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Catching Up: Around The CPL This Week
By The weather is hot, summer is in full swing, and the Canadian Premier League season is providing drama in spades. There’s been a lot of player movement, League1 Canada news, and even ongoing regulatory disputes, so we wanted to offer you a quick catch-up on everything going down – including keeping tabs on a few CPL exports playing abroad!
Let’s get right into things:
Club America To Atletico: Big Reinforcement For The League Leaders
With the midseason transfer window open, Atletico Ottawa is adding to its firepower despite already boasting the league’s most potent attack. The team is now taking in Club America prospect Antonio Alvarez through to the end of the season, with the 21-year-old Liga MX prospect expected to impress.
The Mexican attacker has been a regular face in Club America’s U-20 and U-23 ranks, having also tallied one goal in four appearances for the senior side. With Atletico San Luis loanee David Rodriguez starring with the side, why not double down on another loan of similar nature?
Atletico Ottawa will host York United tomorrow, with the Nine Stripes having also recruited from Mexico with veteran midfielder Leonel Lopez.
Valour Had To Bring In Two New Goalkeepers
With Jonathan Viscosi picking up a knee injury and Eleias Himaras getting a red card suspension, Valour were without any rostered goalkeepers heading in to this weekend’s clash against Forge, who are undefeated this season. The goalkeeper shortage couldn’t have come at a worst time for a club finally finding some good form.
Not wanting to test Raphael Ohin as a goalkeeper, the Winnipeg-based side has now signed two young shotstoppers to short-term replacement contracts. Stepping in as the presumed starter tonight is Callum Weir, 21, who had a similar short-term role with Pacific (even riding the bench against Valour). He has also impressed in League1 BC with the TSS Rovers.
Also up to proverbial bat is Adam Kour, 17, who hails from Ligue1 Quebec roots and often trains with the club. In fact, Kour signed a short-term deal with Valour last season, but the CS Saint-Laurent man is still awaiting his professional debut.
A Player’s Perspective On A Managerial Shift
Last week saw Vancouver FC part ways with inaugural head coach Afshin Ghotbi, with former York United head coach Martin Nash filling in on an interim basis. We don’t often get to hear much from a player’s persective during this turnover, but the Langley Advance Times had midfielder TJ Tahid pen a letter about his inside perspective on the change.
“I arrived early, went into training, and didn’t see Afshin there. I didn’t think much of it and just assumed he was running a bit later than usual,” said Tahid, who says he’s very appreciative of Ghotbi for handing him his professional debut at the age of 16 and laying down the club’s foundation in Langley, but describes Nash entering as an exciting move from a local player’s perspective.
See Also: ‘No Timeline’ On Ghotbi Replacement, Says Friend
“This week we’ve had some more time on the training ground, which has been very enjoyable. I’m looking forward to this new chapter, and as players we are all ready to give our all to make it a success.”
CRTC Confirms It: Canadian Soccer Channel Is Canadian
It’s now been over two years since the CRTC ruled in favour of OneSoccer owner Timeless Incorporated in its dispute with Rogers, who then filed an appeal to claim that OneSoccer’s status as a Canadian-owned and operated business at the time of the complaint should be put under review.
At the time, Timeless CEO and CPL/CSB chairman Scott Mitchell claimed that the appeal was making a mockery of the commission’s regulatory process to delay Rogers’ own carriage of OneSoccer. Almost one year later, we finally have an update to the appeal: Rogers has upheld its initial decision in Timeless Incorporated’s favour.
“We welcome the CRTC’s decision this week, reaffirming its 2022 ruling that Rogers Communications conferred an undue preference by refusing to carry OneSoccer on cable TV,” reads a new statement from Timeless, who state that the regulatory commission has put forth an outline for both sides to propose remedies this month.
De Rosario Making His MLS Mark
After breaking through from Sounders FC 2, former York United striker Osaze De Rosario is now enjoying himself right up in Major League Soccer.
The son of living Canadian legend Dwayne De Rosario bagged his first MLS goal against Atlanta United last week, and whipped out a little shake-and-bake after scoring in a 7-0 demolition of Cruz Azul in the next match.
Like father, like son. You love to see it.
Poku’s Probing Again
Former Forge striker Kwasi Poku made waves with his move to RWD Molenbeek last season, signing a multi-year deal after a sensational season in orange that saw him transition from a promising left-back into a league-leading striker.
The 22-year-old Canadian procured four goals in 16 games for the Belgian side last season before suffering a hip injury that ruled him out for the end of his first campaign abroad. As Canucks Abroad have spotted this morning, Poku is fit and fighting once again, notching a goal in a four-goal preseason win over top flight side KV Mechelen.
Big Weekend In League1 Canada Title Races
If you’re a fan of Canada’s semi-pro ranks, this weekend is chock full of action for you. As the League1 Canada regular season nears its end, the title races – and relegation battles – are in full swing. Our very own David Parkes has penned a look at what’s on the menu for this weekend, so you should take a look if you’d like to watch some of the drama unfold.
Where Will York United’s Second Academy Land?
The Nine Stripes announced last week that they’re doubling down on the pathway to professional soccer through League1 Ontario, with the club set to introduce a new U-19 team next season in addition to the current team, who will formally transition to a U-21 setup.
The announcement didn’t confirm what division the U-19s would start in, but Rocket Robin has confirmed that the original multi-tier vision of L1O will be followed: new sides will start from the bottom in League2 Ontario. Neither side will feature in L1O’s U-21 Reserve divisions, but rather both be part of the fully-tiered structures.
Yes, Thomas Muller Could Play Against Forge
If you’re a fan of Canadian football, you’ve probably seen the influx of reports that legendary German star Thomas Muller is heading to the Vancouver Whitecaps. The move, while not official yet, will reportedly make him the highest-paid athlete in ‘Caps history, cementing one of the most exciting MLS signings of all time.
The Whitecaps have won three Canadian Championship tournaments in a row, with the reigning champions set to face Forge FC in the semi-final stage. The first leg takes place in just two weeks (August 13), while the second leg takes place on September 16. While there’s a chance Muller could feature in either match, the second is the most likely – but you never know. The CPL has flirted with the chance of facing MLS star talent before, we just need a few stars to align first.
Now that you’re caught up on some of the Canadian football happenings, let’s enjoy some football: this long weekend has four different CPL matches to enjoy, along with the aforementioned flurry of high-stakes League1 Canada content to boot. Have a great weekend!
