Canadian Players Abroad

[Joe MacCarthy]

Mother of all Canadians Abroad

If you offer corrections please post the link that will confirm your info. Tks

Legend: Player, Team, League, Division Ranking, Player Level
i.e. Jordan Santiago - Cardiff City (English The Championship) (2) Youth

Updated list September 12, 2011

Argentina
Nico Aravana - Rosario Central (Argentina Primera) (1) Youth
Emmanuel (Manny) Gomez - Tristán Suárez (Argentina Primera B Metropolitana) (3)

Australia
Issey Nakajima-Farran - Brisbane Roar (Australian A-League) (1)

Belgium
Tomasz Radzinski - Lierse SK (Belgian Jupiler Pro League) (1)
Karl Martens - AFC Tubize (Belgian Jupiler Pro League) (1) Youth
Raheem Alibhai - ROC de Charleroi-Marchienne (Belgian 2e Klasse) (2)
Dwayne Dildick - KVV Coxyde (Belgian 3de Klasse Group A) (3)

Chile
Carlos Rivas Jr. - Universidad de Concepción (Chilean Primera Division) (1)

China
Rumba Munthali - Nanchang Bayi (China League) (2)

Croatia
Adrian Russel Kekec - NK Solin (Croatian 2. HNL) (2)

Czech Republic
Andrew Kliment - FC Bohemians Prague (Czech Liga) (1) U19
Niall Cousens - Slavia Praha II (Czech 3. Ligy CFL) (3)

Denmark
Patrice Bernier - Lyngby (Danish Superliga) (1)

England
Simeon Jackson - Norwich City (English Premier League) (1)
David (Junior) Hoillet - Blackburn (English Premier League) (1)
Keenan Gracey - Wigan Athletic (English Premier League) (1) Youth

Jaime Peters - Ipswich Town (English The Championship) (2)
David Edgar - Burnley (English The Championship) (2)
Ethan Gage - Reading FC (English The Championship) (2) Reserves
Jordan Santiago - Cardiff City (English The Championship) (2) Reserves

Iain Hume - Preston North End (English League One) (3)
Troy Pennycooke-Morgan - Sheffield United (English League One) (3) Reserves
Gavin McCallum - Lincoln City (English League Two) (4)

Elliott Godfrey - Boreham Wood (Conference - Blue Square South) (6)
Jon Henry-Hayden - Tooting & Mitcham United (Ryman Isthmian League Premier Division) (7)
Mika Dronyk - Ringwood Town (Wessex League Premier Division) (9)

Finland
Frank Jonke - Inter Turku (Finnish Veikkausliiga) (1)
Riley O’Neill - MyPa Anjalankoski (Finnish Veikkausliiga) (1)
Tomer Chencinski - VPS Vaasa (Finnish Veikkausliiga) (1)
Mason Trafford - IFK Mariehamn (Finnish Veikkausliiga) (1)
Luca Bellisomo - IFK Mariehamn (Finnish Veikkausliiga) (1)
Randy Edwini-Bonsu - AC Oulu (Finnish Ykkonen) (2)
Kennedy Owusu-Ansah - FC YPA Ylivieska (Finnish Kakkonen Lohko C) (3)

France
James Chalk - Paris Saint-Germain (France Ligue 1) (1) U19 Nationaux
Abdoulaye Sylla - FC Metz (France Ligue 2) (2) Youth
Haidar Al-Shaïbani - Nîmes Olympique (French Championnat National) (3)

Germany
Marcel de Jong - FC Augsburg (German Bundesliga 1) (1)
Paul Stalteri - Borussia Monchengladbach (German Bundesliga 1) (1)
Kevin McKenna - FC Köln (German Bundesliga 1) (1)
Janeil Hoillet - FSV Mainz 05 (German Bundesliga 1) (1) U19 on loan from Blackburn (English Premier League) (1) Youth

Rob Friend - Eintracht Frankfurt (German Bundesliga 2) (2) on loan from Hertha BSC (German Bundesliga 1) (1)
Olivier Occean - SpVgg Greuther Fuerth (German Bundesliga 2) (2)
Adam Straith - Energie Cottbus (German Bundesliga 2) (2)
Fabrice Lassonde - FC Ingolstadt 04 (German Bundesliga 2) (2)
Greg Smith - Energie Cottbus (German Bundesliga 2) (2) U19

Nik Ledgerwood - SV Wehen Wiesbaden (German 3. Liga) (3)
Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault - Preussen Muenster (German 3. Liga) (3)
Jonathan Lao - Rot-Weiß Erfurt (German 3. Liga) U19 A- Junioren Bundesliga
Julien Latendresse-Levesque - Energie Cottbus II (German Regionalliga Nord) (4)
Massih Wassey - Fortuna Düsseldorf II (German Regionalliga West) (4)

Cody Cook - FSV 63 Luckenwalde (German Oberliga Nordost-Süd) (5)
Srdjan Gajic - Rot-Weiß Erfurt II (German Oberliga Nordost-Süd) (5)
Graham Fisher- Rot-Weiß Erfurt II (German Oberliga Nordost-Süd) (5)
Kevin Cobby - Rot-Weiß Erfurt II (German Oberliga Nordost-Süd) (5)
Alex Elliott - Sportfreunde Siegen (German Oberliga NRW) (5)
Maycoll Canizales-Smith (Miguel Campos) - Fortuna Köln (German Oberliga NRW) (5)
Robert Kerek - Bahlinger SC (Oberliga Baden-Württemberg) (5)
Tomasz Machul - FK Pirmasens (Oberliga Sudwest) (5)
Victor Collins - Neuruppin (Verbandsliga) (6)

Greece
Stathis Kappos - Apollon Kalamarias (Greek B Ethniki) (2)

Hong Kong
Paris Nakajima-Farran - South China Athleic Association (HKFA 1st Division) (1)

Hungary
Igor Pisanjuk - Kecskeméti TE (Hungarian NB I) (1)

Italy
Julian Uccello - FC Crotone (Serie B) (2)
Marco South - Calcio Padova (Serie C1) Youth
Robert Stillo - Valenzana (Italian Lega Pro 2 Girone A) (4) on loan from Genoa (Serie A) (1) Primavera
David Masciantonio - Olbia (Lega Pro Seconda Divisione A) (4)
Gino Mauro - Derthona F.B.C. (Italian Excellenza) (6)

Japan
Matt Lam - JEF United (Japan J2 League) (2) on loan from FC Edmonton (NASL) (2)

Lithuania
Sandro Grande - Suduva (Lithuanian A Lyga) (1)

Luxembourg
Andre Harris - Union Sportive Hostert (Seniors - 1. Division Classe 1 Série 2) (3)

Mexico
Isidro Sanchez Macip - Puebla FC (Mexican Primera Division) (1)
Alex Martinez - Atlas (Mexican Primera Division) (1) U19

Netherlands
Atiba Hutchinson - PSV Eindhoven (Dutch Eredivisie) (1)
Graham Ramalho - Jong Groningen (Dutch Eredivisie) (1)
Andrew Ornoch - Telstar (Dutch Eerste Divisie) (2)
Alex Marello - Veendam (Dutch Eerste Divisie) (2)
Octavio Maginnis-Castro - FC Dordrecht (Dutch Jupiler League) (2) Selectie 2e elftal

Northern Ireland
Ian Mannus - Ballyclare (Irish First Division) (2)

Norway
Lars Hirschfeld - Valerenga (Norwegian Eliteserien) (1)
Chris Pozniak - Haugesund (Norwegian Eliteserien) (1)
Robbie Tice - Bodø/Glimt (Norwegian 1. Divisjon) (2) Reserves

Poland
Michal Misiewicz - Polonia Bytom (Polish Ekstraklasa) (1)
Thomas (Tomasz) Jasiolek - Wisla Krakow (Polish Ekstraklasa) (1) Reserves
Dawid Kwiek - Wisla Krakow II (Polish III Liga Grupa 4) (3)

Portugal
Kyle Silva - Sporting CP (Portuguese Liga) (1) Youth
Ricky Gomes - FC Porto (Portuguese Liga) (1) U17
Pedro Pacheco - Santa Clara (Portuguese Liga De Honra) (2)
Fernando Aguiar - SC Gondomar (II Divisão Norte) (3)
Marco Brás - GD Sourense (III Divisão Serie D) (4)
Justin Isidro - Caldas SC (III Divisão Série E) (4)
Kyle Oliveira - FC Madelena (III Divisão Serie Acores) (4)

Romania
Tosaint Ricketts - FC Timişoara (Romanian Liga I) (1)
Chris Suta - UTA Arad (Romanian Liga II Seria 2) (2)

Russia
Joseph DiChiara - Krylya Sovetov Samara (Russian Premier League) (1) Reserves

Scotland
Marcus Haber - St Johnstone (Scottish Premier League) (1)
Liam Connon - Ross County (Scottish First Division) (2) U19

Serbia
Bojan Kajgo - FK Hajduk Belgrad (Prva liga Telekom) (2)

Singapore
Sherif El-Masri - Home United FC (Singapore S-League) (1)
Murphy Wiredu - Hougang United (Singapore S-League) (1)

Spain
Tam Nsaliwa - SD Ponferradina (Spanish Segunda División) (2)

Sweden
Kenny Stamatopoulos - AIK (Swedish Allsvenskan) (1)
Vladimir Vukovic - Boden BK (Swedish Division 1 Norra) (3)

Switzerland
Daniel Imhof - FC St. Gallen (Swiss Super League) (1)
Dominic Imhof - FC Tuggen (Swiss 1. Liga Group 3) (3)

Turkey
Josh Simpson - Manisaspor (Turkcell Süper Lig) (1)
Mike Klukowski - Manisaspor (Turkish Süper Lig) (1)
Milan Borjan - Sivasspor (Turkish Süper Lig) (1)

United States
Pat Onstad - DC United (Major League Soccer) (1)
Andre Hainault - Houston Dynamo (Major League Soccer) (1)
Ante Jazic - Chivas USA (Major League Soccer) (1)
Will Johnson - Real Salt Lake (Major League Soccer) (1)
Dejan Jakovic - DC United (Major League Soccer) (1)
Dwayne De Rosario - DC United (Major League Soccer) (1)
Greg Sutton - New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer) (1)
Edson Edward - FC Dallas (Major League Soccer) (1)

Andres Arango - NSC Minnesota Stars (USSF Division II) (2)
Mozesh Gyorio - FC Tampa Bay Rowdies (USSF Division II) (2)
Tyler Rosenlund - Rochester Rhinos (USSF Division II) (2)
Derek Gaudet - Portland Timbers (USSF Division II) (2)
Ross Smith - Portland Timbers (USSF Division II) (2)
John Jonke - Crystal Palace Baltimore (USSF Division II) (2)

Nigel Marples - Charleston Battery (USL Second Division) (3)
Pierre-Rudolph Mayard - Charleston Battery (USL Second Division) (3) on loan from Montreal Impact (USSF Division II) (2)
Erik Lefebvre - Charlotte Eagles (USL Second Division) (3)
Desmond Tachie - Charlotte Eagles (USL Second Division) (3)
Vince Petrasso - Harrisburg City Islanders (USL Second Division (3)
Dominic Oppong - Harrisburg City Islanders (USL Second Division (3)
Anthony Di Biase - Harrisburg City Islanders (USL Second Division (3)
Daniel Revivo - Richmond Kickers (USL Second Division (3)

Wales
John Toner - The New Saints (Welsh Premier League) (1)
Dylan Hughes - Rhyl FC (Welsh Premier League) (1)
Kevin Hughes - Rhyl FC (Welsh Premier League) (1)
Jeff MacLean - Barry Town F.C. (Welsh Football League Second Division) (3)

[chuncho_azul]

wow..never thought we had so many players abroad

im specially suprised theres a canadian playing in argentina and another on trial in chile..

this can only help canadian soccer get bigger and better

[Joe MacCarthy]

Keegan Ayre signs with Hibernian

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/4430136.stm

Meanwhile, Hibs have beaten off rivals Hearts to the signature of Canadian teenage midfielder Keegan Ayre.

