweeted out some of the information being passed on, I started getting messages from players who hail from outside of Canada. They asked about trials. They asked about how many internationals would be allowed on Canadian teams. About how to get into Canada or, in some cases, get back into Canada.

This week, I asked Beirne if he is getting a lot of inquiries from agents and players.

He said there has been “tons of interest.” Word of the Canadian Premier League is not only spreading in this country, but in other parts of the world. That’s fairly impressive for a league that, as Beirne admitted in Saskatchewan,  “hasn’t been announced yet”

We know CanPL will have an appeal for Canadian players who are looking for playing time. But, make no mistake, there will be an appeal to some foreign players as well.

We also know that its main competitors for talent will be USL, NASL and MLS. Players who might be in those leagues at the moment, or could be looking towards those leagues, will have another option on the continent. And, I think some people might be surprised how well CanPL will compete with the U.S.-based leagues for talent.

I can only speak to the non-Canadian players I have known in my time covering pro soccer in Canada. But, from these sources, I understand why Canada is an attractive destination to some. There is also a group of foreign players who have played in Canada in the past, be it MLS, USL or NASL, who are looking to come back to this country.

Why?

The family likes Canada: At FC Edmonton of the NASL, we have seen two Northern Irish internationals, Albert Watson and Daryl Fordyce, get their Canadian permanent residency paperwork, and they are on the path to getting their passports. There are foreign players out there who aren’t just looking for places to play for a couple of years; they are looking to settle in Canada long-term. Their partners want to work in Canada, they want to raise their kids in Canada.

Another thing that doesn’t get talked about enough is Canada’s taxpayer-funded healthcare system. Playing in Canada means a player doesn’t have to deal with private health-insurance charges, and that mitigates some of the drawbacks of the Canadian dollar being valued lower than the Yankee buck. This is especially true for players with families. It’s one thing to go from contract to contract in the U.S. when you are single, but when you have to provide for a family, the potential healthcare costs rise. Canada to the rescue!

I met someone in Canada: We have seen many Canadian players go over to Europe, get married and have kids there. Well, there are cases where a foreign player has come here and met his ideal match. He’ll meet someone, fall in love, want to build a future. And the players aren’t making enough money in North American soccer so their loved ones can quit their jobs and barnstorm with them. Getting back to Canada and their partners can be a draw.

Wants a new start: Canada has long been a place sought out by people looking for a fresh start. A Canadian side could be a great place for a player looking to re-establish his career. And there’s a nice feeling of being able to walk the streets of your home team’s city and not have everyone recognize you. I’d equate this to the NHLers I’ve met who prefer playing in southern, non-traditional hockey markets. To those players, not being recognized outside of the arena is a plus.  

Trump: The longer President Trump remains in power, the more polarized America becomes. And for some players, being able to stay north of the border for an entire season, in an era of heightened security and border checks, well that’s a plus. As well, it’s safe to say that the current President of the United States isn’t doing a great international sell job on behalf of his nation. Soccer, being such an international game, is likely one of the pursuits least affected by rising xenophobia and isolationist thinking. But, North American leagues have quietly been checking their players, making sure none will have hassles when entering America. A Canadian league that promises equal opportunity and a simple process for working in the country will be a draw.

The Canadian Premier League won’t be for every player. But for foreign players looking for life changes, to build lives after soccer, who want more out of their playing experiences than a paycheque, Canada may prove to be a very attractive destination.

Beirne’s phone is ringing. And that’s the proof you need.

 

Intrinsically Canadian Power Rankings: MLS Week 21/NASL Week 18/USL Week 19

July has featured a lot of “firsts” for Toronto FC’s Canadians. Not to be outdone by countrymen Ashtone Morgan and Jay Chapman, who each got their first-ever MLS goals earlier in the month, Raheem Edwards said “my turn” in Sunday’s 4-0 thrashing of NYCFC.

Edwards now has 910 minutes played, placing him sixth amongst all Canadians in MLS.

Also notable from this past weekend; Ben McKendry made his FC Edmonton debut in Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Indy. With the appearance, McKendry joins Maxim Tissot as the only Canadians who have played in MLS, USL and NASL this season.

Raheem Edwards

As we pass the halfway points of all three leagues’ seasons, we need to look at all of the Canadians who have played less than 500 minutes so far. Let’s break that down, 500 minutes only amounts to five and a half games of action. If these players can’t even get that kind of time, will these players be better served by the Canadian Premier League,  which hasn’t been officially announced, but has two franchises — Hamilton and Winnipeg — approved by Canada Soccer?

