Sunday, November 21, 2004

First Match for Paul Munster in Slavia

21.11.2004

Saturday was a special day as regards Slavia history. Very probably the first ever footballer from Northern Ireland played in the red-white jersey. Paul Munster substituted in the 74th minute of the match. At the end he got into a good chance, missed, but the goal would not have stood anyway as he was offside. So he will have to wait for his first goal for the next time. Paul gave his first post-match interview to our website. We hope we managed to write down everything correctly, as Paul is learning Czech, we will have to get used to his Irish accent!Are you glad you played for the first time today? Yes I am. I had not a game for five or six weeks, that is why I am glad to get fifteen minutes on the pitch.You got into a very good chance at the end of the match... Yes, it was a very good chance there, the guys were saying I was offside, but I still should have scored. The surface was hard, I was trying to keep my balance. The other players came to you, what did they say? They all told me "You were offside, do not worry about it, you will score in the next game." Was the pitch really hard to play? I actually never played on snowy pitch. The conditions, I was not bothered, because in Ireland we also have cold weather, but the surface, I do not think I have ever played on such hard pitch. At the start when I walk in I was thinking I would get used to it, the others were playing. But later I was watching where I was running, I want to play games, not to get injured. But it was good, I am glad I got fifteen minutes of play. Can you compare the Canadian league to the Czech one? It is different, the Czech league is far better. Are there any foreign players in Canadian league? In our team we actually had a couple of ex-Portuguese players, there are some retired players from Europe, some players come to play for a three four months, when they are released from their contracts. In Canada it is not a bad standard, but the Czech league is the standard I wonna be at. I just need a couple of games and I feel better and chances like the one I had today will be going into the net. How do you communicate with the other players? I actually have some stuff with football vocabulary. "Vystrel" is shoot for example. Ty - is you, different things, I have only started learning the Czech language. It is not an easy one. It is actually "vystřel". Do the players make fun of you sometimes, when you try to pronounce something? Sometimes, but this does not bother me, they help me a lot. I help them with English, some guys want to learn some English. Do you like Prague? What do you do in your free time? I like it here, but you know at the moment I am just passing all the sights, my main concern is just football. I train hard, and I want to get into the team and get as much games as I can. In my free time I am trying to do some sightseeing though, because my friends from Ireland and friends from Canada want to come and visit me. Where are you living? I am actually living close to the stadium in an apartment. It just a couple of minutes to get to the training. Did you visit an Irish pub here? Not yet, but I will go, when my family and friends come over.

Saturday, November 20, 2004

PAUL MUNSTER SIGNED BY SLAVIA PRAGUE

London City striker Paul Munster in Prague

Paul Munster, the 22 year old striker from London City in the Canadian Professional Soccer League has been signed by Slavia Prague and will play his first game Saturday against Chmel Blsany F.C. in the Czech Republic’s top division. Munster, who is Northern Ireland-born and calls Kitchener, Ontario his home, has been in Prague for the past six weeks following his busy season in the CPSL where he ended the 2004 campaign as the league’s leading scorer with 25 goals, 10 more than the second place scorer.Slavia Prague is one of the top two teams in the Czech Republic, the other being Sparta Prague and both team have been busy in European Champions League competition over the years. Slavia Prague has produced top players Patrick Berger, Vladimir Smicer and Karel Poborsky, all signed by some of the top clubs in Europe.Munster suffered serious ligament damage in his right knee three years ago and was not expected to play serious soccer again until London City’s Harry Gauss took him into the reserve squad, then a quick move to the pro team where he was an instant hit.Fans considered Munster outstanding and Harry Gauss said he was ‘the Real Deal.’Slavia Prague coach Josef Csaplara was said to be pleased with Munster’s trials and had no hesitation in moving the Canadian striker straight into the first team.Gauss was instrumental in gaining official clearance from the Canadian Soccer Association for Munster to play on Saturday following some last minute hitches that held up the approvals.“But it has all been worth it, I’m delighted for Paul and I know he will do well,” said the London City general manager after working the telephones both sides of the Atlantic since the early hours of Friday morning.