The 17-year-old, who was also said to be interesting Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday, had a trial with Hearts last season.

But the Canada Under-20 international, previously with British Columbia, has signed a two-and-a-half year contract after impressing in training with Hibernian.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to Ceres at Xtratime
http://www.bold.dk/nyt/arkiv/visValgte.asp?valgte=50830

AaB confirm Marco Reda to leave.

AaB Sporting Director Lynge Jacobsen confirms that Canadian Marco Reda is leaving the club when his contract expires at New Years.

It comes as no surprise that AaB let the former Sogndal defender go. Reda has had an unfortunate time at AaB, where he (because of many injuries) has had a hard time getting on the first team when he was needed.

Yesterday Lynge Jacobsen confirmed this in AaB Support Club's radio show Halftime.

Unfortunately those same injuries prevented Marco from showcasing himself much with Canada as well.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Hirschfeld signs with Rosenborg

Lars Hirschfeld has signed a three year deal with Scandinavian giants Rosenborg. He will compete with Espen Johnsen for the top job at the club.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Kenny Stamatopoulos has agreed to a three year contract with Tromso IL replacing fellow Canadian Lars Hirschfeld.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Ali Gerba has signed for top Swedish team AIK along with Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault who's signed with St. Pauli (German Regionalliga Nord) at the U18 level.

Edit: Still waiting for confirmation whether Gerba goes to AIK or IFK Goteborg

[tonyyayo]

Marcus jonston and manav deol will be on trials with cobreloa of chile and octavio maginnis-castro will be in trials with atlas in mexico adding to edmonton juventus players abroad

[Joe MacCarthy]

Marcus jonston and manav deol will be on trials with cobreloa of chile and octavio maginnis-castro will be in trials with atlas in mexico adding to edmonton juventus players abroadCan you post a link for this or some additional confirming info because I seem to recall seeing this a long time ago.

Edit: Found the post http://www.canadian-soccer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7128&whichpage=4

That was July 27/2005, if you can find some info to update I'd appreciate it. These guys are only around 15 years old right? I'm not real big on posting guys so young as it is almost impossible to get info on them abroad unless they are some kind of superstar. ie DeGuzman

They also usually don't end up staying very long but if you can show me otherwise I'll be happy to put it on for ya.

[tonyyayo]

Theres no confirmation i can provide until it gets closer to their departure date but i believe manav deol and marcus johnstone are going to chile the same connections carmelo raggo used for u. catolica but i could be wrong. Octavio Castro may be on sportsnet for a tricks demonstartion in early december where there may be confirmation to his leaving provided . ill keep u updated. :) (DeGuzman is amzing} :)

[Joe MacCarthy]

Olivier Occean is transferring to Lillestrom
http://www.lsk.no/

while Ali Gerba is still to be confirmed going to IFK Goteborg.

Andre Hainault is still hanging in on his trial at Derby.

Not many people posting info but this thread has just passed 1000 views. I noticed when it hit 800 not too many days ago. It's still the most up to date Canadians Abroad list on the net. :)

[Kinger]

Hey I thought that Aguiar was with Benfica?

[Joe MacCarthy]

Christoph Imhof (brother of Daniel and Dominic) is now playing with FC Bazenheid 1938 (Swiss Amateur 2. Liga Interregional - Gruppe 5) (3)

http://www.fcbazenheid.ch/sp_spieler.php?id=73&ulink=1&team_id=1

Aguair was at Benfica well over a year ago? with a stint at Penafiel and Landskrona in between. IIRC.

[RealMadrilismo]

man MacCarthy... you are the king of canadian soccer lol

you should be the coach of Canada NT
We got 1 player in spain

Spain
Julian de Guzman - Deportivo La Coruña (Primera Division) (1)

[Joe MacCarthy]

man MacCarthy... you are the king of Canadian soccer lolNo, I just post info using lots of different sources with lots and lots of help from guys who I try as best I can to credit.

I will say this though, I think SFN is now the best concise source for CMNT info on the net. One stop shopping as it were. You get all the up to date important info here, organized, without the accompanying garbage.

Again, thanks to all the guys here and at other boards who dig up the info.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Ali Gerba finally signs with IFK Goteborg instead of false alarm with AIK.
http://www.ifkgoteborg.se/modules/extras/publish/display.asp?id=2718&publicationid=2718&type=channel&locText=Gerba+klar+f%F6r+Bl%E5vitt

[Kinger]

I was just wondering who are the starting canadiens in europe, I already know about Stalteri and De Guzman for Feyenoord, perhaps you know of the others?

[Joe MacCarthy]

Atiba Hutchinson signs a four and a half year deal with FC Copenhagen for a transfer fee reputed to be 1.5 million CDN.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to Ranger at Net54 for headsup. Ryan Thomson is playing with Tennis Borussia Berlin of the 4th level Oberliga Nordost-Nord.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to Lanegan and Ed of Vs for headsup

Looks like Kevin De Serpa is training at Løv-Ham of the Norwegian Adeccoligaen and Nik Ledgerwood has moved up to the first team of 1860 München in the German Bundesliga 2.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Brennan joins Southampton

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/Canada/2006/01/27/1414805-cp.html

SOUTHAMPTON, England (CP) - Canadian international winger Jim Brennan has joined Southampton on a free transfer from Norwich City.

Southampton, relegated from the Premier League after last season, is currently 15th in the Football Championship. Norwich stands 11th, four points above the Saints.

"For me, Saints are a Premiership Club and that was a big part of my decision," the Toronto midfielder was quoted on the Southampton website. "I want to be at a big club that has got ambition and I felt that Southampton was the place that could offer me that."

Brennan, who spent one season in the top flight with Norwich, could make his Southampton debut Saturday in an FA Cup match against Leicester City and fellow Canadian Iain Hume.

Brennan's contract at Norwich was due to run out at the end of the season.

He joined the Canaries on a free transfer from Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2003 and made 30 appearances (18 as a substitute), scoring two goals.

While injuries hampered the Canadian at Norwich, manager Nigel Worthington thanked Brennan for his service.

"Jim hasn't been having as many opportunities to play first-team football here as he would like and this move to Southampton represents a tremendous opportunity for him to play more games and further his career."

Brennan, 28, has 42 caps for Canada - second only to Spurs fullback Paul Stalteri (50) among active players.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to mjoni at Vs for headsup

Marco Reda has returned to his old stomping grounds in the Norwegian Adeccoligaen with his former team Sogndal after an injury plagued tenure at Denmark's Aalborg.

http://i1.tinypic.com/n1qdxs.jpg
Photo: Tor Yttri
http://www.sogndalfotball.no/dt_article.asp?gid=568&tgid=568&amid=13920

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to George at Vs for headsup

Stathis Kappos has left Akratios on a free transfer to join Messiniakos (C Ethniki - South) (3)

Kappos played previously with Aris and AEK while Messiniakos is in first place in their division.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to coward at Vs for headsup

Former RMU Soccer Player In Polish First Division
http://www.rmu.edu/OnTheMove/wpnews.full_story?icalledby=wpnews&ipage=60509&it=&iattr=&ivisitor=&inwc_seqno=11510&inws_seqno=10383&ihide_header=0

Former Robert Morris University men’s soccer player Joe Di Buono ’04 was signed to a contract to play for Polonia Warszawa of the of the Polish First Division through the remainder of the 2005-06 season with an option for the 2006-07 season. Di Buono has started in the last five matches at defensive midfield since signing with the team.

“I didn’t come here for the glory or the money,” said DiBuono following his signing. “I want to show myself in the best possible light and help save this team from relegation.”

Polonia Warszawa is currently 16th in the 16-team first division and will have to move up to at least 13th in order to avoid being relegated to the Polish Second Division. At the end of each season, the top three teams in the Second Division move up to First Division while the bottom three teams in the First Division are dropped to the Second Division. The Blackshirts are 3-3-11 (12 points), five points behind Łeczna and Arka and six points back of 13th place Belchatów.

Immediately following his graduation from Robert Morris, Di Buono became the sixth Robert Morris player since 2002 to be drafted when he was selected in the first round of the USL’s College Player Draft and was the 11th overall pick, going to the Montreal Impact. He became the first Colonial to be drafted by two teams in the same year when the Major Indoor Soccer League’s Cleveland franchise picked him in their 2005 draft. Di Buono was a 2004 NSCAA / adidas Mid-Atlantic Regional All-American and a team captain in 2004.

As a Colonial, he finished third in the Northeast Conference in 2004 with 17 points on six goals and five assists, scoring all of his points in the last 14 games of the season. He finished fifth in the conference in goal scoring and fourth in assists. A first team All-NEC selection, the forward was held scoreless for the first five games of the season before exploding for 17 points in final 14 games. His best game came in a 4-2 win at Mount St. Mary’s when he scored two goals and added an assist for five points.

[penalty_20]

David Edgars dad Eddie Edgar was my old trainer. He plyed on the cpsmos with pele.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to bc_soccer_fan, Sigma, manutd1 and Kurosawa at Vs for headsup

Looks like Alim Karim, Dave Simpson and Franco Lalli are playing for Lombard-Pápa TFC of the top tier Borsodi Liga in Hungary.

Stories and photos available via the search at http://www.lombardpapafc.hu/

Mark Watson returns to the Charleston Battery - USL First Division
http://www.charlestonbattery.com/news.asp?id=217

Issey Farran Nakajima signs with Vejle of the Danish 1st Division
http://www.vejle-boldklub.dk/news.aspx?NewsID=9f2fe390-9ef2-11da-ab31-001022fe44d4

Reggie Koranteng is playing with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds of the USL Second Division
http://www.riverhounds.com/roster.php?player=27

Former Man City Canadian Terry Dunfield is returning from a knee injury and is training with both Worcester City reserves and Macclesfield Town
http://www.thisiswcfc.co.uk/worcestershire/worcscityfc/sport/WEN_SPORT_FOOTBALL_WORCCITY_NEWS2.html

[Joe MacCarthy]

Andre Hainault (Montreal Impact) has signed a six month contract with a two year option with Czech Republic side FK Siad Most (Czechia Gambrinus Liga) (1) according to sources at Impactsoccer.

http://www.fksiadmost.cz/newphprs/view.php?cisloclanku=2006022301

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to Grizzly and Rudi at Vs

Joevannie Peart (Univ of Cincinnati Bearcats) has signed with Team Canada aka Lombard-Pápa TFC in Hungary. Rumours of Canadian U20 standout Andres Arango playing in Colombia. Coincidentally the former president of Colombia (1998-2002) was named Andres Arango.

Looks like Will Johnson has left Chicago Fire and has landed a trial at SC Heerenveen (Holland Casino Ere Divisie)

[Joe MacCarthy]

Dynamo acquire Serioux from Red Bulls
Second-year midfielder O'Rourke traded to New York
Houston Dynamo Media Relations
http://houston.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20060324&content_id=54418&vkey=pr_hou&fext=.jsp&team=hou

HOUSTON - Houston Dynamo announced today that they have acquired midfielder Adrian Serioux from Red Bull New York, in exchange for midfielder Danny O'Rourke.

Serioux was signed by the Red Bulls on March 1 after spending the past two seasons with Millwall of England's Second Division. During his time with Millwall, Serioux appeared in 12 games, along with two appearances in the English Carling Cup. The 6-0, 180-pound native of Scarborough, Ontario made his Canadian National Team debut in a World Cup Qualifier against Guatemala on August 4, 2004. He has totaled eight caps in his international career to date.

"We are delighted to get a player of Serioux's caliber. He'll be an excellent addition to our midfield. The fact that we are able to bring him in a week before the opener gives him a chance to adapt to the team before opening day," said Houston Dynamo President and General Manager, Oliver Luck.