Here are this week’s latest rankings:

MLS MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIANS

Will Johnson, Orlando, 1797 (21)
Cyle Larin, Orlando, 1575 (19)
Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla, Montreal,  1017 (16)
Tesho Akindele, FCD, 1005 (20)
Patrice Bernier, Montreal, 1000 (15)
Raheem Edwards, TFC, 910 (16)
Alphonso Davies, Vancouver, 648 (14)
Tosaint Ricketts, TFC, 594 (13)
Jonathan Osorio, TFC, 501 (15)
Anthony Jackson-Hamel, Montreal, 456 (11)
Russell Teibert, Vancouver, 433 (7)
Jay Chapman, TFC, 350 (9)
Ashtone Morgan, TFC, 193 (4)
Marcel de Jong, Vancouver, 183 (5)
Jordan Hamilton, TFC, 120 (7)
Wandrille Lefevre, Montreal, 106 (3)
Maxime Crepeau, Montreal, 90 (1)
Ben McKendry, Vancouver, 90 (1)
Maxim Tissot, D.C. United, 90 (1)
Louis Beland-Goyette, Montreal, 74 (1)
Richie Laryea, Orlando, 54 (5)
Tyler Pasher, Sporting KC, 45 (1)
Brian Wright, New England, 37 (1)
David Choiniere, Montreal,19 (2)
Kwame Awuah, NYCFC, 2 (2)

 

TEAM RANKINGS, MLS MINUTES PLAYED BY CANADIANS IN 2017

Orlando City, 3406/22 (154.8)

Montreal, 2739/20 (137)

Toronto FC, 2678/22 (121.7)

Vancouver, 1352/20 (67.6)

FC Dallas, 1005/20 (50.3)

D.C. United, 90/22 (4.1)

Sporting Kansas City, 45/22 (2)

New England, 37/21 (1.8)

New York City FC, 2/22 (0.1)

 

NASL MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIANS

Drew Beckie, Jacksonville, 1473 (17)
Mason Trafford, Miami FC, 1359 (17)
Nana Attakora, San Francisco, 1350 (15)
Kyle Bekker, San Francisco, 1309 (15)
Allan Zebie, FCE, 1043 (13)
Ben Fisk, FCE, 961 (11)
Adam Straith, FCE, 949 (11)
Dejan Jakovic, New York, 900 (10)
Karl Ouimette, San Francisco, 773 (9)
Mauro Eustaquio, FCE, 598 (9)
Nik Ledgerwood, FCE, 583 (9)
Nathan Ingham, FCE, 495 (6)
Maxim Tissot, San Francisco, 349 (6)
Tyson Farago, FCE, 225 (3)
Ben McKendry, FCE, 32 (1)

 

TEAM RANKINGS, NASL MINUTES PLAYED BY CANADIANS IN 2017

FC Edmonton, 4886/17 (287.4)

San Francisco, 3781/17 (222.4)

Jacksonville, 1473/17 (86.6)

Miami FC, 1359/17 (79.9)

New York, 900/17 (52.9)

 

USL MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIANS

Mallan Roberts, Richmond, 1890 (21)
Mastanabal Kacher, Colorado Springs, 1798 (21)
Callum Irving, Ottawa, 1620 (18)
Ryan James, Rochester, 1603 (19)
Jordan Murrell, Reno, 1382 (16)
Ryan Telfer, TFCII, 1360 (19)
Jordan Dover, Rochester, 1301 (17)
Amer Didic, Swope Park, 1271 (15)
Ben McKendry, WFC2, 1203 (14)
Eddie Edward, Ottawa, 1161 (15)
Daniel Haber, Real Monarchs, 1127 (18)
Bradley Kamdem Fewo, Rochester, 1124 (15)
Liam Fraser, TFCII, 1115 (14)
Kadin Chung, WFC2, 1097 (14)
Zachary Ellis-Hayden, OCB, 1071 (13)
David Norman Jr., WFC2, 1044 (14)
Thomas Gardner, WFC2, 1041 (16)
Jamar Dixon, Ottawa, 918 (15)
Richie Laryea, OCB, 909 (11)
Angelo Cavalluzzo, TFCII, 900 (10)
Sergio Camargo, TFCII, 882 (13)
Luca Uccello, TFCII, 859 (12)
Terran Campbell, WFC2, 855 (12)
Tyler Pasher, Swope Park, 855 (12)
Jordan Schweitzer, OCB, 849 (13)
Chris Nanco, Bethlehem Steel, 842 (14)
Shaan Hundal, TFCII, 766 (12)
Gloire Amanda, WFC2, 692 (16)
Matthew Baldisimo, WFC2, 685 (12)
Marco Bustos, WFC2, 663 (8)
Mark Anthony Gonzalez, Swope Park, 628 (12)     
Dominick Zator, WFC2, 595 (7)
A.J. Gray, Phoenix, 540 (13)
Sean Melvin, WFC2, 540 (6)
Michael Cox, OCB, 490 (8)
Skylar Thomas, Charleston, 484 (11)  
Carl Haworth, Ottawa, 479 (7)
Paris Gee, Tulsa, 451 (10)     
Marco Carducci, Rio Grande Valley FC, 450 (5)
Kyle Porter, Tampa Bay, 427 (6)
Aidan Daniels, TFCII, 408 (8)
Malik Johnson, TFCII, 392 (10)    
Julian Dunn-Johnson, TFCII, 379 (5)
Mackenzie Pridham, Reno, 340 (11)  
Maxim Tissot, Richmond, 340 (4)
Mark-Anthony Kaye, Louisville, 318 (7)  
Alessandro Riggi, Phoenix, 318 (7)
Anthony Osorio, TFCII, 315 (5)
Dante Campbell, TFCII, 311 (6)
Jordan Hamilton, TFCII, 286 (4)
Chris Serban, WFC2, 283 (5)
Aron Mkungilwa, Ottawa, 233 (4)
Ashtone Morgan, TFCII, 194 (3)
Jay Chapman, TFCII, 180 (2)
Josh Heard, Bethlehem Steel, 169 (8)
Marco Dominguez, FC Cincinnati, 125 (3)
Marcel DeBellis, Richmond, 90 (1)
Raheem Edwards, TFCII, 90 (1)
Patrick Metcalfe, WFC2, 73 (2)
Mele Temguia, FC Cincinnati, 62 (1)
Brian Wright, Tulsa, 30 (1)
Nicolas Apostol, WFC2, 17 (1)
Michael Baldisimo, WFC2, 13 (1)
Thomas Meilleur-Giguere, Ottawa, 1 (1)