Friday, November 12, 2004

LONDON SOCCER MERGER

A TIME TO REJOICE

A soccer celebration of sorts took place recently at the Waltzing Weasel, an English style pub located at 1324 Adelaide Street North in London, Ontario.It was a moment of rejoice for good reason following the merger of professional soccer with a youth soccer club in one of the busiest pieces of soccer geography in southwestern Ontario, a place where young players abound.The Canadian Professional Soccer League’s London City are the pros and North London Soccer Club is one of the most successful youth soccer organizations in Canada and they have joined forces to create an environment and pipeline for special young players to move up and on if they are good enough to do so. These two organizations became a single entity during October and quickly struck a working agreement with a third to produce a development structure calculated to spell player development success as time goes by.Kensal Park is the other component, a 600-player house league that already has a close affiliation with the pro-London City and while the pro team is the focus of London City, in 2005 it will also have a team in the Premier Division of the Western Ontario Soccer League and eight youth squads. All of this means that with North London’s 28 teams the entire arrangement will allow a large number of young players the opportunity to keep climbing all the way to a professional soccer career at home or abroad.Player development is key and will take place at the youth level with Martin Painter, a coach with London Dynamite and player with Western Mustangs appointed technical director and it will be his job to see that special players become visible for London City’s Harry Gauss who will determine suitability for the pro game in Canada or elsewhere. Gauss has moved several players for trials overseas and currently has striker Paul Munster with Slavia Prague in the Czech Republic. In recent times, Gauss has sent young standout defender Tyler Hemming and midfielder Cameron Medwin to Grimsby Town of the English First Division as well as Scott Mueller, a goalkeeper, to Scottish First Division side, St. Mirren.Steve Brazier, president of North London had high praise for London City and Harry Gauss in explaining the merger recently. “We believe the merger is just what’s needed for North London at this juncture of the club’s history and I also think it is good for London City following the many years Harry has been working so hard to lay a foundation for professional soccer intended to accelerate development of the more promising young players, ” he said.North London has produced a number of talented players in the past and currently Michael Pereira, Todd Rutledge and Igor Kasic are with Canada’s under 17 squad in Mexico while former Shooting Stars’ player Kate Bazos is with Canada’s under 19 women in the FIFA World Championships now being played in Thailand.

Monday, November 08, 2004

3 DYNAMITE BOYS NAMED TO NATIONAL SQUAD

Canada’s Junior Under-17 Team Head Coach Stephen Hart today announced an 18-player roster for a development camp and exhibition matches in Guadalajara, Mexico from November 9-20, 2004. We are proud to announce that 3 Dyanamite players Michael Pereira, Todd Rutledge and Igor Kasic have been named to the roster.

Sunday, November 07, 2004

Men's Soccer strikes OUA gold

Nov 7th, 2004
by Jeff Renaud


The Western Mustangs won gold Sunday at the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) men’s soccer championship at the Brescia Fields in London, defeating the Toronto Varsity Blues 1-0 on penalty kicks. After 90 minutes of regulation and 30 additional minutes of overtime, the game finished in a 0-0 tie. During the penalty kicks, Western goalkeeper Haidar Al-Shaibani (London) stopped two attempts to lead the Mustangs to their second OUA men’s soccer championship in as many years. Fourth-year Martin Painter (London) scored the eventual game winner for the Mustangs on Luciano Lombardi (Scarborough), who stopped only one during penalty kicks. Both the Mustangs and the Varsity Blues will represent the OUA at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) men’s soccer championship next weekend in Montreal, as both OUA finalists qualify for the competition. Following the championship game, the OUA Final Four All-Tournament Team was announced and included: Martin Painter S Western Adam Legg D Western Matthew Pittman D Western Gentjan Dervishi M Western Haidar Al-Shaibani G Western Faiz Karim D Toronto Kern Juman F Toronto Sean Myers F Toronto Mark Bennett S Brock Marco Peters D Brock Thang Nguyen M Carleton Drew Dailey D Carleton Earlier in the day, the Brock Badgers won bronze by knocking off the Carleton Ravens 2-0. Western student-athletes, known for their traditional purple and white, were sporting gold this weekend as the women’s soccer team won OUA gold in Kingston, the women’s rugby team collected CIS gold in Halifax, both earlier today while the men’s rugby team rounded out the OUA soccer and rugby sweep yesterday while winning OUA gold in London.