The fourth overall pick in the 2005 MLS SuperDraft, O'Rourke appeared in 13 games for the Western Conference regular season champion San Jose Earthquakes last season. A four-year standout at Indiana University, the 22-year-old captained the Hoosiers to back-to-back national titles in 2003 and 2004. He also was awarded the prestigious Hermann Trophy in 2004, which is college soccer's equivalent of college football's Heisman Trophy.

Houston Dynamo will open the 2006 season on Sunday, April 2, at 6:30 p.m., against the Colorado Rapids.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to Start fan in exile at Vs for Grande headsup

Looks like Sandro Grande of Viking is on his way to Molde of the Norwegian Tippeligaen.

http://www.moldefk.no/Modules/News/showArticle.asp?level=4209&modid=4209&lngNewsID=14818

Rumours still persist of Molde's Rob Friend going to Crystal Palace.

Ante Jazic is still hanging in with the MLS' New York Red Bulls.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Wow, it looks like two Canadians on the same day have signed with top tier Dutch clubs. First Will Johnson with a successful trial at Heerenveen and now earlier rumours look to be true (pending Dutch translation); it looks as though Marcel De Jong has signed with Roda JC.

http://www.rodajc.nl/default.asp

http://i2.tinypic.com/snkmqd.jpg

They join Canadian U20 International keeper Josh Wagenaar who signed a two year deal (starting July 1) with ADO den Haag of the Holland Eredivisie.

http://forums.soccerfansnetwork.com/showthread.php?t=41468

Edit: It looks like Rob Friend has signed a four year deal at Heerenveen pending his medical.

This is probably the greatest Canadian signing day in history. Looks like three Canadians (Will Johnson, Marcel DeJong and Rob Friend) have signed with top tier Dutch clubs in one day.

http://www.sc-heerenveen.nl/web/show/id=42457/contentid=3224

[Joe MacCarthy]

Win some you lose some. Daniel Imhof's VfL Bochum have been promoted to Bundesliga 1 while Josh Simpson's Millwall have been demoted to third tier English League One.

Looking good for Kevin McKenna's Cottbus to promote to Bundesliga 1 but looking perilous for Tam Nsaliwa's Saarbrucken and Nik Ledgerwood's 1860 München to avoid relegation and stay in Bundesliga 2. They are barely out of the relegation zone but it is tight with four games left.

[Joe MacCarthy]

This is ridiculous! The whole team will be Canadian soon :)

Titan Soccer Star Andrew Ornoch Signs To Play Professional Soccer
May 1, 2006
http://www.detroittitans.com/msoccer.jsp?id=1146503629343
http://www.lombardpapafc.hu/index.php?ugras=hirolvaso&hirszama=31359

http://www.detroittitans.com/images/sports/menssoccer/ornoch2005wsuweb.jpg
Andrew Ornoch

It was announced today that junior forward Andrew Ornoch (Toronto, ON/Pope John Paul II) will forgo his final season of eligibility and has signed a contract with Lombard Papa FC of the Borsodi Liga league. That is the top soccer league in Hungary.

Ornoch had a breakout year in 2005 leading the team with 10 goals, adding five assists and leading the team with 28 points. He led the Horizon League in points and tied for the lead in goals. For his efforts he was named Horizon League Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and members of the All-Horizon League first team and All-Tournament team.

For his career, Ornoch finishes 26 goals which ranks fourth on the Titan all-time list, and 60 points which ranks eighth.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Energie Cottbus 3 - Munich 1860 1
Kevin McKenna promotes to Bundesliga 1

Cottbus comes back from a one goal deficit to score three with McKenna getting the third

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to VI at Vs for headsup

Josh Simpson has signed a three year contract with recently relegated FC Kaiserslautern of the Bundesliga 2, He was previously released from Millwall after his working visa expired.

http://www.fck.de/aktuell/news/allgemein/2006/05/simpson_230506.php

http://www.fck.de/media/images/sonstige/simpson2_206.jpg
Josh Simpson in Canadian kit

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to Start fan in exile at BS for headsup

Ali Gerba is going to Odd Grenland (Norwegian Tippeligaen) on loan from IFK Göteborg (Swedish Allsvenskan).

http://i5.tinypic.com/14958ig.jpg
http://www.varden.no/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060612/OG_NYHETER/60612001/-1/oddgrenland
http://fotball.fvn.no/eliteserien/article58421.ece

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to paocosta13 at Vs for headsup

Tam Nsaliwa formerly of recently relegated Bundesliga 2 side Saarbrucken has signed a three year deal with top tier Panionios Athens (A Ethniki) in Greece.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to lynoslo at Vs and Start fan in exile at BS for headsup

Christian Nunez is on trial at Norwegian Tippeligaen side, Lyn. He scored in a 3-1 win in a friendly against Hønefoss.
http://www.lyn.no/index.php?mod=one&id=11149

http://i4.tinypic.com/15xlob6.jpg
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/nationals/profile.asp?id=228&sub=3

Edit: He has just signed.
http://www.fxt.no/tippeligaen/lyn/article683363.ece

[benfica64]

Mother of all Canadians Abroad
I am Canadian and I dont know almost none of these Canadian players except a few playing in the English League. Its great to see so many Canadians playing abroad.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Ante Jazic has signed a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer.

http://forums.soccerfansnetwork.com/showthread.php?t=39010

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to feyenoordsoccerfan at BS for headsup

Dylan Hughes has been loaned to VVV-Venlo (Gouden Gids Divisie) from RKC Waalwijk (Holland Eredivisie)

http://www.vvv-venlo.nl/nl/html/algemeen/home/home.asp

[Joe MacCarthy]

Some older news here. The old good news bad news routine. CanuckFan of BS reports that Johnny Sulentic of St. Pauli and Maycoll Canizales of Hannover96 II have been released.

The good news is that U20s Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault of St. Pauli and Kent O'Connor of 1860 München II have both graduated to the third tier German Regionalliga. Bourgault is with the main St. Pauli team while O'Connor is with the 1860 München reserves.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to Grizzly, Rudi and James at VS for headsup

Edmonton Juventus' Matt Lam has signed with Holland's Ajax (U19) and Kennedy Owusu-Ansah is on trial with the Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS)

OWUSU-ANSAH - PHENOM ON TRIAL
Younger than Adu, with skills of his own
By Andrea Canales LASoccerNews.com Associate Editor
http://www.lasoccernews.com/article.php?article_id=299

CARSON, CAlif. - Kennedy Owusu-Ansah played in three different games in five days. As part of the Canadian U-20 team, he faced off against a U.S. counterpart team in a pair of friendlies on July 7 and July 9. Then he caught a flight to appear in an international friendly against Necaxa Wednesday for the Galaxy.

His record for the stretch wasn’t as good as he’d hoped.

“The first game we lost, 2-1,” he related.

The Canadians bounced back, though, in the second match. “We tied, 1-1.”

In the match versus Necaxa, the loss was 1-0.

Owusu-Ansah played the entire second half for the Galaxy against Necaxa, though he’d never even practiced with the team before. There simply wasn’t time.

“I just came and played. [Yallop] told me I was going to play. He said, have fun. I tried. I did my best.”

He managed to impress Yallop enough that the coach is interested in a longer trial.

“He’ll probably be here at least a week,” said Yallop. “We’d like to carry him, give him a good week with us.”

The speedy player went in at right back and took a shot on goal on almost his first touch. It was a tricky play for Necaxa goalkeeper Ivan Vasquez to handle. Owusu-Ansah’s audacity drew pleased gasps from the Galaxy fans in attendance.

Yallop was aware of Owusu-Ansah’s ability.

“He’s only sixteen and I’ve seen him play four or five times for Canada. I know all about him.”

Like Freddy Adu, Owusu-Ansah’s heritage is from Ghana. He is younger than Adu, though, since he doesn’t turn 17 until next week, when he is expected to still be on trial with the Galaxy. Even if he does sign with the Galaxy, Josmer Altidore of Red Bull New York would still be the youngest current player on an MLS roster. Owusu-Ansah would be the next-youngest.

*********************************************
NECAXA DEFEATS GALAXY
Goal by Boas sinks Galaxy
By Andrea Canales LASoccerNews.com Associate Editor
http://www.lasoccernews.com/teams/galaxy2.php?article_id=296

CARSON, Calif. - The Los Angeles Galaxy fell to the Mexican League team Necaxa, 1-0, in an international friendly Wednesday night.

The game allowed Necaxa to avenge their last visit to the Home Depot Center, in which they were defeated by the Galaxy.

Coach Frank Yallop wasn’t really bothered by the outcome, however.

“I wasn’t too concerned with the result,” he admitted after the game. “This is about the players getting minutes and trying to impress me. I’m quite pleased with some of the performances.”

To that end, the Galaxy fielded numerous guest players, reserve players and trialists, notably Evans Wise, Stefani Miglioranzi and Kennedy Owusu-Ansah.

The first two players started the game. From the start of the match, the Galaxy had trouble establishing good rhythm in their passing game. Their defense, while enthusiastic, lacked organization at crucial moments.

The Galaxy showed even better in the second half.

Owusu-Ansah provided a spark that pleased Yallop.

“For a sixteen year old kid who just arrived last night to step on the field like that - he looked a little bit nervous at times, but on his first touch, he nearly scored.”

The shot was tipped over the crossbar by goalkeeper Ivan Vazquez.

He was out of position on the next Galaxy chance, however. Wise beat his defender on his way to the goal. He entered the penalty area shadowed by the defender and drew out Vazquez before he centered a nifty pass to John Wolyniec. The forward attempted a slide to poke the ball home, but didn’t make good contact with the ball and it trickled just wide of the post.

For Yallop, the game was as much a scouting opportunity as anything else.

“It gives me an idea of where players are at, good and bad. Some players have pushed themselves forward and some have gone backwards. It’s why we play games. A lot of questions are answered in 90 minutes of soccer. That’s what I look at. That paints all the pictures for me, playing in a game.”

He wasn’t announcing any signings that evening, though.

“It’s good to see these guys,” Yallop explained. “They’re trying to be available for us to sign them. I won’t let any secrets out. But we’ll do what we need to do. I was quite pleased with some of the performances.”

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to Start fan in exile at BS for headsup

Chris Williams of the Toronto Lynx is on trial with Stabaek of the Norwegian Tippeligaen.

http://www.fxt.no/forstediv/article685201.ece

Edit: Trial ended, working visa issues

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to Curtis Armada at Vs for headsup

Weeks' trial starts for Lensky
http://www.feyenoord.com/domains/feyenoord/pages/article_v2.asp?content=12820000003558_2_12770000000008

http://i7.tinypic.com/21kb2gm.jpg

Canada-born Jacob Lensky hooked up with the Feyenoord first-team squad for the first time Monday for a trial. The 17-year-old is a product of the youth academy at Celtic. ‘Lensky is an attack-minded midfielder who can play on the left or the right,’ explained technical manager Peter Bosz. "He has a week to show what he can do."

Olivier Lacoste-Buis (U17) as reported on Impactsoccer.com is rumoured to be trialing in Strasbourg.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Canada's soccer success story
Dan Stinson
Vancouver Sun Tuesday, August 08, 2006
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=fbfa03fb-75fa-4654-b263-083e588fafa0

Canada may not have qualified for a World Cup tournament since its first, and only, appearance in 1986. That doesn't mean there aren't success stories in the game within the country.

Vancouver Selects under-16 boys team is one of them.

Five young Lower Mainland soccer players from one team -- the Vancouver Selects -- have been signed by professional clubs in the same year, a situation so unusual that it's believed to be a Canadian record.

"It was a fluke," says Selects head coach Jan Giezen, whose son Robbie was among the five who signed youth contracts with pro teams in the Netherlands and Mexico in the last few months.

"First of all, to have that many talented players on the same team at the same time happens only once in a lifetime. Then to have all of them wind up with professional teams is unheard of. I've been coaching youth soccer for quite a few years. Nothing like this has happened with me before. I doubt it will happen again."