 

TEAM RANKINGS, USL MINUTES PLAYED BY CANADIANS IN 2017

WFC2,8801/19 (463.2)

TFCII, 8437/20 (421.9)

Ottawa, 4412/18 (245.1)

Rochester, 4028/19 (212)

Orlando City B, 3359/19 (176.8)

Swope Park Rangers, 2754/19 (144.9)

Richmond, 2320/21 (110.5)

Reno,1722/18 (95.7)

Colorado Springs, 1798/21 (85.6)

Real Monarchs SC, 1127/19 (59.3)

Bethlehem Steel FC, 1011/19 (53.2)

Phoenix, 858/17 (50.5)

Tulsa, 481/17 (28.3)

Rio Grande Valley FC, 450/19 (23.7)

Charleston, 484/21 (23)

Tampa Bay, 427/21 (20.3)

Louisville City, 318/18 (17.7)

FC Cincinnati, 187/21 (8.9)

 

Eddies make a formation change, but lose fall season opener to Indy

The Eddies were determined not to lose 1-0 again. FC Edmonton finished the NASL spring season by losing by that very scoreline in five of their final six games.

So, to kick off the fall season Sunday and welcome back all-time FCE leading scorer Daryl Fordyce into the fold, Eddies coach Colin Miller instructed his team to play in a 4-1-3-2 formation, bringing numbers to the front and hoping to coax more goals out of an offence that finished dead last in scoring in the spring season.

Well, the game was indeed more open, but the Eddies still suffered a one-goal loss Sunday at Clarke Stadium. The Indy Eleven got goals from David Goldsmith and Eamon Zayed, and beat the Eddies 2-1 in front of 3,285.

At least it wasn’t 1-0, I guess?

All of the goal scoring came in the first half; the Eddies made a desperate push to get the equalizer late in the second half and created a series of good chances; but it felt like the Eddies of the spring seasons, with shots going right at the keeper or close-in chances being sent off-target.

“It’s the final ball in the final third; that was the difference,: said Eddies coach Colin Miller.

“We are getting the ball into good areas, we just aren’t getting any breaks.”

But, like Eddies supporters have seen far too often this year, the home side began the game sluggishly. Goldsmith, who appeared at a Wales U-19 camp and played for West Bromwich Albion’s academy before going to Butler University, got a goal in his first NASL start. It came just seven minutes in, a tap-in off a rebound from Don Smart’s shot. Smart blew past Eddies fullback Pedro Galvao on the right wing and forced keeper Tyson Farago into a good save, and Goldsmith was there to clean up the garbage.

FCE’s Daryl Fordyce challenges Indy’s Lovel Palmer. PHOTO: TONY LEWIS/FC EDMONTON

Smart could have made it 2-0 just a minute later. Just as he did only moments before, he blew around Galvao on the wing, but this time Farago made a great save and the Eddies got the rebound away from danger.

The Eddies grew into the game, and Fordyce had a great chance to score after receiving a great pass from Ben Fisk. But Indy keeper Jon Busch got enough of his hand to the ball to send it over the net.

Fisk, who Miller identified as the Eddies’ best player of the first half, would strike again, sending in an inch-perfect cross for Tomi Ameobi to head home. For Ameobi, it was a special way to celebrate his 100th appearance as an Eddie.

