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    Duane Rollins
    It took a year longer than some would have liked, but League1 Ontario is launching a women’s division.
    The regional semi-pro set-up had a successful launch on the men’s side in 2014 with nine teams completing the first season. It wasn’t perfect – 10 teams started – but it did shut-up the naysayers that had long said the semi-final level was not sustainable in Canada.
    At least not without compromising things that can’t be compromised.
    Many are saying the same thing on the women’s side now. However, the league hopes to push aside those doubters and build upon a modest start.
    Six teams will start 2015 on the women’s side.
    Those teams are:

    · ANB Futbol (King City)
    · Durham United FC (Pickering)
    · North Mississauga SC
    · Pro Stars FC (Mississauga)
    · Sanjaxx Lions (Toronto)
    · Vaughan SC As with the men’s side the women’s league is mostly (well, entirely in women’s case) in the Greater Toronto Area. However, league commissioner Dino Rossi told CSN earlier this year that he was far more interested in making sure that teams meet professional standards than the geography of those teams.
    Others in the community agreed this was the right time to launch on the women’s side.
    “I think it was the perfect time for the OSA to launch this league. I believe in Canada we have the ability to launch one of the best female leagues in the world, as we have the talent pool of players, coaches and leaders,” said Josef Komlodi, Academy Technical Director of Pro Stars FC.
    “I believe this league to be the ideal platform for young Canadian talent to grow and turn our game into a world class performance. At Pro Stars, we have recruited some of the best coaches in the female game, we have a very good product for the field, and I think our fans will enjoy the quality of play.”
    Vaughan Soccer Club and Durham United FC – operated by the Pickering Soccer Club – are also members of the Ontario Player Development League (OPDL).
    “We continue to be in active conversation with other organizations that wish to join the League1 Ontario women's division in 2015,” Rossi added. “We hope to have more good news to add soon.”
    The League1 women's division will kick off on May 31, 2015. The location for the inaugural match and the teams that will take part are to be announced.
    -- With files from Ontario Soccer Association
    Michael Mccoll
    McKendry's Junior NCAA season with New Mexico Lobos had caught the eye of several scouts. He was being rated highly and looking MLS ready.
    The midfielder loved his time in Albuquerque, but from a solely footballing perspective the time to make the move to the pro ranks with the Caps was now.
    "Obviously it's my home city, so I know the club pretty well, and that kind of made the decision a whole lot easier," McKendry told us. "If it was another club or another country it would be kind of a harder decision because I don't know exactly what I'm going in to.
    "The big part for me was coach Carl welcoming me back over the years and bringing me back to train and making me feel that I was part of this club, which was huge, so that made it easy."
    Robinson wanted to add some more midfield depth, with one eye on the 'Caps new USL PRO team, and after looking at what other options were around in the MLS draft, it became clear to him that McKendry was the man he wanted and he decided to pull the trigger now and offer McKendry a MLS contract.
    "I watched a lot of Benny last year and he done very well," Robinson said. "You hear all these reports coming out about him, that's he's a top ten player in the draft, and things like that. Well he was the previous year, I knew he was. I just think the timing was right [now].
    "Ben had obviously made it known that he was ready to have a crack at the MLS level, which was always good because you wonder what players sometimes think. Once he made that known, we done our due diligence on the draft and we thought there were some talented midfield players in there, but they weren't better than Ben. I'm not going to produce another stopgap or block another pathway for my homegrown players.
    "We made a decision on draft day that we wanted to try and sign Ben to a homegrown contract and it's worked out great for us and great for him. I spoke to his dad and he's very happy. I do have to thank the New Mexico guys for part of his development as they've been crucial in that as well."
    The timing was perfect for the Residency alumni, who had been weighing up whether he should make the move to the pro ranks now or finish his degree. It didn't take too much deliberating. He would put his studies on hold and head back to Vancouver with a professional contract.
    "You obviously have to bring out the pros and cons of staying at school for another year," McKendry acknowledged. "Maybe entering the draft or coming back to Vancouver after my senior year. I feel comfortable here. Having the coaching staff, the city, my family here, made it a really easily decision. And obviously the USL. They have a USL team, that's huge. So I know I'm going to get minutes, matter level it is."
    Having that new USL PRO team, and the opportunities it will afford the Whitecaps burgeoning array of young talent, was a big persuader in McKendry making the decision to leave college early.
    "I think that was a huge part of it," McKendry admits. "A lot of college guys go into this environment and struggle because they don't get the minutes they want but are obviously extremely talented players. So the USL team is huge for me but obviously none of us young guys are shooting for USL, we want to keep moving up, but USL is fantastic for the young guys."
    With the likes of Matias Laba, Gershon Koffie and Russell Teibert ahead of him in the midfield depth charts on the MLS roster just now, McKendry knows that he will mostly see a lot of minutes with that USL PRO side this season. But situations can change quickly in football. So can form and injuries.
    McKendry also knows that he is coming to a club and playing under a manager that likes to give the younger players chances and opportunities in first team action.
    "Carl's big on playing young players. For a guy like me that's a bonus and that excites me cos I know I'm going to get the opportunities to play, which is huge.
    "There's going to be plenty of opportunities. It's just about taking it. Obviously I've got to train hard every day, at preseason and all those things. It's just going to be about continuing to work, learning from the older guys and you just got to continue to grow."
    With the Whitecaps facing over 40 games this season between league and cup action, Robinson knows that he will need to use every inch of his squad depth to keep the team competitive over what will feel like a very long year. Whilst he has brought McKendry in with more of an eye to the USL PRO roster, the fact that he has rewarded the midfielder with a full MLS contract is a statement in itself.
    "I think at the start it will be towards USL PRO, but that's not saying he won't get MLS minutes because he's on my MLS roster," Robinson told us. "I said to him that shows what I think of him, what we think of him and it'll be down to him if he takes that opportunity or not. We've got plenty of games next year. It'll be dictated by his performances in preseason and how he does during the season."
    McKendry will add some midfield versatility to the 'Caps. He mostly played a central midfield role during his time with the Residency, but featured all over, including the backline. At New Mexico, he played more as a defensive midfielder. A very attack minded one.
    Robinson doesn't want to pigeonhole McKendry and likes the options that he adds to his squad.
    "With young players I don't like sticking a certain position on them because I don't think they learn to develop the key characteristics of what is needed in other positions. He can play defensive midfield, and he's very good, but he's a box to box midfield player. We need goals from midfield at certain times of the season as well, so if he can add goals to his bow then I think he'll be a great addition for us."
    That role suits McKendry down to the ground and he feels at home wherever he plays in the midfield.