The signings, which put the players on the threshold of what could be long careers in the world's most popular team sport, took place in the months after the Selects won the Canadian under-16 club championship last October in St. John's, N.L.

Each of the five players has turned 17 since the national tournament and will combine academic studies with soccer on their new teams.

Vancouver winger Alex Martinez is with Atlas, a First Division club in Mexico. Vancouver midfielder Brandon Bonifacio landed with the reserve team of Netherlands First Division club Cambuur-Leeuwarden. Robbie Giezen, a midfielder from North Vancouver, joined West Vancouver winger Michael Nonni and Vancouver defender Marcus Haber with the under-19 team of Netherlands Premier League club FC Groningen.

The Selects' success didn't happen by accident. The core of the team was formed at the under-13 level, when the players were promoted from their community clubs to the Selects, who play in the Vancouver Metro Premier League youth division.

Martinez joined the Selects after playing youth soccer in Vancouver's Kerrisdale. Bonifacio was promoted from the city's Killarney youth programs. Robbie Giezen played in North Vancouver's Mount Seymour programs. Nonni hails from West Vancouver youth teams, and Haber first played soccer in the Dunbar area.

Giulio Bonifacio, Brandon's father, coached the Selects from the under-13 to under-15 levels and served as Jan Giezen's assistant coach with the under-16 team.

Brandon Bonifacio, Robbie Giezen and Haber have also played for Canada's under-18 national team.

"I was just an interested parent who was willing to help out in any way I could," says Giulio Bonifacio, a 45-year-old Vancouver native. "I certainly can't take all the credit for developing the players. They got a lot of good coaching when they were younger. Guys like [B.C. youth coaches] Bob Poole, Michael Findlay, Frank Ciaccia and Roman Tulis also coached these players at various levels and deserve a lot of credit.

"But I honestly think the players themselves were mainly responsible for their development," Bonifacio adds. "They were focused and determined right from the get-go; they really wanted to succeed."

Jan Giezen's roots also helped pave the way to the contracts.

Giezen is a 53-year-old native of Groningen, a small town in northern Netherlands where he played amateur soccer before immigrating to Canada in 1982. He was one of the first coaches in the Vancouver Whitecaps youth team programs, guiding the Caps under-15 and under-16 boys teams to Northwest Conference championships.

Giezen developed contacts with officials at FC Groningen when he lived in the Netherlands and still stays in touch.

"Groningen have always been interested in acquiring good young players from around the world, and certainly my connections with the club helped," Giezen says. "But players also have to demonstrate that they are good enough to play for Groningen."

So Jan Giezen and Giulio Bonifacio took the Selects to the 16-team Beppe-Viola international youth tournament in Riva del Guarda, Italy, in March. The Selects were an emergency replacement for Canada's under-17 national team, which declined an invitation. The Selects played against some of Italy's best youth teams in the tournament. Although results were close, they failed to win a game.

The Selects also travelled to Groningen on their trip. Giezen had arranged an exhibition game against FC Groningen's under-19 team, and the Selects won the match handily, 4-0.

Robbie Giezen, Nonni and Haber were signed up by Groningen shortly after the game. Brandon Bonifacio had trials with a few Dutch teams and signed with nearby Cambuur-Leeuwarden.

Robbie Giezen, Brandon Bonifacio, Nonni and Haber will attend the same school in Groningen, where they are enrolled in international baccalaureate studies.

"The boys haven't forgotten about their education," Jan Giezen says. "They left their schools here in B.C. after Grade 11 to join their soccer clubs, but their education is just as high a priority."

Michael Nonni's father, Gino, was a star midfielder with Simon Fraser University Clan teams in the mid-1970s. Gino recently returned from Groningen after accompanying Michael on the trip.

"It's a very well-organized club," Gino Nonni says. "They have eight people in charge of their under-19 team and help the players every step of the way. I also like Groningen's rule about combining education with soccer. The players have to attend school until age 18. If they don't, they can't play for the team."

Cambuur-Leeuwarden general manager Alex Pama predicts Bonifacio will quickly advance from the reserves to the first team.

"Cambuur regard him very highly," says Pama. "We signed him after only one training session."

Martinez was born in Vancouver, but is of Mexican heritage. He was the first of the five Selects players to sign with a pro club.

"Alex had his first trial with Atlas in December and also tried out with some other Mexican teams," says Jan Giezen. "He returned home for Christmas, but was asked by Atlas to return for a second trial in January, and signed after that."

Tulis owns and operates the Burnaby-based Roman Tulis European Soccer School of Excellence. A native of Slovakia who immigrated to Canada in 1988, Tulis coached Michael Nonni, Brandon Bonifacio, Haber and Martinez during their fledgling years.

"Each has different skills, but they're all very good players," Tulis says. "They're very coachable and hard-working kids, who can go far."

The Selects played at the under-18 level this year -- beaten by the Burnaby Royals in a marathon penalty-kicks shootout in the B.C. under-18 championship in July.

But Jan Giezen is proud of the team, nevertheless. The Selects have also won Metro League and Coastal Cup titles the past two years, and Giezen also credits goalkeeper Nick Boyd and defenders Liam McCallister and Ricki Sahota for the team's success.

"It was a very special group of players," Giezen says. "I feel privileged to have coached them."

danstinson@shaw.ca

THE FAB FIVE

Vancouver Selects players who have signed with professional teams in the Netherlands and Mexico:

BRANDON BONIFACIO, MIDFIELDER

Signed with Cambuur-Leeuwarden reserve team, Netherlands.

Bonifacio, a 17-year-old Vancouver native, played with Killarney soccer clubs in Vancouver until age 11. He started playing with the Vancouver Selects at 12 as an underage player, continuing with the team to the under-18 level. He has played in B.C. provincial cup final games every year since the under-14 age level. Bonifacio has also played for Vancouver Whitecaps under-14, under-15 and under-16 teams, the B.C. under-17 provincial team, and Canada's under-18 national team.

ROBBIE GIEZEN, midfielder

Signed with FC Groningen under-19 team, Netherlands.

Born in Vancouver, Giezen, 17, played with North Vancouver's Mount Seymour clubs until age 12. Member of under-14, under-15 and under-16 B.C. provincial teams, including the under-16 team that won Canadian all-star championship in 2005. He has participated at Canadian national training centres since the under-15 level and is a member of Canada's under-18 national team.

MARCUS HABER, DEFENDER

Signed with FC Groningen under-19 team.

The 17-year-old Vancouver native played with the city's Dunbar soccer clubs until age 11. Haber also played with the Vancouver Selects as an underage player from the under-14 to under-18 levels. He was a member of the under-14, under-15 and under-16 B.C. provincial teams, including the 2005 team that won the national all-star championship. A former member of Canada's under-17 team, he currently plays for the national under-18 team.

ALEX MARTINEZ, WINGER

Signed with Atlas under-19 team, Mexico.

Martinez, 17, born in Vancouver and played with Kerrisdale youth clubs until age 12. Played for the Vancouver Selects from under-14 through under-18 levels. He was also a member of Whitecaps under-15 and under-16 teams and participated in North American Super Y-League championship tournaments with those sides.

MICHAEL NONNI, WINGER

Signed with FC Groningen under-19 team.

Nonni, 17, played with West Vancouver youth clubs until age 12. He was a member of the Vancouver Selects under-14 through under-18 teams and has played in B.C. provincial finals every year since under-14. He was also a member of the B.C. provincial team that won the national all-star championship in 2005, and has participated in national training centre camps the past two years.

TALENTED YOUTH SOCCER PLAYERS FROM B.C. HAVE ALREADY MADE THEIR MARK ABROAD

B.C. youth players are finding places with foreign professional teams in increasing numbers. Here are some other B.C. players with foreign teams:

- Jacob Lensky, 17, a midfielder from Vancouver. Lensky was courted by some of the top teams in the English League, including Manchester United, in 2004. His first overseas tryout was with Glasgow Celtic, the perennial Scottish Premier League champions. Celtic signed him on the spot before his scheduled tryout with Manchester United.

Lensky is a starter on the left side of midfield with Celtic's reserve team, which ran away with first place in the Scottish Youth League in the 2005-06 season.

No statistics for Lensky are posted on the Celtic website. But the "Celticblog" column on the club's website offered these opinions on Lensky's performances:

"When this big Canadian gets the ball at his feet, he takes some stopping. Tremendous pace and control, and very direct. But when the ball's not at his feet, big Jacob seems to fade right out of the game. Needs to get more involved. Seems a bit shy, and is very young. But if he can add a bit of aggression to his game, Jacob will be some player. Great to watch."

Lensky has two caps (games played) with Canada's under-20 national team.

- Kent O'Connor, 18, a fullback from West Vancouver. O'Connor signed with Germany's 1860 Munich under-19 team in early 2005, and has been promoted to the under-23 side, which plays in the South Regional League. O'Connor has also played for Canada's under-20 national team. 1860 Munich's first team plays in the Bundesliga Second Division.

- Josh Simpson, 23, a midfielder/defender from Victoria. Simpson is entering his third season with English League club Millwall, which was relegated from the Championship League First Division to the Second Division last season. He has 13 caps with Canada's senior national team.

- Dylan Hughes, 21, a forward from Vancouver. Hughes signed a two-year contract with RKC Waalwijk of the Netherlands Premier League in February. He's now playing on loan to Netherlands First Division club VVV-Venlo. He's a former member of Canada's under-20 national team, with nine caps and three goals.

- Keegan Ayre, 18, a midfielder from Coquitlam. Named after former England international striker Kevin Keegan, Ayre is the son of Garry Ayre, a former defender/midfielder with the original Vancouver Whitecaps of the North American Soccer League and Canadian national teams.

Keegan signed with Hibernian of the Scottish Premier League last November and has regular playing time with the Hibs reserve team. He has two caps with Canada's under-20 national team, both of which were earned in exhibition games against Brazil's under-20 side in May.

- Daniel Fernandes, 22, a goalkeeper from Vancouver. Fernandes signed with PAOK, a First Division club in Thessaloniki, Greece, in 2004. He had earlier stints with German club Jahn Regensberg, Spain's Celta de Vigo and Portugal's FC Porto.

- Santiago Fernandez, 20, a forward, was born in Mexico, but lived in North Vancouver during his teenage years. His first appearance in a major international tournament was at the 2003 Challenge Cup in the U.S. with Mexico's Club America team. He came on as a second-half substitute in Club America's game against Manchester United at Seattle's Qwest Field. Fernandez is living in Spain and playing for FC Barcelona's under-23 team.

- Gianluca Zavarise, 20, is a midfielder/defender from Burnaby. Zavarise is in his third season with Italian club side Belluno in Serie D.

- Tony Dall'Antonia, 20, a midfielder from Burnaby. Dall'Antonia plays with Italy's MonteBelluno club team in Serie D. Both Belluno clubs are situated near Udinese, in northern Italy.

- Victor Collins, 22, a defender/midfielder from North Vancouver. Collins plays for German club VfB Luebeck in the North Regional League. Germany's Regional Leagues are two rungs below the Bundesliga First Division.

SPONSORS AND FUNDRAISING DRIVES WERE CRUCIAL

The Selects incurred costs of more than $55,000 in recent years, and are grateful for the sponsorship of Money's Mushrooms and Goldcorp Inc. "Money's Mushrooms was our primary sponsor throughout this entire period, starting at the under-14 level," says Giulio Bonifacio. "That was followed by a major contribution from Goldcorp for our trip to St. John's. Those contributions, plus fund-raising drives by the players' parents, helped cover the costs of this whole effort. It would have been much more difficult without their support."

Ran with fact boxes "The Fab Five", "Talented youth soccer players from B.C. have already made their mark abroad" and "Sponsors and fundraising drives were crucial", which have been appended to the end of the story.