But, with the Eddies having clawed back in the game, they allowed Indy to re-take the lead in pretty short order. Striker Eamon Zayed took a great through ball from Ben Speas and caught the Eddies back line on their heels. As he slipped, he was able to place the ball off the post and in to make it 2-1 before the break.

“We had a poor start and we got the game level and should have settled it down at the point, but then, shocking defending,” said Miller.

Ben McKendry made his Eddies debut, coming in as a second half sub. McKendry, along with subs Dustin Corea and Jake Keegan, added life to the Eddies attack and they created a series of chances. Corea had a free kick and good look on goal both saved by Busch, while defender Karsten Smith put an effort over the bar late in the game.

 

McKendry sees move from USL to FC Edmonton as a step up the ladder

Ben Fisk and Ben McKendry grew up in the same East Vancouver neighbourhood. They’ve played soccer together since they were kids. They both came up through the youth ranks of the Whitecaps.

Now, they’ll be FC Edmonton teammates. Fisk is in his second year with the Eddies, and McKendry’s loan deal that sees him move from Vancouver to Edmonton was sealed on Wednesday.

“In a nutshell, we grew up in the same neighbourhood in Vancouver and played together since we were five,” said Fisk.  “It’s awesome to have him and, on and off the field, I think he’ll be great for the team.”

Last Friday, McKendry was contacted by the Whitecaps and was told that FCE coach Colin Miller was interested in acquiring him on loan.

“Right away, my reaction was yes that’s something I’d like to do,” said McKendry.

“I’m pretty thankful for the opportunity that Colin has given me to come in and get some games and grow as a player for a short period of time. Edmonton is halfway through their season and there is still a lot of work to do to make the playoffs. I’m happy to come in help the team.”

McKendry played in one game for the Whitecaps this season but has played a lot for the WFC2 team in USL. He led all Canadian players on WFC2 in terms of minutes played. But, even though USL and NASL are both recognized as Division-2 leagues, he sees the move from WFC2 to FCE as a step up.

“You don’t develop as a young player by staying at the same level for three years,” said McKendry.” You have to challenge yourself and put yourself in uncomfortable situations and situations that are different. And that’s how you grow.

“I definitely think it’s a move up for where I’m at in my career. USL is a league that has a lot more younger players, players that are coming out of academies. And so the move to Edmonton and being in the NASL will be about being amongst more manly players, players who have more experience, players who are physically stronger and have a lot more experience in the game.”

While McKendry is a new addition, Daryl Fordyce was at training, going through drills without missing a beat. Fordyce, FCE’s all-time leading scorer, returned to the Eddies last week after spending half a season with FC Cincinnati of the USL.

“It’s normal for me, it’s like I haven’t left,” he said. “I’m really excited, I’m just itching to get going. Just have to get the body right for the game on Sunday and I can’t wait to get across the line.”

Fordyce and McKendry are the new adds in the open transfer window. And Miller said, if the right opportunity comes along, he still has the budget to go out and get someone else. But getting a deal across the finish line won’t be easy

“I don’t think it’s ever done,” said Miller. “It’s an ongoing thing and we’re looking at next year already. If the right player comes in who can help the squad, the funds have been made available. But it has to be the right one. And it’s difficult at this moment in time because we’re offering short-term deals and not every player wants to come in and earn Canadian dollars on a short-term deal. So we’re looking at loans and maybe someone who wants to come in and get his career going again, it could be something like that. But the irons are out there, but it’s not as easy as everybody would think.”

With the likes of keeper Nathan Ingham, midfielders Dustin Corea and Nik Ledgerwood, and fullback Netan Sansara all training, Miller said he could have as many as 17 or 18 players ready for Sunday’s fall season opener against Indy. But defender Albert Watson will be serving his suspension Sunday for yellow-card accumulation.

Bringing the Thunder: A look at CBC’s sensational new soccer drama

The auditions were a bit different. The first time through, the hopefuls for 21 Thunder were asked to do the usual stuff; go through scenes, show their acting ranges. But, the second time through, they had to show the producers that they could play soccer.

The producers of the new Canadian series, which debuts July 31 on CBC, didn’t want to use extras for the on-field action scenes. So, when the ball is in play on screen for this soccer drama, the actors had to be ready to play the game.

The show is set in Montreal and focuses on the travails of the U-21 side affiliated with the fictional Thunder franchise that plays in Major League Soccer. There’s the star player who looks to escape gangland Montreal; the hotshot Ivorian import who is desperately searching for a lost family member; there’s a match-fixing storyline, too.

(There’s also a nod to the infamous six-second rule that cost the Canadian women’s team at the 2012 Olympics.)

If those plots seem far-fetched, you haven’t been around Canadian soccer long enough. In the last few years I’ve covered a match-fixing scandal in the Canadian Soccer League and have been to court to follow a former NASL player accused of trafficking drugs. Yes, the show squeezes as much drama out of the plotlines, but the writers are getting their ideas from the real world.

