Joe MacCarthy
11-26-2005, 08:55 PM
Francophone Games Team
Friday, November 25, 2005
Canada off to Niger for Francophone Games
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2349
Ottawa, Ontario – Canada’s Francophone Games Head Coach, Rudy Doliscat, has announced his 17-man roster for the 2005 Francophone Games in Niamey, Niger (December 5-18, 2005).
Doliscat has named a relatively young squad for the U19 competition (all players must be born on or after January 1, 1986 in order to be eligible for the 2005 Games) but a squad with a breadth of international experience.
First and foremost, Doliscat has assembled a staff with an intimate knowledge of African football in Patrick Tobo and Djamel Laarabi. Tobo, a former Cameroon international defender and Laarabi, a former Algerian international goalkeeper will certainly benefit Doliscat and the players he has assembled.
“It is a great honor to be called upon to coach a national side,” said Doliscat when asked about his appointment. “I believe that anyone given this opportunity would jump at it and we are certainly hoping to make the most of the experience.”
Seven players in the squad Doliscat has named have CONCACAF Qualifying tournaments under their belt and fourteen of the seventeen will be auditioning for places in Dale Mitchell’s U20 National Team – the team that will host the world’s best youth players in the summer of 2007 when Canada hosts the FIFA World Youth Championship in 6 cities (Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Victoria) across the country.
Because of the fact that the tournament does not coincide with the FIFA International Calendar, many of Canada’s players at professional clubs were unavailable for selection.
Canada has been drawn into a very difficult group with three talented African nations – Cameroon, Ivory Coast, and Games-host Niger. The young Canucks will open the Games against the ‘Indomitable Lions’ of Cameroon on December 6th. Two days later they will play the host nation before rounding off the opening round against Ivory Coast on December 10th.
“When you look at the standard of our opponents, I think that we are going to be in tough as we are likely going to be younger than most of the nations we are going to face. That being said, I have full confidence that the boys will be coming into the camp with the desire to get through this competition in the best manner possible. Hopefully, that means getting through the first round. Once that is done, anything can happen in single elimination matches.”
“Win or lose, I believe that the players will be gathering experience that can only help them grow as soccer players and potential national team candidates.”
If past tournaments are any indication of what to expect, Canada should fare quite well.
In 1989, Bruce Twamley led Canada to the gold medal in Morocco. Canada outclassed the host nation 4-0 after dispatching Congo 2-1 in the semi final. Eight years later in Madagascar, Otmane Ibrir led Canada to its second gold medal in three Francophone Games after edging out Cameroon in the semi-final 2-1 and then outscoring Congo in the final, 3-2.
The last Francophone Games were held in Ottawa-Gatineau in 2001. Canada, led by head coach Paul James, lost 3-2 in penalties to France in the quarter-final.
The Canadians will depart Saturday, November 26 for Marrakech, Morocco where they will hold their pre-tournament training camp, before flying to Niamey on December 3rd.
About the Francophone Games
The Games of La Francophonie are an international cultural and sporting event in which athletes and artists from States and Governments members of La Francophonie participate. The Games distinguish themselves from other similar events in many ways. They are the only major international Games where sports and cultural activities are presented in a comparable competitive context. This uniqueness showcases the originality of Francophone culture and the excellence of athletes from all the international Francophonie.
Matches
December 6 @ 14:00 Local Time vs. Cameroon
Niamey, Niger
December 8 @ 11:00 Local Time vs. Niger
Niamey, Niger
December 10 @ 14:00 Local Time vs. Ivory Coast
Niamey, Niger
Francophone Games Roster
# Pos. Player Club DOB Hometown Prov
1 GK MONSALVE, David NTC - Ontario 21-Dec-88 Brampton ON
3 M/D TURNBULL, Masumi Univ. of Kentucky (USA) 30-Mar-87 Richmond BC
4 M/D BRALETIC, Alex York University 20-Mar-87 Thornhill ON
6 M BEAULIEU-BOURGAULT, Jonathan FC St. Pauli (Germany) 27-Sep-88 Ile Bizard QC
7 M/F D’AGOSTINO, Mike Univ. of Kentucky (USA) 01-Jul-87 Langley BC
8 M NUNEZ, Cristian National Training Centre - Quebec 07-Jul-88 Montreal QC
9 F ELLIOT, Alex Univ. of Portland (USA) 24-Apr-87 Vancouver BC
10 F OPPONG, Dominic Univ. of Cincinnati (USA) 21-Jan-86 Scarborough ON
11 M MAYARD, Pierre-Rudolph NTC - Quebec 21-Feb-88 Laval QC
12 M CONTRERAS, Hector NTC - Quebec 24-Jun-87 Montreal QC
13 F DI IOIA, Massimo NTC - Quebec 18-Jun-87 St-Leonard QC
14 M McLEOD, Kerr Fairfield University (USA) 27-Jul-87 Saskatoon SK
15 D SUTER, Nicolas Fairleigh Dickinson Univ. (USA) 14-Feb-86 Brossard QC
16 M/D SÉGUIN-GAUTHIER, Gabriel Univ. of Albany (USA)
19-Aug-86 Chateauguay QC
17 D LORETH, Joey Oregon State University (USA) 19-Jan-87 Victoria BC
19 D BARTKUS, Kyle Univ. of Wisconsin-Green Bay 26-Jan-87 Edmonton AB
20 GK CATLEY, Adam Hartwick College (USA) 19-Dec-87 Burlington ON
Staff
DOLISCAT, Rudy - Head Coach
TOBO, Patrick - Assistant Coach
LAARABI, Djamel - Equipment Manager
PURCELL, Laura - Team Doctor
DROUIN, Hugo - Team Therapist
LIU, Hu (Tiger) - Official
Friday, November 25, 2005
Canada off to Niger for Francophone Games
http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=2349
Ottawa, Ontario – Canada’s Francophone Games Head Coach, Rudy Doliscat, has announced his 17-man roster for the 2005 Francophone Games in Niamey, Niger (December 5-18, 2005).