[Xizor]

Dam! I didin't know Canada had so many players playing in top European clubs also a Canadian playing in Mexico, that's weird. Is Alex Martinez still playing with Atlas or did he go somewhere else?

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to Dave Marino-Nachison at BS for headsup

Sheffield's Calling: Oak Bay High student puts best foot forward as English club signs him to pro contract

Brian Drewry Times Colonist
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/sports/story.html?id=6d6df001-a71c-4346-bf5b-4a1c934ba318&k=63767&p=1

He's not a member of a stacked provincial soccer team or Summer Games team. Never has been.

What Victoria's Reid Fraser is a member of now, is one of England's most storied soccer clubs. Last week the 16-year-old Fraser capped off a whirlwind summer with a trip to Sheffield for a two-week tryout with Sheffield Wednesday's top youth team and the Football League Championship (formerly First Division) club promptly signed the Oak Bay High School student to a two-year professional contract.

Fraser is now the youngest player in Canada to sign a contract with a European club since Calgary's Owen Hargreaves left for Bayern Munich at 16. Hargreaves is now a member of Bayern's top team and played for England at the World Cup in Germany last month.

"I'm still a little bit in shock, but it has been nothing but fun times so far," Fraser said from his family's cottage at Shawnigan Lake, where he'll spend the rest of week before returning to Sheffield for the start of the under-18 season.

Fraser's fortunes turned earlier this summer when Sheffield Wednesday's youth academy director, Sean McAuley, visited Victoria to put on a two-week training seminar for F.C. Victoria players. It wasn't difficult for McAuley to spot Fraser; the talented striker stands 6-foot-5 and weighs in at 190 pounds.

"Sean took a liking to his size right off the bat, but what impressed him more about Reid was his ability to hold the ball and distribute it, and he has a great free kick," said Dave Dew, F.C. Victoria's technical director.

At McAuley's invitation, Fraser travelled to Sheffield where he went head-to-head with the local English players and was given a first-hand look at how dedicated the young players are to soccer in England.

He also got in three preseason games, including victories over S****horpe United and Stockbridge, a Division 3 men's team.

A typical day for Fraser now will involve being at the field at 8:30 a.m. for one hour of stretching and warmup. Then straight into practice. A break for lunch, then back to practice. Then it's off to a school for a few hours and then dinner. Then into the weight room. The day will change slightly if there's a game at night. During the season, that will be two evenings a week.

"It's definitely different than what I'm used to," Fraser said. "Here I would probably practise once or twice a week and play one game a week. They're very serious about their soccer over there."

Fraser got started in soccer as a four-year-old with Prospect Lake. Last season he suited up for the Lower Island Selects before joining F.C. Victoria this spring. Now, at 16, it's all about strength.

"They told me they want me to get stronger because the game is very tough over there. Here, we'll go in hard if it's a 50-50 ball. There, they'll go in hard even if they only have a 30 per-cent chance of winning it. So you have to be ready all the time."

Fraser will miss his team's first game, but join them for their second match, which is against Liverpool's under-18 side. The season will run until early May, and then Fraser will be allowed to return home for a couple of months before heading back for his second season.

"I'll miss my family and friends here, but this a dream come true for me. There are player from the under-18 team who get called up to the reserve team or even get to sit on the bench with the top team, whether it be by injuries or suspensions or whatever. So this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me and I'm very excited."

Sheffield Wednesday's top team, the Owls, play out of Hillsborough Stadium and are currently in 16th place with a 1-2-2 record as they try to finish in the top two spots to earn promotion back to the English Premier League.

For F.C. Victoria, helping a player achieve his goals, is what it's all about.

"We are ecstatic for Reid," added Dew. "We've had maybe 80 boys with us over the years and Reid is the first to sign a contract.

"And it also shows other players that you don't always have to follow the provincial team path. You just take advantage of your opportunities as they come to you."

Dew says having McAuley come to Victoria has worked out for both parties.

"He found a player who could have a bright future with his club, and by telling us what he was looking for in a player, we now know some more things to look for that are going to make a young player have success."

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to Lennie at Vs for headsup

Players Go Out On Loan
http://www.ytfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10673~886602,00.html?

http://i8.tinypic.com/25fhh6v.jpg
Gavin McCallum

Manager Russell Slade has this afternoon confirmed that two of Yeovil Town's young up and coming players will be going out on loan in order to gain experience as they look to fight their way into the Huish Park first team.

Both Gavin McCallum and Brad Thomas have been fielded out to Conference side Tamworth.

The winger and the central defender have joined the Lambs for a month, with the Gaffer looking to keep a close eye on their progress.

Speaking to www.gwsc.net this afternoon Russell said:

"A couple of our younger players Brad Thomas and Gavin McCallum are going out on loan to Tamworth in the Conference."

"I think that it will be fantastic for them. They will be at least playing in front of two or three thousand people every week.

"I think that they will be playing Exeter in the first game, and it means they will get what I would describe as competitive football, and that will be good for them.

"It will be a good experience and I will make time to go and watch them whilst they're on loan to see any progress that they may or may not be making."

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to Sigma at Vs for headsup

Canadian star for Mahindra
Club management upset with AIFF over players’ injuries
Sudeep Pakrashi
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=201619

Kolkata, September 16: It is not Portuguese striker Filipe Vaz de Azevedo, who’s joining Mahindra United this season has made the biggest news. Tony Menezes, the 32-year-old Canadian midfielder who was a member of Canada’s senior national team that won the Concacaf Gold Cup in 2000, will arrive in Mumbai at the end of this month to sign for the Mumbai outfit. Menezes is currently representing premier Canadian team Toronto Lynx and according to Mahindra management Menezes’s contract with the Canadian team expires in September.

When asked about Menezes joining the Mumbai outfit, coach Dereck Pereira told Newsline: “I have seen the video clippings of his recent matches. He can play both in the defence and midfield area. He is a very skillful player, possesses good ball control and powerful shooting ability. His skill and ability to guide his teammates on the field will help Azevedo a lot who is a striker in the true sense. The team should benefit a lot by his presence.”

The midfielder, who immigrated to Brazil when he was 10, played for renowned Brazilian team Botafogo till 2001. He also represented Chinese premier side Gansu Tianma before joining Toronto Lynx.

Meanwhile, Mahindra United’s key players S Venkatesh, Mahesh Gawali, K Ajayn, Abhishek Yadav and James Singh are not likely to be available before the Durand Cup to be held in October-end. All these players are on the injury list ever since they joined the senior national preparatory camp. The club management is upset with All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) negligence on the injured players so far and is planning to seek compensation from the Federation.

Mahindra Coach Pereira expressed surprise at Indian Football Association’s (IFA) decision of ignoring Mahindra’s promising midfielder Bhola Prasad for the Santosh Trophy. “Prasad has been outstanding so far. He should have been called for the Santosh Trophy,” he said.

Pereira is planning to include Prasad in the senior team for the Durand Cup and IFA Shield. Mahindra started their campaign in the Mumbai league with a 2-0 victory.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to filthat at BS for headsup

Good news and bad news for Christian Nunez
http://forums.soccerfansnetwork.com/showpost.php?p=659617&postcount=38

http://i9.tinypic.com/2jcucko.jpg

Looks like he was unable to get a Norwegian work permit and his contract has been voided by Lyn. However, he is now trialling at top team Brondby in the higher ranked Danish Superligaen.

http://www.brondby.com/article.asp?aid=38783&id=145

[Xizor]

Any news on Alex Martinez?

[Joe MacCarthy]

Looks like Dominic Imhof (FC Gossau) has returned to Canada.
http://www.tagblatt.ch/index.php?artikelxml=xxx&artikel_id=1164068&ressort=tagblattheute/stgallen/sport

Christoph Imhof (FC Bazenheid) doesn't appear to be with FC Bazenheid any longer.

And some old news, confirmation of Joe Di Buono no longer with Polonia Warszawa. If my Polish is correct Ubyli means something similar to departure.
http://www.polonia.kapkap.pl/?strona/127.html

And tks to Canadian_Supporter at BS, the news that Dave Simpson has moved on loan from Sparta Praha to Kladno in the Czech league.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Mannus Signs Up To Loan Agreement
3rd August 2006
http://www.ardsfc.co.uk/mannus030806p.htm

Ards added another piece to the puzzle today by agreeing a loan deal with Glentoran fringe keeper Ian Mannus.

The 21 year-old stopper comes on board for the season and will be looked upon to grab the number 1 jersey. He is highly rated by many at the Oval, and indeed it may be the case that they view Ian's move to Ards as a valuable learning curve.

Earlier in the summer Glentoran agreed a deal with last season's Ards number one Ciaran McLaughin and his arrival ironically has opened up this opportunity now. Mannus made his first appearance in Ards colours in Thursday night's friendly against Crusaders and performed admirably, coming to the side's rescue on a couple of occasions in the second half.

He comes in at just over six feet and has an imposing frame that should add an extra layer of resistance to the Ards defence this season.

Ards also blooded the experienced Philip Major in the Crusaders match and he played most of the game at centre half and certainly looked to still have a competitive edge.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to Batigol at Vs for headsup

Sergio de Luca is now playing with Torgelower SV Greif (TSV Greif) of the NOFV Nord group of the German Oberliga.

http://www.tsv-greif.de/Greifmambo/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=567&Itemid=174

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to Jordan at Vs for headsup

Kevin Harmse is now with FC Nitra of the top tier Slovakian Super Liga
http://www.fcnitra.sk/index.php?page=muzstvo&cdr=15

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to Sigma at Vs for headsup

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=423929&CPID=8&clid=25&lid=3&title=Black+Cats+linked+with+Ugo+raid

Boro (Middlesborough/EPL) have finalised the signing of Canadian youth international Shaun Saiko.

The 16-year-old midfielder arrives from NTC Prairies.

Saiko has impressed Boro's youth management during a couple of trials spells in the past 18 months and he has now sealed his move to England.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to Vicenç at impactsoccer for headsup

Un Québécois avec le FC Metz
http://rds.ca/soccer/chroniques/216119.html
Google translation

http://i11.tinypic.com/2d7ejcj.jpg
Abdoulaye Sylla

Monday October 30, 2006 - (FSQ) - the new partnership put of before last June by the Federation of soccer of Quebec and professional club French FC Metz brings back already dividends for the young players of the elite of the Québécois soccer.

Indeed the young hope Abdoulaye Sylla de Pierrefonds will leave in the next days the very new sport-studies provincial for France in order to join the programme of development of the French professional club.

Within the framework of its program of technical development, the Federation of soccer of Quebec chose to join to the FC METZ, in order to make it possible its young hopes to have an opening towards the European “foot”. By this convention of partnership signed hardly a few months ago, the Federation of soccer of Quebec began to support the annual organization of a training course of detection of the FC METZ in Quebec and to allow the observers FC METZ to follow competitions gathering the best Québécois talents. On their side the FC METZ began to accomodate young male hopes in training course of test and to make it possible to young Québécois to spend one year complete of formation to France in the capacity as interns of its center of formation.

The famous French club is in period of rebuilding. Their Center of formation was created in 1975 and counts several beautiful successes, among those note the last whereas the U16 team was crowned champion of France in 2005. The structure of formation of the FC Metz gathers 75 old players from 15 to 21 years distributed in the five teams of competition of the club. The athletes profit from a sporting follow-up (drive and competition), teaching and school, as well as medical and administrative follow-up.

Mr. Philippe Gaillot responsible for the tracking of the Center of Formation of the club for attended the Canadian Championships of selections held in Edmonton last July during obtaining the money medal by the Team of Quebec U16. He identified at the time of this voyage four young Québécois athletes whom he invited to a training course which took place of last August 29 to September 12. Abdoulaye Sylla (14 years), Mohamed Sylla (16 years) and Kevin Chan-Yu-Chock (16 years), all the three playing for Lakers of the Lake St-Louis and Julien Latendresse-Lévesque (15 years) of Inter Saint-Hyacinthe were the first four Québécois to benefit from this new partnership and to take part in a training course of test, they had all the four shone during obtaining the money medal by the Team of Quebec.