Throw in the tension of a former Canadian women’s soccer star who is named an assistant coach and an aging Scottish hard man who is brought in as a Designated Player who also works with the U-21s, and you have many complex threads to weave.

Show producer Kenneth Hirsch said the timing for the show is perfect; soccer has never been as popular in Canada. And the CBC is looking for original content that doesn’t originate in Ontario — the network is sensitive to the notion that its focus is far too narrow on southern Ontario.

“We wanted to do a show about sports that was one step away from the major league,” said Hirsch. “That world really hasn’t seen a lot of drama made about it.”

And, because it’s a soccer drama rather than a hockey drama, there is a better chance of selling the show to overseas networks.

And soccer’s popularity with millennials couldn’t be ignored.

“Millennials have huge dreams, and we feel that this a world that resonates not only with Canadians, but international audiences as well,” said Hirsch. “It was the perfect lens to tell great stories.”

Emmanuel Kabongo as Junior Lolo.

And the actors are required to, well, play the game. No doubles. As well, Ryan Pierce, who came up with Aberdeen and played for Kilmarnock and, later, the USL’s OC Blues, is in the cast. He plays Davey Gunn, the hotshot import with a penchant for hard liquor and women. Pierce is the nephew of former Arsenal star and Leeds United manager David O’Leary. His father is former Ireland international Pierce O’Leary. (Pierce, when he still used the O’Leary surname, trialled with the Whitecaps six years ago).

Another focal point is the character of Junior Lolo, played by Emmanuel Kabongo. He signs with the Thunder despite other lucrative offers — and brings his younger brother with him from the Ivory Coast.

“A question in the show is why he would choose a team in Montreal over a team in Europe,” says Hirsch.

Hirsch knows that many viewers will think that he and writers Riley Adams and Adrian Wills would have been influenced by Didier Drogba’s arrival with the Montreal Impact. But, in fact, the Junior Lolo character was conceived before the Drogba signing.

I’ve had the chance to screen the first several episodes. Without revealing any more than I already have, I can state that it’s pure candy for the Canadian soccer follower. Yes, it’s unabashedly over-the-top, but that’s what we’d expect from a TV drama. There’s a dose of sensationalism, a good dose of sex and some drugs to amp up the tensions. It’s fun. And that’s what soccer should be, right?

 

McKendry, Bruno Zebie training with FC Edmonton

FC Edmonton’s training session featured a returning player and a new face.

Whitecap Ben McKendry and former Eddie Bruno Zebie were at training Tuesday, as the Eddies get ready to open the fall NASL season. They face the Indy Eleven this Sunday at Clarke Stadium.

The Eddies did not make any official comment about either player, save for the fact that Zebie is on an extended trial through August.

McKendry has played in one MLS match for the Whitecaps this season, and has appeared in 14 USL matches for WFC2. He has not been released by Vancouver — and it should be noted that the Whitecaps have loaned players to FC Edmonton in the past. While the team has nothing official to say, McKendry’s presence in Edmonton suggests a loan could be in the works.

Bruno Zebie played one game for the Eddies in the 2015 season; he was brought in as an emergency signing as the team was going through an injury crisis. His brother, Allan, has played regularly for the Eddies this season.

Intrinsically Canadian Power Rankings: MLS Week 20/NASL Week 17 (hiatus)/USL Week 18

This past week marked some MLS firsts for Canadians.

Toronto FC teammates Jay Chapman and Ashtone Morgan notched their first MLS goals this past week. Morgan did it in a midweek match against NYCFC, while Chapman got their opener in Saturday’s draw with Colorado.

And, in Montreal, Louis Beland-Goyette made his first appearance in an MLS game since the 2014 season.  

We have passed the midway point of the MLS season and 24 Canadians have gotten into at least one game. But only nine have more than 500 minutes each. Remember, 500 minutes is about five and a half games of game time. So, with some teams already passing the 20-games-played marks on their schedules, we can safely say that the 15 out of 24 players who each have less than 500 minutes are being used sparingly.

Here are this week’s latest rankings:

MLS MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIANS

Will Johnson, Orlando, 1707 (20)
Cyle Larin, Orlando, 1513 (18)
Tesho Akindele, FCD, 994 (19)
Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla, Montreal,  954 (15)
Patrice Bernier, Montreal, 937 (14)
Raheem Edwards, TFC, 835 (15)
Alphonso Davies, Vancouver, 648 (14)
Tosaint Ricketts, TFC, 594 (13)
Jonathan Osorio, TFC, 501 (15)
Russell Teibert, Vancouver, 433 (7)
Anthony Jackson-Hamel, Montreal, 366 (10)
Jay Chapman, TFC, 348 (8)
Ashtone Morgan, TFC, 193 (4)
Jordan Hamilton, TFC, 120 (7)
Wandrille Lefevre, Montreal, 106 (3)
Marcel de Jong, Vancouver, 93 (4)
Ben McKendry, Vancouver, 90 (1)
Maxim Tissot, D.C. United, 90 (1)
Louis Beland-Goyette, Montreal, 74 (1)
Tyler Pasher, Sporting KC, 45 (1)
Richie Laryea, Orlando, 40 (4)
Brian Wright, New England, 37 (1)
David Choiniere, Montreal,19 (2)
Kwame Awuah, NYCFC, 2 (2)