    "I'm pretty comfortable with both roles really," McKendry told us. "As defensive it depends who you play alongside with. I don't have any problem going forward and making that late run into the box, to pick up a goal here or there. But if you need me to stay back and defend, I embrace that side of the position as well.
    "I'm a confident player. I like to get on the ball and have fun."
    There's still a lot of debate in soccer circles about the merits of young players, especially Canadian ones, going through the American college system. Whilst some feel it gives players valuable experience and playing time, others feel the nature of the game in NCAA can stunt development instead of progressing it.
    McKendry is in no doubt about the benefit going to New Mexico has been to his playing career and would recommend that path to others currently weighing up their options.
    "I think a lot of young players have expectations that are a little but unrealistic in terms of wanting to go pro. When kids hear about the college environment and playing college soccer, especially in the States, there's probably some negative connotations towards it.
    "For me it was key in my development from that age of 18 to where I am now. It was huge and there's plenty of good programs in the States. You can enjoy yourself, you can get an education. I couldn't say enough good things about at least my experience. I'm sure I've got a lot of good friends as well that would say the same thing."
    McKendry becomes the 8th homegrown player on the Whitecaps' current MLS roster. He's also the only one born and raised in Vancouver. Does that put any added pressure on him to perform and succeed?
    "I wouldn't say pressure. I don't think there should never be any pressure when you're playing a game you love. But I definitely have a sense of pride playing for Vancouver and being the only guy from Vancouver here."
    Settling in won't be an issue. He has his family and friends around him and his previous training spells with the first team means that he's already a well-kent face at training to many of the current squad. And all of those familiar faces make for a smooth transition for McKendry.
    "I know a lot of the guys, which makes it more comfortable. Also, Carl and his coaching staff do a great job of making it a welcoming environment, which isn't always the case in a professional environment. I feel comfortable and the guys have welcomed me really well."
    That was clear to see at his first training session as a signed pro. It also helped that while the Whitecaps training camp was just getting underway, McKendry has been in full training mode for the past couple of weeks already.
    "I just came off two weeks of spring training with New Mexico. In the springtime most college teams do crazy fitness things. Running up sand dunes, crazy workouts and stuff. I felt pretty good out there. It was fun"
    We can't wrap up our chat with Ben without throwing out that well worn cliché of the hard work starts now. It's true, it does. And the only way to push yourself into the MLS mix in this competitive environment is to shine often and improve regularly.
    It's the key focus for McKendry in this preseason camp and he knows what elements of his game he needs to continue to work on to get himself to that next level.
    "You can never be satisfied with where you're at," he told us. "Seeing the older guys on this team who are kind of getting to the end of their career, you see the workrate that they continue to put in and how they take care of their bodies.
    "That's key to being a professional, always wanting to get better, continuing to learn, which is nice to be able to know that as a young player and have those guys as an example to see what you need to do to get better and have a long career."
    Duane Rollins

    Oduro to Impact

    By Duane Rollins, in 24th Minute,

    A player that was widely seen as being a Ryan Nelsen acquisition has been moved out of town.
    Dominic Oduro was traded to Montreal for allocation.
    This being MLS we will never know what that exactly means or whether TFC got the better of the deal. However, it would seem that the Reds may have another signing in mind if they are collecting even more allocation.
    Duane Rollins

    Goodbye Old Gil

    By Duane Rollins, in 24th Minute,

    Last fall, CSN reported that Gilberto wasn't expected to be back with Toronto FC. At the time the reaction was mostly disappointment mixed with a little hopeful skepticism.
    Old Gil grew on people and what I was reporting was based on the fact that he had sold his car and condo in Toronto. It seemed like an odd things to do for a player that expected to be back, but some argued that maybe he just wanted a new car and condo.
    Apparently not. Several people are reporting today that the deal is done and that Gilberto is heading back to Brazil to recently promoted from Serie B side Vasco. If would seem like a sideways step for the player, who came to TFC from Serie A.
    What's frustrating to fans is all the lying. Despite it being obvious to everyone that A) TFC (figuratively) had too many strikers and B ) TFC (literally) had too many DPs, management insisted that Gilberto would be back.
    Greg Vanney went so far as to speculate how he might team up with Jozy Altidore.
    The bottom line is Gilberto only had seven goals last year. There is something to the idea that players from outside MLS take time to adjust and that they do better in their second seasons. Certainly that would be narrative in Toronto if he was coming back.
    Whether that would have been wishful thinking is something that it now appears we'll never know.
    Michael Mccoll
    Robinson told AFTN last year how highly he rated McKendry and indicated that there was a MLS contract waiting for the defensive midfielder whenever the player felt the time was right. That time is now.
    McKendry becomes the eighth homegrown signing on the current MLS Whitecaps roster, and the 27th player on the squad in total. As a homegrown signing, McKendry is likely to have signed a two year guaranteed deal with options and although he will get most of his minutes in USL PRO this season, he will be entrenched with the MLS squad and with the number of games facing the 'Caps this year, he is fully expected to see first team minutes.
    McKendry was a member of the Whitecaps' Prospects program from 2007 before officially joining the Residency program in September 2010 and was part of the highly talented 'Caps U18 side that narrowly lost the USSDA Championship game to FC Dallas in 2012.
    The young midfielder made 20 appearances for the 'Caps in PDL action during the 2011 and 2012 seasons, but with no MLS contract on the table, and no real pathway to help get there at that point, McKendry decided to head to college and went down the NCAA route with New Mexico Lobos.
    McKendry explained the thought process behind that decision when we chatted with him just over a year ago. His game has developed well with the Lobos, allowing him to make the switch from a more central midfield role to that of defensive midfielder, where he has excelled.
    The development of McKendry these past couple of seasons will now benefit the Whitecaps. They are getting back a talented and composed DM, but also one who has a keen attacking eye and a good finish.
    In his three years at New Mexico, McKendry scored 14 goals and had 5 assists in his 61 appearances and 4702 minutes of soccer, most of which came in the defensive midfield role. 106 shots in amongst those stats as well, along with a knack for grabbing game winning goals.
    McKendry played a key role in helping the Lobos reach the Final Four of the NCAA College Cup in 2013, scoring the decisive goal in the quarter finals against Washington Huskies to send them there in his sophomore season.
    Having lost a number of seniors, New Mexico struggled to follow up that success in 2014, failing to make the postseason. McKendry shone though and started to get the attention of many in the college game in the US, earning several plaudits along the way. The influential TopDrawerSoccer.com ranked McKendry 7th in the nation in the midseason player rankings, and he eventually finished 36th after the Lobo's late slump (fellow 'Caps Residency alumni, goalkeeper Callum Irving, finished 15th incidentally, and Vancouver's number one draft pick, Tim Parker, was 76th).