Following its performances during this test, Abdoulaye Sylla comes to receive an offer to join the French club, it will leave us for France as soon as the formalities of immigration are finalized.

Abdoulaye is a young exceptionally gifted athlete, it has belonged to the Teams of Quebec for now three years and this in spite of the fact that it has just been 14 years old. It will be for him a first international experiment since the Canadian national program begins at the 15 years age.

In 2006, it was aligned with Lakers of the Lake U16 St-louis, it gained with those the gold medal at the time of the Cut of Quebec Saputo AAA and finished with the third rank with the final classification of the L.S.E.Q. He was also member of the Team of Quebec U16 which gained the money medal at the time of the Canadian championships of the selections.

Last year Abdoulaye was indicated by the chain of television CH Montreal “athlete hope cultural diversity 2005”, it also deserved the purse “concerns” the Impact of Montreal. In 2004, it deserved the gold medal with the Team of Quebec U14 at the time of the Canadian championships of the selections. In 2002 and 2003, he was a captain of the Canadian team which took part in Danone Nations Cup.

Source: Michel Dugas
Coordinator with the communications
Federation of soccer of Quebec

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to Informer, Sigma and An Observer at Vs for headsup

Timely addition for Knights against Mariners
Sunday, 19 November, 2006 - 11:56AM
http://www.knightsfc.com/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=5983&pageid=432

http://i7.tinypic.com/4c29vgi.jpg
The NZ Knights have received a boost the day of their round 13 clash, announcing new signing, striker Alen Marcina, has been cleared to play against the Central Coast Mariners.

Marcina comes from the play-off reaching Puerto Rico Islanders, a team that plays in the USL in the United States.

His recent club history includes spells with FC PAOK Salonika in Greece and Club Herfolg BK in Denmark.

The signing comes as a result of contacts Director of Football Barry Simmonds has established, and he noted the striker down after seeing Marcina play at the Ottawa Wizards whilst Simmonds was in Toronto.

Although the Canadian has not played competitive football for four weeks, Marcina is expected to get a run this afternoon.

The NZ Knights play the Central Coast Mariners this afternoon (Sunday) in round 13 of the Hyundai A-league at North Harbour Stadium.

************************************************
Wojtek (Wojciech) Zarzycki is now with Miedz Legnica of the Polish 2. Liga

http://i7.tinypic.com/34rhmde.jpg
http://www.miedz.net/sn/zawodnik.php?idd=103

Adrian Serioux moved from Houston Dynamo to FC Dallas via Toronto FC in the MLS Expansion draft while Albertan Alexander Hanne is playing for Hansa Rostock's A-Jugend side.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Knights pick up a Marksman in Marcina
Wednesday, 22 November, 2006 - 4:19PM
http://www.knightsfc.com/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=6024&pageid=432

He may not have played for two months but new Knights signing Alen Marcina hasn't lost any of his sharpness.

Although a couple of bouts of cramp stopped the new recruit a couple of times in his first A-league match on Sunday against the Mariners, Marcina still showed snippets of his pace that has troubled defenders around the globe.

http://i7.tinypic.com/2i73fhf.jpg
Marina gets cramp in his first A-league game against the Mariners.

The former Puerto Rico Islanders forward traveled to New Zealand after considering other offers to play post-season but the Knights ended up working out the best for him.

“I was considering a few options, including offers to go play in France and Greece,” says Marcina. “But, the last time I played in Greece, I left with a few bad experiences of the club with pay and things, so I decided not to go back. I came to the Knights because of the longer off-season and it was a great opportunity to keep playing.”

2006 was the first season Marcina spent with the Islanders, but as with many of his previous clubs - his impact was positive: top goal-scorer for the team, played all games, third in the golden boot for the league and fourth in the point leaders. During his stint the team also reached the play-offs for the first time.

Whilst competing in the USL, Marcina forged an enviable competition with one of football’s all-time greats: Romario.

In the race for the golden boot, Marcina took an early lead, but Romario – with the advantage of a few penalties to boost his numbers - eventually won the accolade. Marcina finished up third.

Marcina jokingly mentions he is winning in head to head results between the pair and it is something the duo will be able to strike up again in round 16 when the Knights play away to Adelaide.

The Canadian is also a product of the American collegiate system, where many young Kiwis such as Jarrod Smith, are currently plying their trade.

Marcina left a legacy at Barry University in Miami, Florida – where his accomplishments are impressive. Top goal scorer four years running; all-time leading goal scorer, all-time top goal scorer in a season, and all-American.

Although Marcina has only played the one match in the Hyundai A-League, his experience in the competition was positive and he rates the Australian competition at a similar level with the MLS and USL

http://i15.tinypic.com/2nk2jx3.jpg
Marcina warming up in borrowed kit vs. CCM

“A lot of people (in New Zealand and Australia) call the USL a second-tier competition,” Marcina says, “but the reverse is true, it’s a good league and it’s on a par with the MLS.

“The players are good too. If you look at the players that leave the MLS and USL to play in Europe, they do well and they are the top players in the clubs over there too,” says Marcina.

Think Ryan Nelsen.

The striker also notes the recent clash between Romario’s Miami - a mid-table club in the USL - and Adelaide, current A-league second-runners, which resulted in a 2-1 win to the visitors, as a good example of the USL standard comparative to the A-league.

The 27-year-old sees his future in the beautiful game as possibly heading to Europe, but he would also be happy heading back to the States.

“I’ll just see how it goes,” Marcina says.

Another goal on the verge of being achieved is to play for his country: he has already experienced the Canadian national team squad, but injury and club commitments have conspired against him picking up his first cap.

“They know about me and I’ve been in their system and I’m confident about getting that cap soon,” says Marcina.

In regards to the Knights goal-scoring woes, he says modestly that he is known as a goal-scorer and that’s what he does.

Marcina will be able to get a better look at the Hyundai A-league in his second match against the Perth Glory on Sunday – kick off 9pm NZT.

Quick Alen Marcina facts:

Age: 27
Height: 5’10/1.79m
Weight: 76kg

Previous Clubs: Barry University; Ottawa Wizards; Herfolge FC (Denmark); FC PAOK Salonika (Greece); Puerto Rico Islanders

Favourite Movie: Scarface
Favourite Music: Hip-hop, in particular, Jay-Z
Favourite Food: Lasagna
Favourite player: Eto’o
Best player of all time: Pele

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to Sigma at Vs for headsup

Crawley seal McCallum loan switch
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/crawley_town/6177654.stm

Crawley have completed the signing of Yeovil Town midfielder Gavin McCallum on a short-term loan deal.

The Canadian winger spent a spell on loan at non-league Tamworth last season and will remain with the Sussex club (Crawley) until 6 January.

The 19-year-old has yet to make his first-team debut for the Glovers after signing his first professional contract at Huish Park in January.

McCallum has also represented his country at under-19 level.

http://www.crawleytownfc.net/newsdetails.php?ID=85

Yeovil Town winger Gavin McCallum is the second player to join on loan until the 6th of January 2007, including the game away at York City. Gavin has spent time out on loan at fellow Conference side Tamworth earlier in the season as well.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to zerou99 at BS for headsup

http://www.mtfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10393~932842,00.html?

Macclesfield Town can announce the loan signing of highly rated goalkeeper Asmir Begovic on a month's loan from Portsmouth.

19 year old Begovic represents Canada at international Under-20 level, making his debut against the USA in 2004. He was won 10 caps for Canada, three of which came against Brazil.

He signed a youth contract with Portsmouth in 2003 and spent time on loan in Belgium in 2005 with La Louviere, in Belgium's first division.

Edit: Jonny Brain (Macclesfield starting keeper) has a fractured tibia (November 26). He'll have surgery tomorrow morning and at the moment it's a similar prognosis to Andy Teague, with about 3 months before he can begin any rehabilitation.

Looks like Begovic's timing was good as he came in and played the last ten minutes of the game and will likely start the rest of the season.

http://www.kskbeveren.be/nl/news/showarticle.php?articleid=690

Canadian keeper Robert Giacomi (formerly Glasgow Rangers) has signed a contract with KSK Beveren (Belgian Jupiler League) until the end of the season with a possibility of extension.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to thepatriot at Vs for headsup

Saddlers trial Canadian
By Simon Fudge - Created on 28 Nov 2006
http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=431869&CPID=12

Walsall have handed Canadian defender Geordie Lyall a trial with the League Two leaders.

The 30-year-old appeared in Walsall's reserve side on Tuesday afternoon, having played the majority of their 3-1 home win over Bradford City reserves at left-back.

Lyall comes to the Black Country club after completing his eighth season with Vancouver Whitecaps, where he won the 2006 United Soccer Leagues First Division title with the British Columbia-based outfit.

Prior to joining the Whitecaps, the Toronto-born Lyall was a key figure for the University of Victoria Vikings.

The Victoria, British Columbia native is known for being a versatile player, as Lyall can play in midfield as well as in defence.

It remain to be seen if Lyall can impress Saddlers boss Richard Money during his trial spell at The Bescot Stadium, as the Canadian aims to embark on a career in the English game.

Silkmen land Pompey keeper
By Lewis Rutledge - Created on 23 Nov 2006
http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=430849&CPID=12

Macclesfield have completed the loan signing of Portsmouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.

The 19-year-old Canadian has joined The Silkmen on a month's loan and will provide cover for Tommy Lee, who is currently struggling with a groin injury.

Macclesfield boss Paul Ince explained that he was able to capture the highly-rated shot-stopper due to his friendship with Jamie Redknapp, the son of Pompey manager Harry.

"I'm good mates with Jamie Redknapp and Harry wanted Asmir to get out and get some experience so we've been able to bring him in," he explained.

Ince also declared that he was making no other deadline day moves because he had confidence in the players already at The Moss Rose Ground.

"Apart from the performance against Boston, I've been happy with the players over the last two or three weeks," he insisted.

"I've sat down with the chairman (Rob Bickerton) and it wouldn't have been right to have rushed in four or five players."

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to Rupert and Sigma at Vs for headsup

Saddlers Sign Canadian Defender
http://www.saddlers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10428~944698,00.html?

http://i13.tinypic.com/2w2k4t5.jpg
THE SADDLERS have completed the signing of Canadian defender Geordie Lyall on a contract which runs until the end of the season.

The 30 year-old, who can play in a number of positions including right-back, has impressed during a trial spell at the club and arrives from Vancouver Whitecaps where he has spent the last eight seasons having progressed through their ranks from the University of Victoria.

During his time with the Whitecaps the versatile Lyall, who can also play in midfield, has picked up a number of accolades including being named Vancouver's Defender of the Year by the Supporter's Club in 2002 and Supporter's Unsung Hero in 2005.

He was also nominated as the United Soccer Leagues First Division Defender of the Year this year and arrives at Bescot Stadium after being an ever-present as the Whitecaps claimed the championship.

Due to transfer regulations, he will be unavailable for first-team contention until the transfer window re-opens in January but Saddlers' boss, Richard Money, was delighted to seal his signature earlier today.

"I am really pleased to have signed Geordie," he explained. "He's been training with the club for a couple of weeks now and has impressed in both training and a number of reserve matches.

"As with Par (Cederqvist) he will be unavailable for first-team selection until the New Year but he will have an important role to play come the second-half of the season.

"Competition for places is very important and a player of Geordie's calibre will only add to the strength of the squad."

http://i17.tinypic.com/351sd2v.jpg

"I am looking forward to the challenge," added Lyall. "I've been at Vancouver for a long time but it's always been an ambition of mine to play football in Europe and to be here in England is something I'm really looking forward to.

"This is a new challenge for me and I'm going to give it my best shot.

"English football is very big in Canada and I'm really excited to have the opportunity to play here."