 

TEAM RANKINGS, MLS MINUTES PLAYED BY CANADIANS IN 2017

Orlando City, 3240/21 (154.3)

Montreal, 2433/19 (128.1)

Toronto FC, 2591/21 (123.4)

Vancouver, 1262/19 (66.4)

FC Dallas, 994/19 (52.3)

D.C. United, 90/21 (4.3)

Sporting Kansas City, 45/21 (2.1)

New England, 37/20 (1.9)

New York City FC, 2/21 (0.1)

 

NASL MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIANS

Drew Beckie, Jacksonville, 1383 (16)
Nana Attakora, San Francisco, 1350 (15)
Kyle Bekker, San Francisco, 1309 (15)
Mason Trafford, Miami FC, 1269 (16)
Allan Zebie, FCE, 953 (12)
Adam Straith, FCE, 949 (11)
Ben Fisk, FCE, 871 (10)
Dejan Jakovic, New York, 810 (9)
Karl Ouimette, San Francisco, 683 (8)
Mauro Eustaquio, FCE, 598 (9)
Nik Ledgerwood, FCE, 525 (8)
Nathan Ingham, FCE, 495 (6)
Maxim Tissot, San Francisco, 280 (5)
Tyson Farago, FCE, 135 (2)

 

TEAM RANKINGS, NASL MINUTES PLAYED BY CANADIANS IN 2017

FC Edmonton, 4526/16 (282.9)

San Francisco, 3622/16 (226.4)

Jacksonville, 1383/16 (86.4)

Miami FC, 1269/16 (79.3)

New York, 810/16 (50.6)

 

USL MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIANS

Mallan Roberts, Richmond, 1710 (19)
Mastanabal Kacher, Colorado Springs, 1708 (20)
Callum Irving, Ottawa, 1530 (17)
Ryan James, Rochester, 1439 (17)
Jordan Murrell, Reno, 1292 (15)
Ryan Telfer, TFCII, 1237 (17)
Jordan Dover, Rochester, 1213 (15)
Ben McKendry, WFC2, 1203 (14)
Amer Didic, Swope Park, 1181 (14)
Eddie Edward, Ottawa, 1071 (14)
Daniel Haber, Real Monarchs, 1038 (17)
Bradley Kamdem Fewo, Rochester, 1034 (14)
Liam Fraser, TFCII, 1025 (13)
Kadin Chung, WFC2, 1007 (13)
Zachary Ellis-Hayden, OCB, 981 (12)
Thomas Gardner, WFC2, 979 (15)
David Norman Jr., WFC2, 959 (13)
Jamar Dixon, Ottawa, 918 (15)
Richie Laryea, OCB, 909 (11)
Angelo Cavalluzzo, TFCII, 900 (10)
Luca Uccello, TFCII, 859 (12)
Jordan Schweitzer, OCB, 847 (12)
Terran Campbell, WFC2, 827 (11)
Tyler Pasher, Swope Park, 825 (11)
Chris Nanco, Bethlehem Steel, 811 (13)
Sergio Camargo, TFCII, 732 (11)
Matthew Baldisimo, WFC2, 685 (12)
Shaan Hundal, TFCII, 645 (10)
Gloire Amanda, WFC2, 630 (15)
Dominick Zator, WFC2, 595 (7)
Mark Anthony Gonzalez, Swope Park, 583 (11)     
Marco Bustos, WFC2, 573 (7)
A.J. Gray, Phoenix, 540 (13)
Sean Melvin, WFC2, 540 (6)
Michael Cox, OCB, 490 (8)
Paris Gee, Tulsa, 451 (10)     
Skylar Thomas, Charleston, 394 (10)  
Carl Haworth, Ottawa, 389 (6)
Mackenzie Pridham, Reno, 340 (11)  
Maxim Tissot, Richmond, 340 (4)
Kyle Porter, Tampa Bay, 337 (5)
Mark-Anthony Kaye, Louisville, 314 (6)
Malik Johnson, TFCII, 303 (8)      
Alessandro Riggi, Phoenix, 301 (6)
Jordan Hamilton, TFCII, 286 (4)
Chris Serban, WFC2, 283 (5)
Marco Carducci, Rio Grande Valley FC, 270 (3)
Anthony Osorio, TFCII, 258 (4)
Aron Mkungilwa, Ottawa, 233 (4)
Aidan Daniels, TFCII, 228 (6)
Dante Campbell, TFCII, 210 (4)
Julian Dunn-Johnson, TFCII, 199 (3)
Ashtone Morgan, TFCII, 194 (3)
Jay Chapman, TFCII, 180 (2)
Josh Heard, Bethlehem Steel, 169 (8)
Marco Dominguez, FC Cincinnati, 125 (3)
Marcel DeBellis, Richmond, 90 (1)
Raheem Edwards, TFCII, 90 (1)
Mele Temguia, FC Cincinnati, 62 (1)
Patrick Metcalfe, WFC2, 45 (1)
Brian Wright, Tulsa, 30 (1)
Nicolas Apostol, WFC2, 17 (1)
Michael Baldisimo, WFC2, 13 (1)
Thomas Meilleur-Giguere, Ottawa, 1 (1)