    The Whitecaps have kept close tabs on McKendry while he was down in New Mexico, with former assistant coach Paul Ritchie travelling down to see him play on several occasions in the past. Robinson is a fellow defensive midfielder and rates him highly.
    McKendry has regularly returned to train with the Whitecaps' MLS squad these past three seasons, keeping his homegrown eligibility intact. But with other clubs starting to show an interest in the midfielder, the Residency alumni's stock was high and he was faced with the dilemma of whether to come out of school early or complete his senior year in 2015 and join the pro ranks a year from now.
    A lot can happen in 12 months though. Players can get injured or see their form and their stock take a dip. Managers who rate you can move on or decide to go in a different direction in terms of role specific personnel. Coming out of school early, without finishing your degree, can hurt future job prospects if it doesn't work out in the world of soccer, but you can also finish your degree at a later time. Much to weigh up, and in the end it was a no-brainer - McKendry had to take his chance and the Whitecaps were in the perfect position to offer it to him right now.
    There is no doubt that the addition of a Whitecaps USL PRO team has been a key influencer for McKendry to leave college in his Junior year. Whereas other homegrown talents like Bryce Alderson and Philippe Davies have been stunted and frustrated by the lack of opportunities and key competitive development minutes, the new 'Caps team guarantees McKendry much-needed regular playing time at some level.
    With the first team having over 40 games this season in MLS, Canadian Championship and CONCACAF Champions League action, McKendry will feature at some stage, but as talented as he is and as highly as the 'Caps rate him, there is a lot of work ahead.
    McKendry is coming to a Whitecaps MLS squad that isn't exactly short on defensive midfield talent. Whereas Carl Robinson went with a regular two-man defensive shield last season in a 4-2-3-1 line-up, he is expected to go more with a 4-4-2 diamond formation this term.
    Matias Laba clearly has that job, with Gershon Koffie and then Russell Teibert looking to be back ups. McKendry is clearly the number one DM for the USL PRO team now and will gain valuable experience playing there at the next level up for him. Opportunities in the first team will be scant, but there will be injuries, there will be suspensions, there will be players rested and there will be games where Robinson looks to return to that two man shield.
    So for those that haven't seen him play, how would we rate McKendry in terms of Whitecaps prospects? Better than Bryce Alderson in the DM slot has always been my opinion of McKendry and that hasn't changed. The fact that he can bring an attacking and goalscoring threat to the defensive midfield role is a big plus, and don't forget he can also play other midfield roles. He's bringing versatility and hunger with him. It's certainly a depth and strength upgrade to what the Whitecaps had last year.
    Having watched a lot of his New Mexico games these past couple of years, including a couple in person, he can make a team tick. At 21, he's coming in at a great age and he's had excellent experiences and performances at USSDA, college and international levels. Now comes the next step.
    Robinson will give him chances to show his worth both in preseason and as the season progresses. As he's said to all his young players, they'll get their chances, it's then up to them to take them. That applies to McKendry now and we're delighted for him.
    Rose_Rago
    Soccer coaches from across the country will be in Toronto this week to attend Canada’s largest coaching education conference at the University of Toronto.
    The National Soccer Coaching Conference (NSCC) kicks off its fourth annual weekend for coaches to congregate, network and benefit from a plethora of speakers and clinicians from January 30th through February 1st.
    CSN had the opportunity to speak with Manager of Soccer operations at UofT, Anthony Capotosto, about the goals and benefits of this event.
    As Toronto FC Junior Academy and UofT Varsity Blues men's head coach, Capotosto is familiar with the challenges that face coaches in Canada and understands why there is a strong need for an event like the NSCC. ‘‘There needs to be more opportunities for coaches to come together to share ideas and collect information. These opportunities are few and far between.”
    The goal is simple, as the conference’s slogan states: Progress through Education.
    “When you think of universities, they tend to churn out good doctors, lawyers and professionals. Why not coaches?” Capotosto said, “The ultimate goal here is to raise the standard of play for Canadian soccer, starting with the player, by focusing on player development."
    Tackling the issue of player development would not be possible without taking a look at the most
    influential people in the players' careers: the coaches.
    Those attending the NSCC can expect theoretical and practical sessions covering a variety of topics,
    taught by some of the best minds in the sport.
    Canadian Men’s National team head coach Benito Floro will present clinics on attacking and defending principles.

    Raymond Verheijen, founder of the World Football Academy, will host sessions on how coaches can avoid team injuries as well as tactical development during soccer conditioning. The Dutchman is one of the global leaders in soccer specific conditioning and has wealth of experience coaching at the highest levels of professional soccer globally. He has years of national coaching experience at three World Cups and three European Championships, with the Netherlands, South Korea and Russia. Verheijen has also worked with a number of European sides, including Barcelona, Zenit Saint Petersburg, Chelsea, and Manchester City.
    Former MLS head coach Shellas Hyndman will share his knowledge as one of the most successful college soccer coaches in American sports. Hyndman has a record of 368-96-38 over 24 seasons with Southern Methodist University. His clinics will involve speed and system of play as well as possession.
    Toronto FC head coach Greg Vanney provides over 15 years of youth player development expertise to the conference. He’ll cover playing between the lines and switching the point of attack.
    Montreal Impact USL Pro Side’s Head Coach and Director of the Impact Academy Philippe Eullaffroy will present sessions on de-zoning and build up versus counter-attack.

    The conference will also address sports science and conditioning. Director of Sports Science for Toronto FC Jim Liston will be presenting two clinics on his approach to sports science innovation, injury prevention and assisting athletes in achieving their highest potential. These are just a few examples of the over 21 seminars available to coaches attending the NSCC.
    The Canadian Inter-university Sport (CIS) Coaches Association will also host its inaugural Sport Congress meeting as part of this conference. The idea is to generate ways to improve and innovate Canadian university athletics programs in order to keep Canadian talent in the country.
    The NSCC event has expanded over its four year existence. What started as a two day gathering, is now a four day conference. Last year saw eight provinces represented, and with time still left to register, that number could grow.
    Conferences have a significant impact on coaching philosophies. The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) convention sees nearly 10,000 participants in attendance each year and coincides with the MLS combine. There isn't any doubt that growth of the sport stateside is staggering.
    Though Canada’s version is not expected to garner the same numbers, it still has the opportunity to influence the way players are coached. The NSCC’s goal is to reach upwards of 500 coaches in the country with the hopes that those in attendance will share what they have learned with their clubhouses and communities.
    Capotosto believes Canada has a long way to go to bridge the gap between its soccer program, and those of the rest of the world. However, according to Capotosto, Canadian soccer do not lack quality players. “I think that there is so much talent in this country that we should be developing more players than what we have to date,” he said “If we’re thinking long term […] trying to enhance our ranking in the world, we can’t do that without good coaches working with good players as young as U12 and U10. When those players become 19 and 20 years old they will become main stays in our national program […] we need to be better at harnessing talent in Canada.”