Tuesday, November 02, 2004

Bend It Like Bonasia

Londoner wins OUA East/West Player of the Year and joins four teammates and coach on soccer all-star squad
Nov 2nd, 2004
by Claire Baillie

Hamilton – With the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Women’s Soccer Championship set for this upcoming weekend at Queen’s University, the league is pleased to announce the 2004 all-stars and major award winners as selected by the coaches. 2001 OUA and CIS Rookie of the Year Cristina Bonasia from The University of Western Ontario Mustangs was named the OUA East/West Player of the Year as she helped lead the Mustangs to a number one ranking in the country and an undefeated 10-0-1 regular season record. Bonasia was second in scoring for Western, scoring eight goals on the season. Four-time OUA all-star and former all-Canadian Ciara Gaizutis from the York University Lions received the OUA North/South Player of the Year in her fifth and final season of her storied OUA career. The fifth-year defender was a major piece of the Lions successful year in which they lost just one regular season game and allowed just four goals in 11 games. Leading the league in scoring in just her first year of OUA competition, the University of Ottawa’s Ramata Coulibaly was recognized as the OUA East/West Rookie of the Year. Coulibaly netted 12 goals in 12 games, including a pair in her second league game. From the North/South Division, Ashley DePalma from the York Lions was honoured as Rookie of the Year. DePalma led the Toronto school with eight goals during their North division regular season title. The two Coaches of the Year will battle it out in this weekend’s second semi-final when Rob Gallo and his Laurentian University Voyageurs attempt to become the first team this season to defeat Mike Van Bussel and the top ranked Western Mustangs. Gallo, who was also honoured in 2002, leads the Sudbury squad to their first ever OUA Final Four. Van Bussel, last year’s OUA North/West Coach of the Year repeated the honour as he looks to give the Mustangs their first OUA women’s soccer title since 1998. The OUA Women’s Soccer Final Four starts Saturday at Queen’s University in Kingston.
The schedule is as follows: November 6, 2004 SEMI-FINALS 12:00 pm - Toronto vs. Queen's 2:00 pm - Laurentian vs. Western November 7, 2004 BRONZE MEDAL - 1:00 pm GOLD MEDAL – 1:30 pm
MAJOR AWARDS
EAST / WEST DIVISION Player of the Year Cristina Bonasia Western Rookie of the Year Ramata Coulibaly Ottawa Coach of the Year Mike Van Bussel Western
NORTH / SOUTH DIVISION Player of the Year Ciara Gaizutis York Rookie of the Year Ashley DePalma York Coach of the Year Rob Gallo Laurentian
NORTH / SOUTH DIVISION FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS
PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
Ciara Gaizutis Defender York Donna Carvalhal Defender Toronto Ashleigh Dolbaczuk Midfield Toronto Melanie Hol Midfield Brock Nancy Hill Midfield Guelph Cara Smith Defender Laurentian Ashley DePalma Midfield York Kristy de Vries Midfield York Sandra Hill Defender McMaster Lauren Karst Midfield Toronto Andrea Tristo Goalkeeper Toronto
SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS
PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
Karla Winters Striker Brock Stephanie Muldoon Midfield Nipissing Loretta DeThomasis Defender Toronto Emily Robson Midfield Guelph Michelle Edgar Midfield Brock Erin Osborne Defender Toronto Natasha Jacinto Defender York Kathryn Matheson Sweeper Guelph Nicole Peckham Midfield Guelph Laura Shoots Striker McMaster Tiffany Scriver * Goalkeeper Brock Anna Violo * Goalkeeper Nipissing * - denotes a tie
EAST / WEST DIVISION FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS
PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
Cristina Bonasia Striker Western Melissa Abraham Defender Ottawa Diana Burmester Midfield Carleton Eilish McConville Striker Queen’s Allison Oosteruis Midfield Western Anna Singer Midfield Queens Ramata Coulibaly Striker Ottawa Sarah Barradas Striker Queen’s Dominik Bertrand Striker Ottawa Kate Crowley Midfield Western Kate Chambers Goalkeeper Queen’s SECOND TEAM
PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
Arden Jobling Defender Ottawa Stacy Siopis Defender Carleton Tory Westbrook Striker Waterloo Nicole Grinstead Midfield Waterloo Jenny Bryne Midfield Western Kristy Elinsky Defender Laurier Libby Starnes Midfield Carleton Ashley Barrett Midfield Queen’s Stacy Warren Midfield Ottawa Jenn Kitching Defender Laurier Jessy Kapitany Goalkeeper Western