 

TEAM RANKINGS, USL MINUTES PLAYED BY CANADIANS IN 2017

WFC2,8356/18 (464.2)

TFCII, 7346/18 (408.1)

Ottawa, 4142/17 (243.6)

Rochester, 3686/17 (216.8)

Orlando City B, 3267/18 (181.5)

Swope Park Rangers, 2589/18 (143.8)

Richmond, 2140/19 (112.6)

Reno, 1632/17 (96)

Colorado Springs, 1708/20 (85.4)

Real Monarchs SC, 1038/18 (57.7)

Phoenix, 841/16 (52.6)

Bethlehem Steel FC, 980/18 (54.4)

Tulsa, 481/17 (28.3)

Charleston, 394/19 (20.7)

Louisville City, 314/17 (18.5)

Tampa Bay, 337/20 (16.9)

Rio Grande Valley FC, 270/17 (15.9)

FC Cincinnati, 187/20 (9.4)

 

Cosmos steal Valencia’s thunder in Regina

It’s all about context.

If you put about 15,000 people into a large football stadium in a place like Toronto or Montreal for an international soccer exhibition, we’d all be talking about poor ticket sales and how the North American public is losing its collective appetite for the summer friendly.

But, put the game in Regina, in the brand-new Mosaic Stadium, and the context changes. As part of Saturday’s officially named Soccer Day in Saskatchewan, with plans now in full motion to put a Canadian Premier League team in the province, the game between the New York Cosmos and Valencia took on a very different meaning.

Getting about 15K (a guesstimate; the official attendance wasn’t announced) in a market that has long been ignored by the pro soccer world, well that’s a building block.  

We’re now talking about Saskatchewan being an underserved market that could be a gem for a Canadian pro league. We’re talking about a city that rolled out the red carpet for two foreign teams. We’re talking about a vibe in a stadium that felt like one big party for the better part of two hours.

Context.

Match MVP Juan Guerra

As a contest, it wasn’t all that close. A Cosmos side missing a lot of starters to injury  beat the La Liga side 2-0 but, it actually could have been more.

Eric Calvillo, the former American youth soccer standout who scored the winner against FC Edmonton last week, well he must like Western Canada quite a bit. He patiently outwaited a Valancia defender at the top of the box and slammed a shot into the corner of the goal.

New York’s Emmanuel Ledesma put the game out of sight, hammering home a rebound after Valencia’s keeper, Neto, stoned Eugene Starikov’s initial attempt.

Starikov came oh so close to opening the scoring in the first half. He turned Valencia defender Ayben Abdennour inside out and then ripped a shot off the underside of the bar — but the ball stayed out.

The fans may have come to be impressed by the likes of Valencia stars Simone Zaza (who started) and Alvaro Negredo (who came on later in the game), but it was clear midway through the first half that it was the Cosmos, not the team from Spain, that was more committed to putting on a show for the Regina fans.

“It was beautiful to come to this beautiful city,” said man of the match, Juan Guerra. “The people, the support, this kind of event — we’re hoping to come back. Also, we just tried to implement what we’ve been  working on over the last week.”

For the Cosmos, it’s been a long couple of weeks. They travelled to Edmonton for their NASL spring-season finale last weekend, then went back to New York, then basically mimicked the Edmonton flight with the trip to Regina. (About four hours, non-stop). Cosmos coach Giovanni Savarese said his players deserved credit for winning both games, and he said he understood that these friendlies take what could have been break time away from the players. They get less time with their families, but they do what they have to in order to represent the sport and the club well.

“It’s been fantastic for us to be here,” he said. “We’re very privileged to have been invited to play in front of this beautiful crowd in this beautiful city.”

Removing the football lines… not a smashing success.

The bad: The attempt to remove the football lines was, how to put it, less than successful. The football lines are sewn into the new turf surface at Mosaic, so you don’t really remove them — you paint over them. But the paint only served to transform the white football lines to yellow football lines — and, considering the soccer lines were yellow, well you could argue that the poor paint job actually made things more confusing.

