5 reasons why Toronto FC will make the playoffs in 2010
All things come to those who wait, or so it is written. For all we know it was actually written by a crusty old hermit who won the lottery, married a surgically enhanced bimbo 60 years his junior and died of gluttony within a year of his good fortune.

Fans of Toronto FC have waited and waited for things to start arriving, and are still waiting. They are waiting for the team they embraced three years ago, and into which they have invested a considerable financial and emotional commitment, to start giving back.

Patience, in soccer as in life, is indeed a virtue. The wait is almost over; the reward is at hand. The frustration, felt by so many for so long, will finally end in 2010. The promised land of the playoffs beckons and here are my five reasons why the post-season is coming to Canada for the first time in franchise history.

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TFC’s release of Adrian Serioux – just the start
TFC have made the decision to not renew the contract of Scarborough native Adrian Serioux. A few people are scrambling for a reason or reasons as to why the club would make the decision, especially considering he is a Canadian player, playing as a defender, in an area of real concern for the team.

Not too many people seem to consider that Serioux is not good enough for the role and the purpose of new TFC head coach Preki, which is the more realistic reason.

Career-ending injury? If so, then say it. Makes no sense to not state this.

Contract negotiations breaking down? If so, then say so.

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Preki: first impressions
He’s got some rascal in him, this one.

Thursday’s BMO Field presser announcing details of the 2010 Voyageurs Cup tournament was the first chance I’ve had to study Toronto FC’s new coach eyeball-to-eyeball.

Preki – new to the whole thing, lurching back and forth between loosey-goosey and tentative – put on an intriguing show.

While his fellow coaches (Marc Dos Santos of the Montreal Impact, Teitur Thordarson of the Vancouver Whitecaps) sat obediently and somewhat nervously behind their respective microphones, Preki lounged/sprawled way back in his chair, making occasional whispered jokes, clearly enjoying himself.

Asked to speak of the Canadian competition’s importance, he shrugged off his total inexperience with the tournament, noting he has already seen that the V-Cup generates far more excitement in Canada than its American counterpart – the U.S. Open Cup – does Stateside.

He was prepared for that one. The intriguing part, for me, was watching this sharp, calculating, Mercurial man when caught a little bit off-guard.

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Hamilton Croatia will be playing a senior professional team and an under-21 team in the upcoming 2010 season.

“The club’s significant heritage, longstanding success, and solid membership base were impossible to resist”, states CSL chairman Domenic Di Gironimo in making the announcement.

“Hamilton Croatia is a fine example of the future of the CSL, with its strong community ties, and a commitment to youth development.”

In existence since 1957, the club’s recent successes include finishing the 2008 OSL South Region season undefeated, and ending on top of the OSL West Division table in 2009 during its first year after being promoted to the OSL’s highest league.

Ron Davidson, recently named OSL Coach of the Year, has been an instrumental part of Hamilton Croatia’s winning ways both on and off the field, leading the bid for promotion to the CSL.

The CSL team will be hosted at the new Croatia Sports and Community Centre in Stoney Creek, where the club intends to extend its rich history for many years to come.

“We plan to announce a few more expansion clubs for 2010 within the next few weeks as we conclude the reviews and negotiations with several prospective communities. By 2011, the CSL will complete its reach across Ontario, ensuring that the top young athletes in every region will have an opportunity to excel in the sport without sacrificing education or home life,” closed off Di Gironimo.

Mark Vuksan, president of the Croatia Sports and Community Centre of Hamilton, responded with: “With our extremely passionate fan base and the support of the local soccer community, we are very excited to be able to bring professional soccer to the city of Hamilton. Our club is determined to create a winning environment and provide opportunities for all soccer fans and players in Hamilton.”

Davidson added his comments: “I am both excited and thrilled to be coaching the team as we enter our first season in the CSL, I have gotten to know the Hamilton Croatia organization over the past three years and we have the perfect ingredients to be very successful in the CSL.”

Joining Ron on the sidelines will be assistant coach Jason Allen, goalkeeper coach Ante Culina and team Manager Mike Radencic.