Monday, November 01, 2004

WOSL Past Champions

National Soccer League
Champions
1985 London Marconi
Western Ontario Soccer League
Champions Runners-up
2004 London Portuguese Benfica
2003 AEK Olympics London Portuguese
2002 London Portuguese London Bosnia
2001 London Portuguese London Marconi
2000 London Portuguese Strathroy Port. Can.
1999 London Portuguese London Benfica
1998 London Croatia London Benfica
1997 London Portuguese London Benfica
1996 London Portuguese Sarnia Bluewater
1995 London Portuguese London City
1994 Sarnia Bluewater St. Thomas
1993 London Portuguese St. Thomas
1992 White Eagles St. Thomas
1991 White Eagles St. Thomas
1990 White Eagles Panhellenic
1989 White Eagles Sarnia Bluewater
1988 Sarnia Bluewater St. Thomas
Lower Divisions
First Second Third U21
2004 White Eagles Hispanos Benfica Sarnia
First Second Third
2003 Croatia Ingersoll Hispanos
2002 Bluewater St. Columban Curinga
2001 Porto L.Portuguese B Woodstock
2000 AEK London Simcoe Thunder L.Portuguese B
Third
First Second East West
1999 Chatham Exp Serbs Simcoe Nairn
1998 Forest Utd Exeter Cent. Ingersoll Serbs
Second
First Central East West
1997 Croatia Marconi B Bosnia Forest Utd
1996 Benfica St Columban Latinos Bluewater B
1995 St Thomas Benfica Tillsonburg Petrolia
1994 Dante Curinga Tillsonburg Chatham E
1993 London City Curinga Panhellenic Chatham
Second
First East West
1992 Hungarians St. Thomas Dante
1991 Scottish Croatia St Columban
1990 London City Ingersoll Wallaceburg
1989 German Can. Simcoe Lusos Strathroy
First Second
East West East West
1988 Panhellenic Curinga Taxandria Simcoe Lusos
Forest City Challenge Cup
Premier First Second Third
2000 Portuguese AEK Simcoe Tillsonburg
1999 Portuguese ChathamC Serbs WEagles/SPC
1998 Croatia Forest U Porto Croatia/Germans
Premier First Second
1997 Portuguese Croatia Marconi/Bosnia/Forest U
1996 St Thomas Croatia St.Columban/Latinos/Bluewater
1995 Portuguese St.Thomas Benfica/Ingersoll/Petrolia
1994 Bluewater Pahellenic Curinga/Tillsonburg/Petrolia
1993 St Thomas no winner Alianza/Panhellenic/Petrolia
1992 White Eagles Marconi St.Thomas/Dante
1991 St.Thomas Scottish St.Thomas
1990 White Eagles City Portuguese
1989 White Eagles St.Thomas Simcoe Lusos