    Capotosto hopes that coaches across Canada get excited about an event like the NSCC and that it resonates with the Canadian soccer community.
    Canadian Soccer News will have more from the conference later this week.
    Duane Rollins
    There is still work to be done if TFC is to convince the OSA to allow the club to play in the PDL next year.
    On Thursday night TFC took its case directly to the OSA Board of Directors. Previously the board had voted to deny TFC's request, but it granted the club an opportunity to make a final presentation to the board.
    CSN has learned that the OSA's position somewhat softened following that meeting, with several board members open to allowing TFC to participate in 2015. However, there remained significant resistance and no decision was made.
    On Friday a meeting took place involving some of the more staunchly opposed board members. Attempts were made there to reach a compromise solution which would grant TFC a single year of sanctioning with a strict requirement that they return to the Ontario system in 2016.
    The CSA is supportive of that plan. CSN was told that if the decision is made to permit TFC to participate in PDL next year the CSA plans to issue a clear instruction to the club that it is a single season sanctioning only.
    In fact, the CSA plans to use the opportunity to clarify its position to all three MLS sides. After 2015, it will no longer sanction PDL teams attached to MLS sides if there is a Canadian league of an equal level available to play in.
    Currently, both Ontario and Quebec have such a league. There is a significant amount of effort being put behind starting a BC league soon.
    A final decision is expected by the end of next week
    Duane Rollins
    In the days that have passed since their elimination there has been plenty of frustration voiced by many involved in the game. In many cases, that frustration is being expressed as hopelessness. In nearly every case the opinions being shared are focused on what's wrong with the system and on how it feels like we will never fix it.
    Make no mistake. The Canadian system is deeply flawed. It's been so for a generation and it's unrealistic to think that the factors that helped create 8-1 are suddenly gone just two years later.
    However, there are positives happening and there are people working to change things. It is important to point out failings and to demand changes in areas that need it, but it's not helpful to simply scream about blowing everything up. Before we continue to focus on the failings, we should acknowledge those positives that do exist. Sigma Academy produced two of the top 11 picks in the MLS draft. It's not all bad.
    Actually, I will argue that in some ways the constant negativity only enables those who are fighting against progressive changes that are (trying) to be implemented. A good example of that can be found in Ontario with the Youth Soccer League of Ontario.
    YSLO is opposed to the LTPD plan. It's run by an individual that has profited off of running youth soccer leagues for years and who is upset that the OSA has made his ability to do that more difficult. Taking advantage of people's ignorance of how LTPD works to gain support (and registration fees), YSLO works to undermine progressive efforts by the OSA.
    Today, YSLO sent an email out to media that used Canada's FIFA ranking as an example of why we shouldn't trust the OSA or CSA. The fact that the ranking is largely the result of operating with a system that is the very representation of what YSLO is was conveniently left out of the email.
    Yet, YSLO's message will find an audience. Although the logic behind LTPD is obvious to most reading this, to others it is confusing and badly explained to them by those implementing it. Bluntly, there has been a disconnect between the CSA and many involved in the game at local levels when it comes to these changes. The instinct of many is to just assume that the CSA's plan is wrong.
    Sack the CSA has become an easy call by many. It makes implementing change difficult.
    However, make no mistake, the continued influence of groups like YSLO is far more damaging to the overall health of the game in Canada than any failings by the CSA or provincial associations. And, this is just one example of people at the grassroots that have agendas that are not in line with progressive initiatives. It may not even be the most damaging example.
    One person involved in the game told me recently that “parasite” groups like YSLO need to be eradicated from the game before we have any hope of truly fixing the system.
    How does that happen though?
    Sorry, no simple answers to that one. No quick ones either.
    From my perspective a good first step would be to improve communication across the board. Too many people feel left out of the conversation, or don't even know what the conversation is right now. Instead of creating consensus you have hundreds of individual voices yelling into the wind.
    This is where leadership from the top needs to be better, especially at the grassroots.
    Writing for TSN today, Jason DeVos stressed the need for a greater grassroots focus and better communication to those involved in local levels of the game.
    Later, in a Twitter exchange with myself, he suggested that the CSA needs to create a position that is entirely focused on overhauling and working with the grassroots.
    He's right. He also might be the person for that job.
    It would be an exceptionally difficult and at times thankless job. It's a job that would require a strong individual with exceptional leadership skills and a strong technical background.
    The person would need to walk into any room in the country and instantly command respect, especially on a technical level. Lastly, it would require a person that can deal with conflict and resistance and who won't be afraid to say unpopular things and stand up to people who are used to being the alpha dog in their local soccer community.
    There's quite literally no one else in the country who fits that description other than DeVos.
    Would he take the job? You'd have to ask him? Would the CSA offer the job (if it, in fact, created it)? That's a good question.
    My instinct is to fear that the CSA would instead go with a person with political instincts. A person that would travel the country, hold meetings and publish an articulate study that would be presented to fanfare then ignored.
    Actually, my instinct is that the CSA won't create the position at all. Doing so isn't as simple as snapping their fingers and, in the end, they will likely feel there are already people in the association responsible for this.
    And, the cycle will continue. Positive change will remain isolated and disconnected and those who profit off the negativity national team failure creates will continue to operate with little opposition.
    If that happens, you may as well bookmark this article for reading after the 2017 u20 cycle because nothing changes at the top of the system until the bottom gets healthier.
    Duane Rollins
    Multiple local sources are confirming that TFC's efforts to add central defender Damien Perquis have been successful.
    Additionally this Polish report is reporting that the French-Polish player is in Toronto today, where he has passed his medical.
    Last week, Perquis terminated his contract with Betis, That eliminated the last stumbling block--a transfer fee.
    Betis originally wanted TFC to pay a fee, but must have concluded that they needed his 400,000E wage off the books more. The club is a financial mess, currently in the second tier of Spain.
    More as it develops.
    Michael Mccoll
    The 'Caps have 30 USL PRO roster spots available to them. With the ability to move players up and down from both the MLS squad and the Residency, they won't be carrying a full squad and the initial roster number will likely be in the low 20s range to allow Carl Robinson more flexibility.
    In terms of these loan deals between Whitecaps teams, the process is quite simple.
    Each player has to be registered as a USL PRO player to be able to play for WFC2. All loan deals have to go through the necessary paperwork and everything has to be ratified like a normal registration or transfer.
    A player can be on both the Whitecaps' MLS/Residency roster and the USL PRO roster at the same time. That also means that a player could potentially play for both sides over the course of a weekend.