As well, I was told that the new turf had not settled yet, and was very bouncy and uneven. If CanPL comes to Saskatchewan, chances are that games won’t be played on Mosaic’s turf — but lessons do need to be learned if the stadium wants to host soccer friendlies in the future, or any sort of Canadian national-team match.

Savarese said that, while he’d much prefer his team to play on grass, the surface was “the same for both teams.” And he said in the spirit of the day, with the fans in the stands, that’s what we should all be focusing on.

Sounds like a good last word to me.

 

Potential CanPL owners talk about their big dreams for Saskatchewan soccer

How do you know that you’re at a Canadian Premier League meet-and-greet event with circuit president Paul Beirne and two prospective partners in a Saskatchewan franchise?

When one of the 60 attendees stands up and airs his concerns that the Canadian Premier League schedule could conflict with seeding and harvest.

Yup. Peak Saskatchewan.

But, all kidding aside, former-Canadian-youth-national-teamer-now-investment-banker Joe Belan and former Saskatoon Rush president Lee Genier were on hand Friday at a Regina pub to shed a little bit of light on their plans to launch a CanPL side in either the Queen City or Saskatoon.

Of course, it’s all part of the Soccer Day in Saskatchewan event that goes Saturday, with the NASL’s New York Cosmos meeting Valencia at the New Mosaic Stadium.

But, in this article, I’ll go over some bullet points from today’s meeting.

The target date for the CanPL kickoff is July 22, 2018.

Beirne said the goal is to have the new Canadian league kicked off a week after the 2018 World Cup final. The league needs to have a minimum of six teams to start.

But, he added that “we’re not going to launch if we’re not ready.” So, if the ducks aren’t in a row for that July, 2018 date, expect to see the league launch in 2019.

Saskatchewan is not one of the “first six”

We know Hamilton and Winnipeg have already been approved by the Canadian Soccer Association, and that Halifax has the support of its city council to get a stadium in place. Rumours are swirling about who could be the other three markets in the “first six,” but Beirne said that Saskatchewan “would be seven or eight.”

He said 10 markets are “on the path to readiness” and that there are “lots of moving parts, all moving in the right direction and a lot faster than people realize.”

“Team number seven is the slot we want to have,” said Belan.

Saskatoon or Regina?

Belan said that the team would need to have an 8,500-seat stadium. The plans are that the stadium would be modular — that is, it can be easily expanded — and would take less than a year to build. Still, it wouldn’t be ready for 2018.

“We’re going to start with an 8,500-seat stadium, but we’re going to have to expand it real quick,” said Genier.

Of course, with the support that Regina shows the CFL Roughriders, that’s a feather in that city’s cap. But Saskatoon is larger and, as Belan noted, has a lot of new Canadians who gravitate towards soccer.

In the end, both “tick a lot of boxes.”

And, neither Genier or Belan think that it’s worth trying to go head-to-head with the Roughriders. They say a Saskatchewan team needs to develop its own sporting culture.

“We want to be an integral part of community,” said Belan. “We understand that the Roughriders are an integral part of the community and that’s not going to change.”

But, no matter which city the CanPL team calls home, Beirne had advice residents for the “losing” city.

“Don’t get too attached.”

World Cup 2026

Belan was enthusiastic about the New Mosaic Stadium, saying that it’s a “world class” facility. As part of building the soccer culture in the province, he thinks that Regina should definitely be in the mix to host a World Cup match in 2026 should the joint United States-Canada-Mexico bid succeed.

“The new stadium really gives me goosebumps,” he said.

Champions League

It’s no secret that Canada wants to increase its representation in the CONCACAF Champions League. Currently, Canada gets just one spot in the tournament — awarded to the winner of the Voyageurs Cup.

Beirne said that the CanPL is “very supportive” of Canada Soccer’s bid to get more CCL spots, and added he hoped that a second spot would go to the CanPL champ.But he noted that the “CanPL is not alone in the conversation” of what to do with a potential second CCL spot.

Referees

It’s no secret that the Canadian refereeing pool is very thin — and many controversies have arisen this year out of NASL and MLS games officiated by Canadians.

So, how does the CanPL hope to improve the standard of officiating?

First off, Beirne said Canadian culture needs to change so that young referees are not being blasted by angry parents and chased out of the game before they can develop. That’s a Canadian problem, not a CanPL problem.

He does not expect CanPL refs to be perfect.

“We expect to have some challenges along the way, no sugar-coating it,” said Beirne. “The expectation is that they are going to make some mistakes.”

But, like players, referees can only improve if they get real game time. So, understanding that the referees are on a learning curve, Beirne expects the CanPL will take a hard line on coaches and players who criticize the refs during the league’s teething period.

Relationship with MLS

Beirne says the CanPL will not be a competitor to MLS for “business or players” at the moment.

“We aspire to compete with them in the long run, but we’re here for a different purpose… at the end of the day, MLS is an American league that happened to invite Canadian teams to join them.”