CanadasBest Posted August 31, 2007 Share Posted August 31, 2007 http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/sports/story.html?id=d77c6f44-58f5-42e2-aad7-dbf1c37efaab&k=92350 Youth movement begins on Island New residency program adds Victoria players Cleve Dheensaw, Times Colonist Published: Thursday, August 30, 2007 Soccer in this country, like much of Canadian sport, too often worships at the altar of recreation and participation while readily accepting mediocrity at the elite level. The Vancouver Whitecaps of the United Soccer League are doing something about addressing the latter deficiency and have announced the first North American residency program for young prospects based on the model widely used by European and South American pro soccer clubs. Two of the first 16 players from across the country signed to contracts under the program, which begins operation next week, are midfielder Adam Straith and goalkeeper Simon Thomas of Victoria. Both Lower Island Metro stars, who were set to enter their Grade 12 years at Oak Bay High School, will move to Vancouver to live, train and go to school in a player development model used by pro clubs all over the world outside of North America. Unlike many Canadians, Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi isn't afraid to use the term 'elite.' These 16-to-20 year olds have to be good enough to be placed under contract to enter our residency program. This is an elite-driven program," said the former Canadian national team World Cup player, during a press conference yesterday in Victoria. "While elite sport is not exactly frowned upon in this country, we tend to focus so much of our attention on the recreational end of sport. It's almost as if there is reverse discrimination against elite athletes. We are now going to do with this program what every other pro soccer club outside North America does to develop pro players. There's no other way to do it . . . no other direction to go." And they're going to get it in Vancouver, much as the future pros get it in the youth pro development residency programs of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United. The Whitecaps residency players will be billeted and will train all fall and winter under Thomas Niendorf, the coach who placed Calgary-born England international Owen Hargreaves with Bayern Munich. The Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency club will begin play next season in the USL's Premier Development League. Other Canadian pro clubs, such as Toronto FC of the MLS and Montreal Impact of the USL, are also contemplating the establishment of residency programs for pro prospects. The Whitecaps want to identify potential pro talent, such as Victorians Straith and Thomas, and centralize these emerging top players using the model utilized by European and South American pro teams. "This residency program will provide our club with potential pro players and the national team with a better pool of players," predicted Lenarduzzi. Only highly-skilled prospects are invited. Straith and Thomas, both of whom have the goals of eventually playing pro in Europe and internationally for Team Canada, fall into that category and are willing to move away from home to pursue those aspirations. "Every pro team in Europe has a residency program for their scouted prospects and that's why they produce such unbelievable players," said former Bays United youth player Straith, captain of the Lower Island U-17 Metro team, who has scored twice in 17 international appearances with the U-17 Team Canada. "To be a part of the first wave ever to do this in North America is unreal. My goal is to play pro in Germany." Meanwhile, Lenarduzzi said Alex Campbell Jr., the businessman heading the bid to bring a USL pro team to Victoria in 2009, will be visiting Vancouver tomorrow to look over how the Whitecaps operate as a business. "The success of the U-20 World Cup again proved Victoria is a great soccer market and this visit will give Alex a clearer idea of what's involved at the pro level," said Lenardruzzi. ****The Whitecaps also announced only 15,000 of the 59,000 tickets remain for their exhibition game Oct. 3 at B.C. Place Stadium against David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy of the MLS. Tickets are available through the Lower Island Soccer Association by calling (250) 382-7489. B.C. Ferries announced it will have a special 11:30 p.m. sailing Oct. 3 from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay for Island fans wishing to attend the game and return home the same night. "The late-night sailing speaks volumes to the amount of interest this friendly is receiving throughout Vancouver Island and beyond," Lenarduzzi said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS Posted August 31, 2007 Share Posted August 31, 2007 Good stuff. With TFC starting up their academy in 2008, and Montreal partnering with the Quebec provincial association, the training of our youth is finally starting to fall under the realm of the pro clubs, which is where it should be, IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free kick Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 quote:Originally posted by Rudi Good stuff. With TFC starting up their academy in 2008, and Montreal partnering with the Quebec provincial association, the training of our youth is finally starting to fall under the realm of the pro clubs, which is where it should be, IMO. Not to mention the fact that money spent on the NTC's ( if any ) could be spent on things like the national teams. such as getting home friendlies, reviving the Canada cup etc etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 3 pro teams = drop in the bucket. We will stay mediocre even by CONCACAF Standards. Take a look at the academies of the top European teams and you will no that TFC, VWFC and Montreal if they start one will be lucky to develop 2-3 players who can play at their level a year. NTCs need to be around until we have 8-10 pro teams running full residency programs of 20 kids per age group. Since 8-10 teams won't happen, we best advocate finding sponsorship for the NTCs so they can run 100 kids in 5 seperate age groups. Of course, once they turn 18 the majority will have nowhere to play if they are not good enough for overseas teams meaning we will likely stay mediocre despite a much better training program. Don't mean to rain on any parades, and I am sure we will develop a few more kids to a higher level than we would have without the Whitecaps residency program and whatever TFC comes up with, but it is a drop in the bucket, and nowhere near what most of the top 8 CONCACAF nations will be doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VPjr Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 