    Let's take Kianz Froese as an example. He could be on the bench for the Whitecaps in MLS on the Saturday, maybe even getting a few minutes of action towards the end of the game, and then starting for the USL PRO team on the Sunday. Great for his development and expect that to be fully utilised, as Robinson looks to rehab injuries and get players on the fringes some key, competitive minutes.
    The loan deals are open ended, but the initial loan has to be for a year. The Whitecaps, however, can cancel the loan deal at any time. The only real reasons that the 'Caps would be looking to do this though would be for space (in that they want to add another player) or if they are planning on moving the player on.
    CSA stipulations require the 'Caps to have at least a 50% Canadian content on their roster, with six of the 11 starters mandated to be Canadian. As we've stated previously, we have no real issues with the former, as the vast bulk of the squad will have come through the Whitecaps Residency system anyway, but enforcing a manager to play a player because of nationality over being the best player available to him is somewhat ridiculous.
    It should also be noted that the 'Caps can feature CIS collegiate players in their WFC2 squad but not any of the NCAA 'Caps at college, unless they choose to leave school.
    So with all this in mind, this is how we see the WFC2 taking shape as it stands right now.
    GOALKEEPERS:
    Marco Carducci (MLS roster - Canadian)
    Spencer Richey (MLS SuperDraft)
    The Caps may decide to just run with two official goalkeepers. If they want Paolo Tornaghi to get some competitive minutes, which they should, then they may regularly move him down from the first team. If they need to add a third goalie, then you have U18 keeper William Diaz, who was part of the Whitecaps PDL team last season and impressed towards the end of the campaign.
    I expect Richey (who does have a Canadian granny so we could perhaps get away with claiming him as part of the Canadian contingent!) to get some starts. Carducci will still be seeing time with the Residency, as the U18s look to lift their first USSDA national title. He's a key player for them and with two games most weekends for the U18s, they need him there. He could of course play for the Residency on the Saturday and then the USL team on the Sunday, but getting playing time at the all the levels will be key for him this year.
    DEFENDERS:
    Sam Adekugbe (MLS roster - Canadian)
    Christian Dean (MLS roster)
    Jackson Farmer (Residency graduate - Canadian)
    Jordan Haynes (Residency - Canadian)
    Tim Parker (MLS SuperDraft)
    Ethen Sampson (MLS roster)
    Chris Serban (Residency graduate - Canadian)
    This is an area that will still need to be padded out with more depth at full back perhaps. Two other possibilities are the two recent lower SuperDraft picks Craig Nitti and Canadian Nikola Paunic. Both of those guys may have to impress during preseason camp though to be kept around.
    Jordan Haynes, who can also play a midfield role, is still on the Caps U18 squad and may split his time between the two, featuring more in the summer months when the Residency's season is over.
    Chris Serban is in his first year at UBC. Whether he will look to leave or juggle both is unclear, but he is a talented full back that can play on both the right and the left and is away with the Canadian U20 team right now. Their coach Rob Gale confirmed he will be playing USL with the Caps.
    Another possible name to add into the mix is Jordian Farahani. The Regina native shone for the PDL side last season, and has played previously with Ottawa Fury and Thunder Bay Chill. He was named to the USL PDL All-Western Conference team and the 'Caps may reward the University of Saskatchewan captain with a further look, although he has been linked with Icelandic Second Division side Hotther and at 24, his age may count against him heading back to Vancouver.
    MIDFIELDERS
    Marco Bustos (MLS roster - Canadian)
    Kianz Froese (MLS roster - Canadian)
    Adam Mena (former MLS Supplemental Draft pick)
    Brett Levis (PDL roster - Canadian)
    Mitch Piraux (Residency graduate - Canadian)
    This is another area that the Caps may look to make a couple more additions in before the season gets underway, although they can also count Andre Lewis in there, but I have him in with the forwards for now.
    Both Bustos and Froese will see some minutes in MLS action this season, along with continuing in the U18s, of which Bustos is the captain. The bulk of their minutes will surely come in USL PRO though. Bustos will take the number 10 role, although Nicolas Mezquida is likely to head down from the MLS squad to USL PRO for some games and to stay match fit in that position.
    We may even see Russell Teibert head down to USL PRO for a number of games. Have to hit that Canadian quota after all.
    Robinson has been impressed by Brett Levis and told me he wants to see him at the next level, so the fourth year University of Saskatchewan player will be heading back. Like Serban, we're not sure about the schooling aspect of it all just yet.
    Of all the players the Whitecaps sent down to Charleston last season, the surprise standout was Adam Mena. Robinson rates him and will give him a chance to show what he can offer.
    Residency graduate Ben McKendry could be tempted out of his last year at college to join the new side. The defensive midfielder had a standout season with New Mexico Lobos, picking up a slew of honours and plaudits in the process. Robinson rates him highly and has said a contract is here for him whenever he decides he wants to take it.
    FORWARDS
    Kay Banjo (MLS SuperDraft)
    Jovan Blagojevic (MLS SuperDraft - Canadian)
    Caleb Clarke (MLS roster - Canadian)
    Niall Cousens (PDL roster - Canadian)
    Mamadou Diouf (previous MLS SuperDraft)
    Andre Lewis (previous MLS SuperDraft - could be classed more as MF)
    Dario Zanatta (Residency - Canadian)
    The forward department is the fullest of the areas on the pitch as it stands, with a lot of competition for places. Add in getting Kekuta Manneh and Erik Hurtado minutes if they haven't featured in the first team, and then it's even more so.
    Robinson will want to see what Kay Banjo and Jovan Blagojevic can offer, along with Caleb Clarke.
    Some big question marks around last season's SuperDraft picks Diouf and Lewis. The latter is signed and on the MLS roster (he can also be classed a misfielder as well as a forward) as it stands, but Diouf isn't. Both need a good training camp if they are even to get a shot in USL. Blagojevic and Clarke in particular will be keen to show that they are the guy to go with instead and have the advantage of being local lads. If any players are likely to be out of place due to the Canadian aspect of the roster rules, then it's likely to be Diouf and Lewis.
    And talking of BC boys, another name that could be in the mix is Cody Cook. The Mount Royal Cougars striker led the scoring charts in PDL last season with the Caps and was named to the All-Western Conference team. Expect PDL team-mate Niall Cousens to be involved as Robinson is a fan of the big forward.
    The surprise name you might think on the list is Dario Zanatta. He's going to continue to be with the U18s primarily but Robinson rates him and I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him thrown in as a sub in the odd game as an initial test to see how he fares at the higher level.
    There will be some other faces vying for places over preseason camp, so the pressure is on all of the guys above to show that they belong and the Caps may still give another look at some of their other PDL and Residency guys from the past.
