Local men’s soccer teams battled for the Sudbury Star Cup in Sudbury Regional Competitive Soccer League action this past weekend at the James Jerome Sports Complex.
Five local teams competed across two divisions Aug. 12-13. There was a men’s Open Division and a Men’s Over-35 division.
Before the event, organizers said Sudbury SC Italia was looking to capture its fourth consecutive Over-35 title, but faced stiff competition from Sault Ste. Marie Athletic, Brampton Dashmesh FC and Sudbury Afro-Heritage Sr.
Dashmesh FC was victorious, winning 5-0 over Sudbury SC Italia. The top goal scorer was Karamir Singh with four, and Kevin Bryan was tournament MVP. Both are players with Dashmesh FC.
In the Open Division, Sault Ste. Marie defended its title against Timmins FC, Brampton Dashmesh FC Jrs., plus a trifecta of Sudbury teams, including the Sudbury Stallions, Southend United and Afro-Heritage Jrs.
In the open division, tied 1-1 after regulation, Dasmesh FC Jr's. defeated Sudbury Stallions 5-3 in penalty shots.
The top goal scorer was Amrit Masutawith with six and the tournament MVP was Gill Amit, both also of Dasmesh FC.
“It's fantastic to have this tournament running annually,” said SRSCL President Tony Nuziale in a news release. “It’s a great opportunity for local teams to compete against teams outside of our league and it gives Sudbury an opportunity to showcase our city and our facilities.”
The history of the Sudbury Star Cup dates to the early 1920s, organizers told local media.
”The sport of soccer experienced a period of growth following the end of the First World War and the game appeared to have a promising future in Northern Ontario. Sudbury, and other cities across the region, boasted competitive teams eager to challenge southern foes for provincial honors and, in 1921, the Sudbury Star Cup was established.”
To get to the Ontario Cup tournament, local clubs had to battle it for the local cup first.
“The Falconbridge Falcons, Frood Tigers, Olympia, Italia Flyers and Polish White Eagles all secured the Star Cup on route to their Ontario Cup Championships,” organizers said. “By the late 1990s, the participation of local squads in the Ontario Cup was diminishing and the Star Cup was retired from competition.”
However, in 2014 the Sudbury Regional Competitive Soccer League brought the cup back “in an effort to continue the longstanding Caruso Club tournament.”
This year’s tournament also featured a ceremonial Over-50 match “to celebrate and encourage participation from several players who have been a part of the SRCSL at one time or another.”
“The weekend, and the tournament, is about celebrating soccer in Sudbury and the history of the game,” Nuziale said. “The league has been running since the early 1910s so there’s a lot of history there. The guys are excited and it’s exciting to find a way to incorporate them into the tournament.”
Pursuit is made possible by our Community Leaders Program.