[Joe MacCarthy]

http://i16.tinypic.com/316252q.jpg

18 year old Canadian midfielder Jacob Lensky (formerly of Glasgow Celtic) has signed a two year deal with Dutch side Feyenoord
http://www.feyenoord.nl/pages/newsdetail.aspx?contentcode=20070102JACOB_LENSKY

http://i12.tinypic.com/2a5ixy0.jpg

Also, defender Chris Williams has signed a two year deal with SK Kladno of the Czechia Gambrinus Liga.
http://www.skkladno.cz/index.php?rubrika=45&page=clanek&clanek=372#

[Joe MacCarthy]

Nineteen year old midfielder Isidro Sanchez Macip has been invited to the upcoming Canadian U20 camp in Florida. He plays for Puebla FC in Mexico.

http://pueblafc.orgfree.com/index.php?seccion=plantel&posicion=medios
http://www.pueblafutbolclub.com/

[Savoyard]

Olivier Babineau has just signed in Croix de Savoie team (french 4th division).
Can you tell me information on this player if you have it please.

http://www.croixdesavoie.com/mambo/saison-2005-2006/actualites/babineau-conclut-le-mercato.html

http://croixsavoie.free.fr/

[Joe MacCarthy]

Olivier Babineau has just signed in Croix de Savoie team (french 4th division).
Can you tell me information on this player if you have it please.First, thanks for the headsup and links. While one of the articles says there will be a québécois accent in the dressing room this is incorrect as Olivier is from Dieppe, New Brunswick (outside of Moncton). He attended l'Université de Montréal (Quebec) and has been a midfielder on the Canadian U20 team. Although not likely to make the final roster for the upcoming WYC 2007 tournament, he has had several looks from the coaches.

A few years back he played for the Boston Bulldogs of the Premier Development League (PDL)... the fourth level of soccer in North America.

You can follow some of his U20 NT roster status in this thread.
http://forums.soccerfansnetwork.com/showthread.php?t=41591

4 M BABINEAU, Olivier University of Montreal 12-Jul-87 Dieppe NB

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to Metro at Vs for headsup

Stathis Kappos has signed with second tier Greek side Kalamata (B Ethniki) until season's end.

http://i16.tinypic.com/47cfp94.jpg
http://www.contra.gr/Soccer/Hellas/BEth/Kalamata/138976.html

[69cents]

Hey I hear Justin Isidro one of the players on that list is attracting interest from a few english and Scottish clubs. There are also strong links from Portugal linking him with the DC United, and he is also on the brink of signing a new deal with his club. I have also heard that he has had some great performances and he became the first U-19 to make an appearances for the reserves all season. Not bad for someone constantly left out of the Canada U-20s.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Victoria United player earns tryout with Swindon Town FC
February 28, 2007
http://www.pcsl.org/features-2007/pcsl-feb-28.htm

Patrick Gawrys of Victoria United of the PCSL and the Gorge F.C. Division One mens team of the Vancouver Island Soccer League has earned a tryout with Swindon Town FC of the Coca Cola League Two in England upon recommendation of FC Victoria's Technical Director, Dave Dew.

Gawrys will be flying to England early next week en route to the Wiltshire County home of the League Two title contenders. The 21 year old has been developing his play with Gorge FC since arriving from Calgary in his senior year of high school. "I am pretty excited to be living a dream", quipped Gawrys. "I'm very thankful to Dave and FC Victoria for coordinating this chance. Let's see where we can take this".

In recent years, FC Victoria's Dave Dew and Marv Diercks have forged relationships with professional clubs in the United Kingdom.

They have earned the respect of their peers and have become the local 'eyes' of those clubs they have become associated with.
"FC Victoria are very pleased to have played a role in Patrick's pursuit of his dream to play professional football", noted Diercks, president of FC Victoria. "We will continue to build and foster relationships with professional clubs in the UK for the benefit of FC Victoria players and the soccer community as a whole".

Swindon Town's manager Paul Sturrock and his technical staff will put Patrick through the paces. It is hoped the local youth will stick and earn a contract with the club. Only six months ago, FC Victoria's Reid Fraser earned an academy contract with the Coca Cola Championship League's Sheffield Wednesday Football Club.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Goalkeeper, Striker & Defender Signed
http://www.torquayunited.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/LatestNewsDetail/0,,10445~989510,00.html?

Torquay United today completed the signings of a much needed Goalkeeper, Striker and a Defender. Simon Rayner and Dean Oliver are signed on one month emergency loans and Chris Robertson has signed on a non-contract basis. All three are eligible to play against Chester City tomorrow evening (subject to finalisation of paperwork)

The first signing is Simon Rayner - A Goalkeeper on loan from Lincoln City.

http://i12.tinypic.com/2hojq5y.jpg

Simon Rayner
Born: 08.07.1983
Height: 6' 4"
Weight: 15st 0lbs
Position: Goalkeeper

Canadian under-23 International goalkeeper Rayner joined the Imps from Welsh Premier League side Port Talbot on a one year contract just prior to the start of the season. This was extended further in both July 2005 and 2006.

Previously a junior with AFC Bournemouth, Rayner had a spell with Barry Town before joining Port Talbot. He also had a week long trial with Premiership giants Newcastle United at the end of the 2003/2004 campaign.

Rayner has one under-23 International cap to his name when he kept a clean sheet for his country against the USA in December 2002.

"Rayner is an unfortunate goalkeeper who just happened to come to the Imps at the wrong time. He is a fantastic young keeper who is rarely beaten when he does play but his first team appearances are often extremely limited to when Marriott is either injured or suspended. You could actually argue that Rayner is the better keeper out of the two simply because he never parries the ball, it's only ever caught spectacularly.

Rayner made his debut in the controversial home game against Chester City in the 2004/5 when a Chester player took a shot and Rayner caught it only for the referee to judge it as a back pass and former Imp, Kevin Ellison scored from the indirect free-kick that appeared to be kicked without the ball moving before hand. His second appearance came just a few days after that in an LDV game with Doncaster and he conceded a late goal after keeping the Imps' in the game.

One day before the anniversary of his last appearance for the Imps, Rayner took the gloves for just the third time and he was seldom troubled as the Imps won 2-0 against S****horpe. However, in the 2 games that followed he conceded 2 goals from the only 2 shots he conceded but neither of which he could do anything about and then Marriott came straight back into the side following his 3 match suspension.

Although Rayner is an excellent goalkeeper, unfortunately he will never be given a fair chance whilst Marriott is fit and not kicking balls at already injured players." - www.sportnetwork.net

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to masster at Vs

Beckham beckons for Harmse
SOCCER. Coquitlam player set to sign deal that would see him join superstar in L.A.
Dan Stinson, Vancouver Sun
Saturday, March 10, 2007

Former Vancouver Whitecap and Canadian national youth teams midfielder/defender Kevin Harmse has verbally agreed to a contract with Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy -- the same team that will welcome England international and Real Madrid midfielder David Beckham into the fold this summer.

Harmse, who has played in three of the Galaxy's five pre-season exhibition games, said Friday from Los Angeles he expects the one-year, plus three-year-option contract to be officially registered with MLS "in the next couple of days," pending assurance that he's not legally tied to any other soccer club.

MLS is a single-entity league, meaning all player contracts are registered with the league, not with its member teams.

"I haven't signed anything yet," said Harmse, a 22-year-old native of Johannesburg, South Africa, who was raised in Coquitlam. "There are still some potential legal matters to be looked after, and I can't sign an [MLS] contract until those matters are clarified. But I expect that to happen soon, probably in the next couple of days."

Harmse was selected by the 'Caps in the first round of the 2002 USL [then A-League] draft, but did not play for the team that season. He signed with Tromso Idrettslag of Norway's Premier League in March 2003, but saw limited playing time in two seasons with the club.

The 6-1, 185-pound Harmse signed with the Whitecaps in 2004, playing in 12 regular-season and playoff games and posting one goal and one assist. He also played for the 'Caps in 2005, appearing in a combined 29 regular-season and playoff games and registering one assist.

Harmse's most recent club was FC Nitra of Slovakia's Premier League. He played on a trial contract with Nitra in late 2005, but a serious knee injury sidelined him for most of the season. He sat out all of the 2006 calendar year while recovering from the injury.

"My status with Nitra needs to be clarified before I can sign an MLS contract," said Harmse, adding he underwent six months of therapy for the knee injury last year, and that the injury has fully healed.

Harmse said he was invited to the Galaxy training camp in late January by head coach Frank Yallop, who was hired to the position on June 7, 2006 following two years as head coach of Canada's senior men's national team.

Playing as a midfielder, Harmse has one assist in the Galaxy's pre-season games.

"Frank said he'd heard good things about me, and that he'd love for me to come in for a trial with the Galaxy," said Harmse. "It's been a good training camp for me. I've played fairly regularly."

Harmse's international career includes a combined 22 caps and two goals with Canada's under-20 and under-23 national teams. He was called up to the senior national team for the first time in a Jan. 18, 2003 exhibition game against the United States, but didn't play in the match.

More recently, Harmse participated in a Jan. 15-25 senior national team training camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., under interim head coach Stephen Hart.

Harmse said there isn't "much of a buzz yet" in Los Angeles over the impending arrival of Beckham, who signed a reported five-year, $250 million US contract with the Galaxy on Jan. 11.

Beckham's contract with Spanish Premier League club Real Madrid expires June 30.

"I'm sure there will be lots of excitement when Becks arrives," said Harmse. "But no one seems to know for sure when that will happen."
Meanwhile, the Caps continue to hope that a local exhibition game can be arranged between the 'Caps and Galaxy following Beckham's arrival in Los Angeles.

"We've made a proposal for a game, and are in the midst of waiting for the Galaxy's response," said Bob Lenarduzzi, the 'Caps director of soccer operations. "It [the timeline] is any time from August to mid-October. The issue is what the actual cost of the game will be -- not necessarily just the Galaxy's appearance fee."

Lenarduzzi said the game would be played in B.C. Place Stadium, adding the rent for use of the facility is also a factor "in assembling the total costs."

[69cents]

I found some footage of Justin Isidro of Vitoria Setubal on Youtube its amazing what you can find on that thing.

Here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKIydMsSz_U

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to soccer krazy at BS for headsup

Blades kid heads to Germany
By Sam Hez - Created on 23 Mar 2007
http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=456486&CPID=8&clid=49&lid=9&title=Blades+kid+heads+to+Germany&channel=&

http://i11.tinypic.com/3z66rz6.jpg
Sheffield United youngster Ryan Gyaki has been handed a trial at Bundesliga Zwei club Hansa Rostock.

The 21-year-old Canadian youth international, who also holds an Austrian passport, is tied to The Blades until 2007 but has failed to establish himself in the Premiership.

Gyaki failed to win a loan move to Yeovil Town after going on trial with The Glovers in October, and he is now ready to try his luck in Germany.

The midfielder will spend two days in Rostock and will hope to impress coach Frank Pagelsdorf, who is keen to strengthen his squad for a return to the Bundesliga.

Hansa are currently second in the table, and enjoy a five-point cushion in the promotion spots.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to GiannisAEK at Xtratime and Afrosta at Vs for headsup

http://greeksoccer.com/news/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1179503664&archive=&start_from=&ucat=3&
http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=74&n_id=3162

http://i13.tinypic.com/62z0k0n.jpg
AEK have signed Panionios and Canadian international Tamandani Nsaliwa to a three year contract. The Canadian agreed to terms after AEK bought out his contract from Athens club Panionios for the price of 400,000 euros.

http://i19.tinypic.com/4md3ns0.jpg

Nsaliwa's salary will reach 300,000 euros a year. Nsaliwa had a great season with Panionios and is a player that can cover most defensive positions but most importantly can play as a defensive midfielder as well.