    Going from what I have above, my preferred starting line-up would be:

    Tornaghi or Richey or Carducci
    Sampson - Parker - Dean - Adekugbe
    Piraux
    Froese - Mena
    Bustos
    Banjo - Clarke That's borderline on the six Canadian starters, and may mean we see Teibert more in USL than MLS through necessity, thus showing the ridiculousness of that aspect of it from a putting the best team on the pitch point of view and developing the actual best players for the 'Caps MLS team going forward.
    For me, that latter point holds far greater priority for the USL PRO team than developing players for the Canadian national team or someone like Ottawa Fury down the line. I also want to see the team challenging and winning, as I'm sure the Whitecaps, and those buying season tickets, do as well.
    We'll just have to see how this plays out and any loopholes around the Canadian quota that can be found as we go along. You are allowed five subs in the USL PRO as an aside.
    WFC2 will be in the new 12 team USL PRO Western Conference, alongside four other MLS sides (LA, Portland, RSL and Seattle). The other seven teams will be - Arizona United, Austin Aztex, Colorado Springs Switchbacks, OKC Energy, Orange County Blues, Sacramento Republic and Tulsa Roughnecks.
    The 28 game season will see each Conference side play each other home and away, with six other games coming from regional rivalries and cross-conference match ups. My initial guess is that four of those matches will be against Portland, Seattle, Toronto and Montreal, with possibly home and away ties against the Canadian sides also in the mix. We'll find out soon, as USL hope to be able to bring out the 2015 schedule next week.
    The top six teams from each Conference will advance to the playoffs, with the eventual Western and Eastern champions meeting for the USL PRO title.
    We're really looking forward to the new season getting underway, and we'll be bringing you what will very likely be the most comprehensive coverage of WFC2 here on AFTN over the year.
    Duane Rollins
    Canadian Soccer News has learned that there is a meeting scheduled for tonight where TFC will plead its case to start a PDL team this summer. The OSA previously rejected the request.
    The PDL is a league primarily designed to be a place for NCAA players to play in the summer. Critics of the league say its season is too short and that standards are too uneven. In Ontario, its felt that League1 Ontario is on equal footing competitively speaking.
    It was that desire to continue the growth of L1O that informed the OSA's initial rejection of TFC's request.
    CSN was told that the Reds reached out to the CSA to ask for a second opinion, but the federal body sided with its provincial counterparts. For at least 50 years the Canadian system has aligned itself with the US system and the CSA and OSA are committed to cutting that cord.
    TFC asked if they could make one final presentation to the OSA to outline how involvement with PDL is in the best interest of Ontario soccer. If they cannot convince the OSA board members that a TFC PDL side won't undermine L1O their plea is likely to fall on deaf ears.
    Duane Rollins
    That's a problem. The club's say the USL-Pro teams are the solution. By giving kids a place to regularly play in their late teens, early 20s, it's felt that more will break into the first team plans. The CSA bought into this idea to the point that it was willing to wave its policy of not sanctioning more club teams playing in American leagues below the second level. But, it did so with strict quotas.
    More than half the USL-Pro line-up must be Canadian and six of 11 starters in each game must be Canadian. There will be room for some flexibility at times, but the CSA is serious about forcing the Canadian teams to play Canadians.
    This isn't the space to debate whether that's right. It's happening, so it's ultimately irrelevant if you disagree. However, the quotas alone won't necessarily ensure that Canada is prioritized. Players could be subbed off quickly to hit the starters quota on a technicality and Canadians could be avoided in key positions.
    It's also possible that the club's could successfully lobby to reduce the quota after a year, claiming that it puts them at a competitive disadvantage. The CSA seems serious about this, but until they are in a position to enforce the quota we won't know how willing they would be to take on a MLS team.
    It's no secret that I have been critical of the Canadian team's efforts to promote Canadians into their senior team. I've expressed concern over the Whitecaps in particular. Those concerns are often painted as being based on my partisanship, but in reality they come from conversations I've had with people close to BC soccer that have the same concerns.
    I'm not going to belabour this again now. Rather, I'm going to commit to judging the 'Caps (and the other two teams) entirely on how they approach the USL-Pro team moving forward.
    I want to be wrong about the Whitecaps. Truly. I want the game to be healthier in all parts of the country and the MLS teams have a major role to play in improving that health.
    So, let's all move on now. Fresh start in a new reality and all that.
    I plan on covering USL-Pro as closely, if not closer, than MLS in 2015. In that role, I will absolutely be monitoring and commenting on how the three teams are operating. I will be looking for evidence that they are being run in a way that is in the best interest of the game in Canada.
    So, what does that look like? Here are a few ideas:
    1- It's NOT all Canadian. Despite my position that the Canadian teams should be prioritizing Canadian play at this level, I recognize that it is neither practical nor healthy to completely restrict the line-up to Canucks.
    2-Rather, what's important is to recognize what areas of the roster are appropriate for international spots and which should be reserved for domestics. For instance, there will be a need to provide some minutes to players from the first team roster that are coming off injury, or who are simply not getting minutes. However, if a 28 year old American isn't getting minutes it might be time to admit that player isn't in your plans. Even with non-Canadians, the goal of the USL-Pro team should be about developing pro players.
    3-Along that line of thinking, the roster should be more or less a u23 side. There is next to no upside to a player older than that – either they are a MLS player or they aren't.
    4-So, what we don't want to see is a journeyman, non-Canadian player that will never play beyond the USL-Pro level. Some might argue that it benefits young players to play with older vets, but they will be exposed to senior roster players in training and the quality of a USL-Pro journeyman isn't really going to be that influential. If you must have an older player without MLS prospects at least make it someone with connections to the community.
    5-Winning is part of development, but winning should not be prioritized over development. If you're not letting kids learn from mistakes what the hell are you doing? Chasing all that USL-Pro glory?
    6-Academy players should be constantly given a chance to play. Getting the teenagers time is vital. And potentially valuable. You're trying to find homegrown talent after all. No harm testing them young.
    I strongly believe that Canadian teams in MLS, by virtue of being permitted to play in a non-Canadian system (and to profit nicely from it), have a greater obligation to develop domestic players than those club teams that play in their own system do. However, it's important to stress that a development focus not only benefits the national team pool, but also is what's best on a club level.
    Why would you waste a spot on a player that isn't a prospect? Why would you not want to produce homegrown talent? Why would prioritize winning a division 3 league over the long-term health of the first team?
    All this seems like common sense, but common sense has often been lacking in Canadian soccer.
    So, we'll be watching.
    Hopefully there will be nothing to see.