quote:Originally posted by Gordon 3 pro teams = drop in the bucket. We will stay mediocre even by CONCACAF Standards. Take a look at the academies of the top European teams and you will no that TFC, VWFC and Montreal if they start one will be lucky to develop 2-3 players who can play at their level a year. NTCs need to be around until we have 8-10 pro teams running full residency programs of 20 kids per age group. Since 8-10 teams won't happen, we best advocate finding sponsorship for the NTCs so they can run 100 kids in 5 seperate age groups. Of course, once they turn 18 the majority will have nowhere to play if they are not good enough for overseas teams meaning we will likely stay mediocre despite a much better training program. Don't mean to rain on any parades, and I am sure we will develop a few more kids to a higher level than we would have without the Whitecaps residency program and whatever TFC comes up with, but it is a drop in the bucket, and nowhere near what most of the top 8 CONCACAF nations will be doing. Do the NTC's have their own teams that compete in a league (i.e. PDL or Super Y or something like that)? If not, why not? Shouldn't the NTC's be structure as a CSA version of a residency program for elite players in a particular region, with the players living and going to school in the general vicinity of the NTC and training every day or virtually every day. The players in the program could play together in a league and travel to tournaments so we can see these guys play together and figure out who is likely to shine and who is likely to fail Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest speedmonk42 Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 3 MLS teams with youth development systems in Canada would be WAY more than a drop in the bucket. The long term impact would be/will be huge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparky Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 It will be interesting to see how the first year in Vancouver goes. What with being a new program and all. I think there will be alot of wrinkles to smooth out. The program expects to sign 6 more players in the near future to bring the total to 19. I would think the longer they wait into the school year, the harder it could be to attract elite players from other provinces or elsewhere. Hopefully they won't be signing local kids just to fill the roster. This is a great idea and it should of been started years ago. With Montreal and Toronto getting into it, we will be one step closer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 Is there a list of all the players somewhere? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 Take a look here for Whitecaps residency information... http://www.whitecapsfc.com/youth/default.aspx?page=residency Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ed Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 From the Whitecaps site: "The Whitecaps Residency roster now includes 13 players from across Canada. There are six players from British Columbia: Devin Gunenc and Greg Smith from North Vancouver, Adam Straith and Simon Thomas from Victoria, Navid Mashinchi from Coquitlam and Anthony DiNicolo from Maple Ridge. Four players hail from Alberta: Randy Edwini-Bonsu, Marcus Johnstone and Antonio Rago from Edmonton, and Ethan Gage from Cochrane, and there are three Ontario-based players in William Hyde from Oakville and Kyle Porter and Alex Semenets from Mississauga. Nine players are U-17 Canadian internationals and Gage, born in 1991, has played for Canada?s U-15 and is currently training with the U-16 men?s national team. " I think this bodes well for our next U20 team. The NTCs are pretty much a failure from my perspective. Niendorf will be sending those with real promise abroad to very good development environments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gian-Luca Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 Interesting to see that it's not all BC boys - there are even three from Ontario. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ed Posted September 18, 2007 Share Posted September 18, 2007 What I used to call the Alberta pipeline to Europe is being replaced by the Whitecaps tide to Europe (excuse my metaphors). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 19, 2007 Share Posted September 19, 2007 quote:Originally posted by Gian-Luca Interesting to see that it's not all BC boys - there are even three from Ontario. It was never going to be only BC boys. From the outset the Whitecaps said the plan was to draw from across Canada and later perhaps even the USA and the Caribbean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan Posted September 19, 2007 Share Posted September 19, 2007 Thanks guys. Interesting list. Guess Edwini-Bonsu is no longer with Metz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparky Posted September 20, 2007 Share Posted September 20, 2007 Any idea whats in store for these guys in their first year of residency other than training? They missed getting into any kind of a league. Exhibition games against quality teams in the future perhaps? I guess with only 13 players signed to date they are limited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ed Posted September 20, 2007 Share Posted September 20, 2007 quote:Originally posted by sparky Any idea whats in store for these guys in their first year of residency other than training? They missed getting into any kind of a league. Exhibition games against quality teams in the future perhaps? I guess with only 13 players signed to date they are limited. Several of them have already been over to Germany to train with U19 sides of Bayern Munich and 1860 Muenchen. See the link below. http://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/youth/default.aspx?page=%3fid%3d6023 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ed Posted September 20, 2007 Share Posted September 20, 2007 quote:Originally posted by VPjr Do the NTC's have their own teams that compete in a league (i.e. PDL or Super Y or something like that)? If not, why not? Shouldn't the NTC's be structure as a CSA version of a residency program for elite players in a particular region, with the players living and going to school in the general vicinity of the NTC and training every day or virtually every day. The players in the program could play together in a league and travel to tournaments so we can see these guys play together and figure out who is likely to shine and who is likely to fail The NTC's have so few players and resources you get U12 boys scrimmaging with U16's. Largely useless for both IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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