“All three staff members will be a tremendous asset to this team as we move forward in this new direction,” said Davidson.

“In addition to our CSL squad we are committed to the U21 reserves, our rep team program, and a newly formed house league. We are proud to offer our athletes the CSA/OSA’s complete Pyramid for Play. We believe that every soccer player in Hamilton now has the opportunity to excel,” added director of soccer operations, Allan Perin.

The Canadian Soccer League will kickoff its almost 5-month long regular season on May 7 through to the end of September, to be followed by the playoffs and the Championship final during October.

The three-team, six-match tournament runs six consecutive Wednesday nights from April 28 to June 2. The 2010 winner will advance to represent Canada in the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League season.

“The pride of Canada will be on the line during the 2010 Nutrilite Canadian Championship,” said Canadian Soccer Association President Dr. Dominique Maestracci . “Only the best will move forward to represent our nation in 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League and hopefully the FIFA Club World Cup 2011. It should be another thrilling championship between the Impact, Toronto FC and Whitecaps FC.”

“Soccer’s long been a favourite of Canadians recreationally and the professional game is certainly becoming an integral part of the Canadian sporting mosaic,” said Jim Hunking Managing Director, Canada/Caribbean, Amway Global. “The NUTRILITE Canadian Championship has played a part of elevating the profile of the professional game, and we’re proud to have been affiliated with this tournament since its inception. The future of professional soccer in Canada has never looked brighter and Amway Canada is committed to helping athletes at all levels realize their dreams by remaining a world leader in nutrition.”

This will mark the third season of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship. This year, all six matches will be broadcast on Rogers Sportsnet, the official English broadcaster of the championship. Details on the championship’s French broadcast will be forth coming.

As 2009 champions, Toronto FC will host both the opening and closing matches of the competition. The April 28 match features Toronto FC against the Impact; the June 2 match features Toronto FC against Whitecaps FC. Both Toronto matches will be played at BMO Field.

In between, the four matches are Whitecaps FC vs. Impact on May 5 in Vancouver, Impact vs. Toronto FC on May 12 in Montréal, Whitecaps FC vs. Toronto FC on May 19 in Vancouver , and Impact vs. Whitecaps FC on May 26 in Montréal. Vancouver matches are played at Swangard Stadium while Montréal matches are played at Stade Saputo.

Since 2008, Canada’s top professional teams have played for the Voyageurs Cup in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship. The Impact won the inaugural championship in 2008 while Toronto FC won the 2009 championship. In 2009, the three professional clubs played in front of an average capacity of 96% at Stade Saputo, BMO Field and Swangard Stadium. Tickets to the six 2010 Nutrilite Canadian Championship matches will be available via the respective home club ticketing agencies.

The Kansas City Wizards soccer team are set to move into a new stadium in 2012 after securing a financing deal that sidestepped various hurdles, including public approval.

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Beginning in 2010, a state-of-the-art 18,500-seat Major League Soccer stadium will serve as Philadelphia Union’s home.

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Red Bull Arena will be the benchmark in North American soccer landscape and set the standard for other soccer venues across the continent.

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Games shouldn’t go unseen
There was a time when I would tell anyone who would listen that soccer would soon eclipse every major sport in this country — including hockey.

I would point to the slow demise of baseball in Toronto, the youth participation numbers across Canada outstripping any other sport and the rise of professional franchises in cities like Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto as reasons why the next generation in Canada would be an Adidas Generation.

It was often an argument that was one part smart-ass, one part self-delusion and two parts self-preservation (there aren’t a lot of national soccer columns in this country).

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Just how significant is Canada’s disappointing performance over the week end
No, not the national team.

In a match that was a major milestone of accomplishment, our 2014 World Cup team lost their first friendly 1 – 0 in Jamaica Sunday evening. The result there is secondary. What does matter is this match and the preceding training camp mark the first time our association demonstrated the will to make campaign and preparation two active words in their vocabulary.

It’s our under 20 women.

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