Doliscat has named a relatively young squad for the U19 competition (all players must be born on or after January 1, 1986 in order to be eligible for the 2005 Games) but a squad with a breadth of international experience.
First and foremost, Doliscat has assembled a staff with an intimate knowledge of African football in Patrick Tobo and Djamel Laarabi. Tobo, a former Cameroon international defender and Laarabi, a former Algerian international goalkeeper will certainly benefit Doliscat and the players he has assembled.
“It is a great honor to be called upon to coach a national side,” said Doliscat when asked about his appointment. “I believe that anyone given this opportunity would jump at it and we are certainly hoping to make the most of the experience.”
Seven players in the squad Doliscat has named have CONCACAF Qualifying tournaments under their belt and fourteen of the seventeen will be auditioning for places in Dale Mitchell’s U20 National Team – the team that will host the world’s best youth players in the summer of 2007 when Canada hosts the FIFA World Youth Championship in 6 cities (Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Victoria) across the country.
Because of the fact that the tournament does not coincide with the FIFA International Calendar, many of Canada’s players at professional clubs were unavailable for selection.
Canada has been drawn into a very difficult group with three talented African nations – Cameroon, Ivory Coast, and Games-host Niger. The young Canucks will open the Games against the ‘Indomitable Lions’ of Cameroon on December 6th. Two days later they will play the host nation before rounding off the opening round against Ivory Coast on December 10th.
“When you look at the standard of our opponents, I think that we are going to be in tough as we are likely going to be younger than most of the nations we are going to face. That being said, I have full confidence that the boys will be coming into the camp with the desire to get through this competition in the best manner possible. Hopefully, that means getting through the first round. Once that is done, anything can happen in single elimination matches.”
“Win or lose, I believe that the players will be gathering experience that can only help them grow as soccer players and potential national team candidates.”
If past tournaments are any indication of what to expect, Canada should fare quite well.
In 1989, Bruce Twamley led Canada to the gold medal in Morocco. Canada outclassed the host nation 4-0 after dispatching Congo 2-1 in the semi final. Eight years later in Madagascar, Otmane Ibrir led Canada to its second gold medal in three Francophone Games after edging out Cameroon in the semi-final 2-1 and then outscoring Congo in the final, 3-2.
The last Francophone Games were held in Ottawa-Gatineau in 2001. Canada, led by head coach Paul James, lost 3-2 in penalties to France in the quarter-final.
The Canadians will depart Saturday, November 26 for Marrakech, Morocco where they will hold their pre-tournament training camp, before flying to Niamey on December 3rd.
About the Francophone Games
The Games of La Francophonie are an international cultural and sporting event in which athletes and artists from States and Governments members of La Francophonie participate. The Games distinguish themselves from other similar events in many ways. They are the only major international Games where sports and cultural activities are presented in a comparable competitive context. This uniqueness showcases the originality of Francophone culture and the excellence of athletes from all the international Francophonie.
Matches
December 6 @ 14:00 Local Time vs. Cameroon
Niamey, Niger
December 8 @ 11:00 Local Time vs. Niger
Niamey, Niger
December 10 @ 14:00 Local Time vs. Ivory Coast
Niamey, Niger
Francophone Games Roster
# Pos. Player Club DOB Hometown Prov
1 GK MONSALVE, David NTC - Ontario 21-Dec-88 Brampton ON
3 M/D TURNBULL, Masumi Univ. of Kentucky (USA) 30-Mar-87 Richmond BC
4 M/D BRALETIC, Alex York University 20-Mar-87 Thornhill ON
6 M BEAULIEU-BOURGAULT, Jonathan FC St. Pauli (Germany) 27-Sep-88 Ile Bizard QC
7 M/F D’AGOSTINO, Mike Univ. of Kentucky (USA) 01-Jul-87 Langley BC
8 M NUNEZ, Cristian National Training Centre - Quebec 07-Jul-88 Montreal QC
9 F ELLIOT, Alex Univ. of Portland (USA) 24-Apr-87 Vancouver BC
10 F OPPONG, Dominic Univ. of Cincinnati (USA) 21-Jan-86 Scarborough ON
11 M MAYARD, Pierre-Rudolph NTC - Quebec 21-Feb-88 Laval QC
12 M CONTRERAS, Hector NTC - Quebec 24-Jun-87 Montreal QC
13 F DI IOIA, Massimo NTC - Quebec 18-Jun-87 St-Leonard QC
14 M McLEOD, Kerr Fairfield University (USA) 27-Jul-87 Saskatoon SK
15 D SUTER, Nicolas Fairleigh Dickinson Univ. (USA) 14-Feb-86 Brossard QC
16 M/D SÉGUIN-GAUTHIER, Gabriel Univ. of Albany (USA)
19-Aug-86 Chateauguay QC
17 D LORETH, Joey Oregon State University (USA) 19-Jan-87 Victoria BC
19 D BARTKUS, Kyle Univ. of Wisconsin-Green Bay 26-Jan-87 Edmonton AB
20 GK CATLEY, Adam Hartwick College (USA) 19-Dec-87 Burlington ON
Staff
DOLISCAT, Rudy - Head Coach
TOBO, Patrick - Assistant Coach
LAARABI, Djamel - Equipment Manager
PURCELL, Laura - Team Doctor
DROUIN, Hugo - Team Therapist
LIU, Hu (Tiger) - Official