    Michael Mccoll
    Having graduated in the fall after studying molecular biology biochemistry at SFU, Blagojevic's plan was always to attend medical school, as he told us when we spoke to him back in December 2013. But as he also told us in that interview, playing professional football was always his "childhood dream" and one he was prepared to put a guaranteed career on hold to chase.
    Blagojevic's move to MLS comes after another stellar personal season with the Clan last year in NCAA Division 2.
    He decided to head back to SFU for his senior year and although the Clan may have struggled overall as a team compared to their previous heroics, Blagojevic was the standout star, averaging a goal a game in his 18 appearances. Those numbers placed him seventh overall in goals in North America and he was unanimously voted the Great Northwest Athletic Conference's (GNAC) Player of the Year and also took home the West Region Player of the Year award.
    "All the goals that I set out for myself at the beginning of the season, I accomplished," Blagojevic told us. "I was very happy from a personal standpoint that I was able to achieve that. I feel that I'm continually growing as a player, so I'm excited to see how much I can now grow being in a professional atmosphere."
    Despite the numbers and the plaudits, a professional career in football was still something of a pipe dream for the 23-year-old. It was always at the back of his mind, but at the forefront was going out with the Clan with a bang. Blagojevic had no idea that the Whitecaps were following his progress and were likely to draft him until today.
    "I didn't know if they were keeping tabs on me or if they had interest in me. I was just enjoying my time with SFU and all I set out to do was to end on a good note in my senior season with SFU. That was it. I never really thought that this would be possible, that there would be a professional chance for me, an opportunity for me in the future."
    Today's news that the 'Caps had selected him with their first pick in the third round came as a stunning surprise to the striker. So where was he when he got the news.
    "I was at home, sitting in my living room. I watched the first and second round live, just because I was interested in what was going on. I knew the third and fourth round was occurring on the internet through the live draft tracker, so I was just looking at that screen. I didn't know anything about any team or anything that I was being chosen. I just wanted to see what happens."
    You can understand why Blagojevic thus describes the whole experience as surreal, but also as one of the best days of his life so far.
    Med school is still in his long-term plans, but having a chance to make it a pro footballer was just too much of an opportunity for Blagojevic to pass up.
    "Right now, my first priority is soccer. In the future I can always try and attempt medical school so I guess long, long term, it is medical school for sure but at the moment my main priority is doing whatever I can to succeed at this level."
    Blagojevic's family have always been big supporters of Jovan throughout his career and his dad is a familiar face at games up the mountain at SFU. They're also fully supportive of him putting his medical career on hold at the moment to try and make it as a professional footballer and were obviously delighted at Jovan being drafted today.
    "They were all very happy for me. My dad was at work, my mum was upstairs and we were all talking in a group message and they were just all so happy. My mum gave me a big hug and then the next time I saw my dad, he gave me a big hug, my mum was crying. Everybody's just super super happy and ecstatic about everything that's occurring.
    "The advice that they gave me about medical school and soccer is exactly as I said. That there's always time for this. Right now this is my goal and my dream and I have to take every opportunity as it comes, so that's essentially what I'm doing."
    The striker has clearly been drafted primarily to feature in the 'Caps new USL PRO team (which will have a 50% Canadian roster requirement), but the chance is now there for him to impress and get into the first team reckoning as well.
    With MLS roster spots already at a premium, Robinson has previously said that he was more looking at these third and fourth round draft picks for the USL team. But he's also said that every player will get a chance to show they deserve a crack at the MLS squad and to be in the first team mix.
    "I guess we'll see. I'm not really sure what the future has but if he sees me that I'm more of a USL player, then that's what I am. If he gives me the opportunity for the MLS first team, then you better believe I'm going to take it and give the best I can to show him that he was correct in choosing me for that position. Whatever it is, I'm excited either way."
    Robinson's message to all of his young players has been clear. He'll give them the tools and the pathway, it's then up to each player individually to take it. Some will and some won't. Blagojevic is determined to fall into the former category but he knows there are aspects of his game that he will need to work on and also what needs to do as a rookie to get him there.
    "I just have to try and listen to his tactics and what he likes in players and what he sees in players and I just have to try and mould myself as a player to what he wants from his players. I feel that if I can do that as much as I can, hopefully I will get that opportunity."
    The Whitecaps mantra under Robinson is to give youth a chance and that talent is what matters, not age. Knowing that opportunity and those chances exist is already a key motivational tool for Blagojevic.
    "That's exciting. It's for sure something that you want to hear. It's very encouraging to hear that from your coach that he has faith in his young players. Hopefully I can prove that faith correct."
    For those that haven't seen him play yet (we'll put his highlight reel video at the end of this article), how would Jovan describe his style of play and what qualities will he be adding to the Whitecaps?
    "I feel that I'm very forward with my type of play. [Depending on the situation] I have one mission in mind when I get the ball - either beat my player, going down the line and cross it or go to goal after I've beat my player. I like to score goals. I'm a goalscorer. If I can do that for the Whitecaps, that would be a dream come true."
    When Jovan first went to study at SFU he wasn't even part of the soccer team, choosing to focus on his education for his first two years at university, before being convinced that he could juggle both.
    "My first two years I decided not to play, then I finally talked to my parents about whether I should join or not and how it was going to affect my school, but deciding to choose to play on the team was by far a great experience for me as a player, as a person." Blagojevic told us when we chatted just over a year ago.
    "It's definitely the best thing I've done for my career as a soccer player. It was the best decision for me to do, join the team. It's the closest I've got to that professional environment, which is nice, and I've always wanted that in my life as a soccer player."
    Now Blagojevic has the opportunity to take it that one stage further and to be in an actual professional training and development environment, and he's excited as to what that will mean for his game.
    "It's going to obviously help me grow as a player, which I'm really excited about. I'm really excited to see what the future has for me. I want to continue to get better and I want to work as hard as I can to try to get the most that I can out of this opportunity. The fact that now I'm actually living in a pro environment and not what it was before, although SFU had a similar feeling, now it's actually happening for real. It's exciting and I just think it will help me grow as a player."
    We've been watching Blagojevic play for a few years now. We've seen him as a winger, as an out and out striker and even as a midfielder. The Whitecaps are certainly getting a versatile player, and Jovan is comfortable in any forward and attacking role that the Caps will see fit to give him.
    "I guess I prefer being a winger. I've grown to be most comfortable in that position. I can play other positions, but I don't feel I'm as strong at them as I am as a winger, but whatever position Carl Robinson has in mind for me, I'll do my best at making the most out of it and do the best that I can at it."
    The 'Caps have still to name their new coach for the USL PRO side, although an announcement is expected later this week. One name in the mix is current SFU Clan head coach Alan Koch.
    Blagojevic has spent the last four season under Koch's tutelage and credits the South African with fine tuning his skills and making him the player he is today.