The only thing left to complete the signing is the official press release which is expected to take place after the Olympiakos v Panionios friendly at the Renti training grounds.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to Grizzly at Vs for headsup

Energie Cottbus (Bundesliga 1) captain Kevin McKenna has signed what looks like a four year deal (transfer fee 500,000 Euros) dropping a division with Bundesliga 2 side FC Koln.

http://i7.tinypic.com/6ailrn4.jpg

Articles in German
http://www.fcenergie.de/news/news.php?ID=3158
http://www.fc-koeln.de/index.php?id=5635

[Joe MacCarthy]

Patrice Bernier formerly with Tromso (Norwegian Tippeliga) has signed with FC Kaiserslautern (German Bundesliga 2).

http://www.dagbladet.no/sport/2007/05/29/502022.html

Also rumours of several Bundesliga 1 teams showing interest in FC Copenhagen's Atiba Hutchinson (Danish Superliga).

[Joe MacCarthy]

Mannus Returns To Glentoran
31st May 2007
http://www.ardsfc.co.uk/mannus310507.htm

http://i12.tinypic.com/543va6h.jpg

Goalkeeper Ian Mannus has returned to Glentoran upon completion of his one season loan agreement.

The highly rated keeper was sent out on loan by ex-Glentoran boss Paul Millar last August, who thought the six foot plus keeper could gain excellent first team experience with Ards.

Ian kept eight clean sheets during a season which culminated with him winning the coveted Players' Player of the Year award. He was also the joint ardsfc.co.uk Player of the Year, voted for by the supporters.

21 year-old Ian was signed by former manager Gary Hillis last August and played in all but one of Ards' competitive games in the season just past.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Ryan Gyaki has signed with recently promoted (to Bundesliga 1) side Hansa Rostock. It is a two year deal and he will likely play with the amateur side before progressing to the big team.

His contract with Sheffield United had recently lapsed.

http://www.fc-hansa.de/cp/index.php?id=154&oid=4064

[SiN]

I would have liked to see him stay in England, but i wish him luck in the Bundesliga. He is a attacking midfielder is he not? He has come back from a couple of major injuries such as a knee and torn abdominal muscles i hope he will be ok this season. I remember him because he was named Canadian Youth Player of the year in 2005. Am i correct Joe?

[Joe MacCarthy]

I would have liked to see him stay in England, but i wish him luck in the Bundesliga. He is a attacking midfielder is he not? He has come back from a couple of major injuries such as a knee and torn abdominal muscles i hope he will be ok this season. I remember him because he was named Canadian Youth Player of the year in 2005. Am i correct Joe?You are correct sir! Actually we're finding development and opportunity is far better for Canadians in Germany, Holland and Scandinavia. Regardless how good some are they can't get a working visa in England and frankly I think the above countries are better for all around development, JMO.

[SiN]

True, they have great training camps and facilities in Germany. More emphasis is put on development over there and im sure he will learn some great things. I think the German style of play is also quite different to English style (like using more of your body and quick counter attacking, using the wings to feed the ball foward), this will be great training for an already talented young player. If he does it right i think he might shine!

[Joe MacCarthy]

http://i17.tinypic.com/6fztseq.jpg
Rob Friend formerly of Heerenveen has signed a three year deal with German Bundesliga 2 side Borussia Monchengladbach

It is also rumoured former Derby striker Paul Peschisolido will sign with Luton Town of League One.

[Joe MacCarthy]

Tks to CanuckFan at BS for headsup

Achtung! Cook heads to Cottbus
Callies youngster has secured spot in U-19 Bundesliga

Kristen Odland Calgary Herald
Saturday, June 30, 2007
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/sports/story.html?id=a3672f9f-ea6e-4725-bc01-3353bd1db14a

http://i7.tinypic.com/4mcvipw.jpg
Cody Cook, of the Calgary Callies, will spend six months with Energie Cottbus' under-19 side. CREDIT: Grant Black, Calgary Herald

Somewhere between tossing his graduation cap and booking a flight to Berlin, Cody Cook forgot one thing before committing to play for Energie Cottbus in the German under-19 Bundesliga.

But it's not entirely his fault.

If learning German was an option at St. Mary's High School, the Calgary Callies striker would have worked it into his schedule.

"The language barrier will be his biggest challenge, I think," points out Callies head coach Dave Randall.

"Although, a lot of the Germans are more educated than we are and they can speak English as well so it might not be too bad for him, especially at a club like Cottbus which is used to having English-speaking players there.

"The game . . . it'll be faster and it'll be tougher but it's still the game, right?"

The 17-year old will take off on July 19 to spend six months with Eastern Germany's Cottbus to play in the same club system as Calgarian Kevin McKenna -- who played for them in 1998 through '01, and 2005, until moving to FC Koln in the German Second Division this year.

Cook has spent the past few months toiling for the Alberta Major Soccer League's Callies, but took a very worthwhile trip to Vancouver at the end of April and trained for five days with the Whitecaps of the United Soccer League.

Whitecaps head coach Thomas Niendorf first saw Cook when he had a Calgary-based development program with Nick Koev. And after Niendorf put the striker through the paces with the team in April, he chatted with Cook about playing in the German under-19 Bundesliga.

"It gave me a chance to see where I stand, playing against those guys," said the Cranbrook, B.C.-born and Calgary-raised soccer product. "It was really exciting; just their practices are so intense."

"I've always just wanted to go and play overseas; just the environment of playing on a soccer team realized it's what I really want."

Until he takes off, Cook will stay with the Callies, who sit at 7-0-1 in the AMSL after a 5-1 thumping of the Calgary Villains on Wednesday.

Cook first got a taste of the AMSL when he was 16 and moved up to the Callies from under-18 Northwest United Alba. He notched a goal during round-robin play at the the 2006 national men's club championship in Surrey, B.C. -- where the Callies eventually claimed silver after bowing 1-0 to Ottawa.

"The Callies play a lot smarter. They knock the ball around really well and it's a faster pace," pointed out Cook.

"I think it's prepped me (for Germany) really well.

"Playing with them I've learned lots. Dave always gives me little pointers and tells me what I can do better.

"Just playing at a higher pace with the men's team has helped me a lot."

The Callies play their next AMSL league game against the Calgary Dinos at Broadview Field on Wednesday at 8:15 p.m.

[icydre11]

Here is the website that shows I am with the team in luxembourg US Hostert http://www.ushostert.lu/include.php?path=content/content.php&contentid=313 ...I signed four days ago and I have played 4 matches for pre-season, which I have scored 6 goals and have 3 asisst.

Sincerely,

Andre Harris

[topsinspain]

Canadians Brandon ferridge, Brendan garritty, Steve Irinici, Orlin Chalmers, Diego Gonzalez, Jeffrey Darkwah, Kevin Omokhoa, Shyle Braithwaite has signed for Royal Racing FC Montegnee in Belgium.

[Calif]

Welcome to SFN :wave:

[Xizor]

Does anyone here watch the Deportivo La Coruña matches 'cause I really want to see Andres Guardado and Julián de Guzmán play, both are young guys with a lot of talent!

[Almir11]

ok here it iz bosnia rules canada sucks now we have everything correct:D:D:D

[easyway2play]

Hello Player,

How are you doing today? Hope you are fine

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YOURS IN THE SPIRIT OF SPORTS
MR ROB WADE POWELLS SENIOR
CONSULTANT. EASY WAY 2 PLAY INTERNATIONAL EMAIL;easyway2play@mailmeasap.com

[football13]

Canadians on Trial
Alex Elliott - SpVgg Unterhaching (German Regionalliga Sud) (3)
Kent O'Connor - Hajduk Split (Croatian 1. HNL Ozujsko) (1)
Caolan Lavery - Charlton Athletic (English The Championship) (2)
Fabrice Lassonde - FC Ingolstadt 04 (German Regionalliga Sud) (3)
Zachary Drake - Nacional (Campeonato Paulista - Série A3) (3) U18
Kevin Johnson - Nacional (Campeonato Paulista - Série A3) (3) U18
Damiem Merette - Nacional (Campeonato Paulista - Série A3) (3) U18
Robert Murphy - Nacional (Campeonato Paulista - Série A3) (3) U18
Eric Van Roosmalen - Nacional (Campeonato Paulista - Série A3) (3) U18

Last i heard that young man was on trial with infact Charlton but no contract was offered so he is waiting on word from Tottenham Hotspur for a trial date

[football13]

just recently spoke with caolan lavery's parents
he is on trial with ipswitch at the momment after a week there
he went to tottenham and nothing from spurs so he is away back to ipswitch where an offer has been made

[Joe MacCarthy]

Lots of news lately with a move to the lower English divisions for several young Canadian players.

Josh Wagenaar has signed a one year deal with League One side Yeovil Town. Fellow Canadian keeper Asmir Begovic has agreed to a three month loan deal from Portsmouth to Yeovil. So it will be a safe bet that a Canadian will be the starting keeper for Yeovil over the next year.

Ali Gerba has signed for one year with Milton Keynes Dons (League One) pending work permit while Keegan Ayre is close to signing with Walsall (League One). Marcus Haber has been on several English trials (presently at Darlington (League Two)).

Chris Pozniak has signed a one year deal with Dundee (Scottish First Division) and Fabian Troche is trialing with Aris Saloniki (Greek Super League).

CCC Youngsters Jaime Peters (Ipswich Town) and Mike D'Agostino (Blackpool) are both reported to be playing well as well as the many young Canadians playing for Bundesliga reserve (amateur) teams in Germany's Regionalliga.

Look for big seasons from Kaiserslautern's Josh Simpson and 1860 München's Nik Ledgerwood who are recovering from injuries and will likely be starters.

Former Sparta Praha player Dave Simpson is training with Toronto FC and it looks like Newcastle is showcasing young David Edgar for a move (possibly to a La Liga side).

A sad note has Feyenoord's 19 year old Jacob Lensky retiring from soccer for "personal reasons" (more to come on that). Perhaps this will only be his opting out of his contract to resume play someday when things turn around for him.

[Calif]

Thank you for the update Joe how are you?

[eng32]

Adriano Negri - Reading Town FC (FTL Football Hellenic League Premier Division) (9)

[Lunkaku]

Christopher Scott- SV Wacker Burghausen( u17 junior Bundesliga Sud/sudwest) (1)

[soccerlaura]

One Canadian recently got signed with defending national champs Churchill Brothers playing in the I-League top division in India. Brought up in California Imone Mohanta holds a Canadian Passport and is a Person of Indian Origin so he is able to fulfill that foreigner slot. He resides in San Diego. Here is an article:

http://oheraldo.in/news/Sports/Churchill-Al-Wahda-to-clash-in-AFC-play-off/32923.html

[Solid Snake]

^ Welcome to the forum :welcome:

[necro]

Canadian Josh Simpson is chasing the Golden Boot in Turkish Super League

10-Alex de Souza(FENERBAHCE)
10-Emenike(KARABUK)
08-Niang(FENERBAHCE)
07-Josh Simpson(MANISA FC)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Turkish-Super-League-International/142494452452607

[NCAA]

Alex Manchev #7 (Richmond, BC / Sofia, Bulgaria) - Monroe Community College (Rochester, NY / NJCAA div 1)

Adriano Negri #17 (Vancouver, BC) - Monroe Community College (Rochester, NY / NJCAA div 1)

[EPJr]

Canadian Exports: Simpson, Hutchinson thriving
http://www.mlssoccer.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/primary_image-620x350/image_nodes/2011/03/atiba_hutchinson.jpg
Canucks making waves abroad in Turkey, Holland


Canadian Exports is a new weekly feature at MLSsoccer.com that takes a look at Canadian players plying their trade in Europe and elsewhere in the soccer world.

In a year when many Canadians are struggling for playing time in Europe and elsewhere, two men continue to play and contribute regularly to their teams’ successes.

Longtime Canadian national teammates Josh Simpson (above) and Atiba Hutchinson lead the way for Canucks looking to make an impact abroad, with both doing so in vastly different ways.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/canadian-exports-simpson-hutchinson-thriving