    "His coaching has got me to become the goalscoring threat that I am. I'm very forward with the way I play and I've definitely built that attribute because of him. He's always focussed with going forward toward the goal and that's helped me become who I am."
    Koch has been working as a scout of the college ranks with the Whitecaps and acted as part of the 'Caps management team at training over the summer months. He knows Blagojevic's game inside and out and the qualities and attributes that he can bring to the squad. Koch will have had strong input in Vancouver's decision to draft the striker. He's delighted to see Blagojevic now get his chance in the pro game and is confident he has what it takes to succeed.
    "Jovan is a competitor and he is willing to work hard and absorb information," Koch told AFTN. "I think it is his willingness to address his limitations that has made him the player he is today. He has a winners mentality and is a natural goalscorer. He has not reached his peak yet and in the Whitecaps professional environment I think he will continue to get better and better."
    While drafting Blagojevic is great news for player and coach alike, it is also good for the soccer program itself at SFU and will only bring more added attention to what is already one of the best set ups in the country.
    "I am very happy for Jovan to be our first MLS draftee,". Koch continued. "SFU has had lots of players drafted [uSL and A-League], but not into Major League Soccer. Sporting KC had a lot of interest in Chris Bargholz and Alex Kleefeldt last year, but unfortunately nothing came out of that interest. Jovan's selection will only add to the exposure that our team continues to receive, and hopefully make it easier for the next player to get drafted in the near future.'
    That's a view also echoed by Blagojevic.
    "SFU's built me into the player that I am, so I'm very respectful of that program," Jovan told us. "It would be great for them to be able to bring in extra talent or to have them have extra spotlight now would be exciting for them and it would be exciting for me as an alumni now."
    Born in Belgrade, Serbia in 1991 and moving to Canada two years later, Blagojevic grew up in Burnaby and Coquitlam and played his youth football with Burnaby Selects before moving on to the Coquitlam Metro-Ford Wolves U18 side.
    BC boys on the Whitecaps roster are something of a rarity these days. Following a string of top players coming out of the province and the Whitecaps sides years ago, Richmond's Caleb Clarke is the only other BC homegrown on the Caps senior roster right now.
    So what does it mean to Jovan to have the chance to play for his hometown club?
    "It's amazing," Blagojevic admitted. "To even see my name pop up on that draft and then to see it pop up for Vancouver is crazy. To be able to stay at home with my family and to be with my girlfriend as well, it's quite something that I don't have to leave. It definitely helps.
    "Playing for Vancouver is awesome. It's something that you dream about. It's a fairytale coming true essentially."
    School, work and his footballing career with SFU and Metro-Ford have somewhat curtailed Jovan's opportunities to go and see the Whitecaps play live. He's only been able to get to a couple of 'Caps MLS games so far but regularly watches at home when he can.
    Having the chance to play for his local club, also brings with it, it's own little bit of pressure of course. Family and friends will be there and they will all want success. Not that Jovan feels under any extra or undue pressure as a result.
    "I'd feel the same way if I went anywhere. What I'm feeling, I'd feel anywhere I'd go. It's an amazing opportunity to have. The fact that it's local, yeah it's pretty cool. It's definitely nice, but it doesn't add much extra pressure on me that I'm one of the only local boys on the team."
    Blagojevic comes to the Caps in an unusual situation for a local lad. He didn't come through the Whitecaps' Residency program. As someone outwith the 'Caps system how does he view the experience of coming through the youth ranks locally but not with the Whitecaps and does he see himself as someone who can give hope to other players in that situation?
    "I don't know if exactly I feel that way but if it is that I'm giving other local kids that extra encouragement then that's great. I love to support local soccer. That's all I've had as a Coquitlam boy and a Burnaby boy. It was a nice experience playing my youth soccer and my men's soccer with local teams here."
    There is no doubt that there is still a very hard and tough road ahead if Blagojevic is to make it in the professional game, whether with the Whitecaps or someone else. As draft picks are always told, you've not made it, your journey actually starts now.
    Having watched him develop these past few years at SFU, there is no doubt in my mind that he has many of the skills needed to make it in the game but taking that next step up the ladder is always tricky. He'll be given all the tools and pathways to get there though and it's up to him now to keep developing and take them.
    The first step starts this weekend. Blagojevic will now join up with the 'Caps for the start of preseason training camp. The current players report back for their medicals on Saturday before the first on the field session on Monday, and Jovan is already pumped up and raring to go with his new team.
    "As for what's next training wise, I'm not sure yet. I was told that they'll give me a call to let me know what the gameplan is, so I'll be looking forward to that phone call."
    Here's is Jovan Blagojevic's highlight reel video:

    Guest
    The signature of LB Mike Randolph has been embraced positively by the Fury FC fans, with his NASL experience, pace and leadership, as captain of Atlanta Silverbacks in 2014, seen as impactful in a position that saw 3 players tried out with varying degrees of success.

    Photo courtesy of Atlanta Silverbacks FC
    The return of M Sinisa Ubiparipovic and F Oliver is quite signifiacnt to the Ottawa offense, as the two players were the most dangerous offensive weapons on the team for the 2014 season. Their familiarity with manager Marc Dos Santos's expectations will be a huge boon for OFFC.
    The re-signing of D Drew Beckie ensures that the Fury will have another positive year of bravery and determination from the young defender, while F Phil Davies brings technique, crossing and whipped balls from the set pieces. GK Marcel DeBellis is looking forward to his new role as the #2 keeper for Ottawa.

    Photo courtesy of Ottawa Citizen
    With the players currently signed, the Fury FC have 5 international spots filled out of 7, and one more will soon be filled this week with the addition of an international defender. With 13 of the 15 players having played with Ottawa last season, this team has a significant amount of continuity that will help tremendously for their 2nd season together.
    Currently, CSN projects an opening day starting lineup of Peiser; Beckie, Jarun, Trafford, Randolph; Paterson, Ryan, Ubiparipovic; Paulo Jr, Heinemann, Oliver. The team is currently most in need of additional fullbacks on both sides, two more CMs and a CF, as Ottawa has 2 keepers, 3 CB's, 1 FB, 4 CM's, 4 wingers, and 1 CF in their senior side as of January 20th.

    Photo courtesy of Ottawa Citizen
    The Fury FC players will be returning to training camp in Ottawa and take medicals by no later than February 16, according to Graeme Ivory of OFFC. With the expected addition of a significant signing in defense this week, the Fury FC off-season is truly ramping up.
    You can follow Namu Yoon on Twitter at @BBSC_SeoulBro, and his blog on Ottawa Fury FC at OFFCReview.wordpress.com, and at @OFFCReview.
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