Giuseppe Politi, Cambrian College's new men's soccer coach, runs his teams on honesty and structure.
“It keeps it very organized and structured,” Politi said. “That way it keeps everybody honest. That's what it's all about. Keeping people honest and committed to the vision of what we're trying to do.”
When his defenders miss a tackle, or his strikers miss a routine shot, you can see the frustration on his face, and it doesn't take long for them to hear about it.
“C'mon Rooney,” Politi pokes at Joel Cropp, who is wearing an England Rooney jersey, when he strikes a ball wide of goal from just outside the 18 on an easy layoff pass at training camp.
Cropp is one of Cambrian's new additions. He was born in England and he doesn't miss those shots often. When he connects, as he often does, you can bet it's a bullet past the keeper. He's proven it across Ontario playing for the Panhellenic club.
When Politi's players look blankly on as he explains a drill, he is quick to jump in and demonstrate.
"Do you see? Do you understand? You know what I mean by laying off a ball?"
He waits for confirmation.
The player nods, caught slightly off guard from being singled out.
Politi's approach is straight forward.
Everything is done to make the team better. He asks for commitment, he asks everyone to "buy into the system."
“I can play good cop and I can play bad cop,” he says. “Post-secondary is all about discipline, the season can be long and you've got to keep people injury-free and on top of their academics.”
That system is a very Italian-style of the beautiful game.
Defend first, ask questions later.
“I like to protect my own home before I go and try to take over somebody else's.
Politi watches his players go through drill after drill.
“This is symbolic, isn't it? A hard-nosed Italian coach watching over an English player,” Politi jokes, referring to how his relationship with Cropp is much like English national team head coach Fabio Capello would be. An Italian coaching an Englishman.
Politi pushes his players. He makes them work under fatigue to see how it will affect a player's first touch.
“Can you do it under fatigue? Who can get it perfect when they're tired?” He asks of his players, rhetorically.
Evidently, Cropp can.
“Look at Rooney, he's putting on a clinic,” Politi exclaims, obvious excitement on his face in the form of a sly grin, as he watches Cropp juggle the ball in the air for over a minute, from one pylon to the next, doing a drill.
Aug. 28 is a chilly night of training camp. Politi makes his players concentrate a little extra on warming up.
It must be exceptionally cold for the Bermudan “Brethren,” as they are affectionately known, the group of footballers from Bermuda who make up an important core of the team. They are used to much warmer climates, but they fare well, and some show promise to secure a starting 11 spot on the roster.
Most importantly, Damen Mallory, 28, will be looked at to provide some leadership on and off the pitch to a team with some youngsters, several 20-years-old or younger.
A core of returning players will also be called on to the show some leadership and provide a solid core for the team.
Midfield speedsters like Kyle Westenenk will be looked at to make diagonal runs under Politi's system, and to find open space quickly. The Dutchman could also be an effective captain if he puts up solid offensive numbers, and might be eying the coveted armband, as he will be returning for his third year with the team.
Workhorses like Jakob Quinn and Brad Kinzett may be called on to mark tight and get a foot in to frustrate opposing players on all thirds of the pitch, or to break down opposing defensive structure with quick passing, depending where Politi uses their versatile skill sets.
Although Politi favours skill over grit, he understands balance is essential.
“I like the skilled players, that's how I played,” he says. “But there has to be some of those hard-tackling guys in the line-up. There has to be a balance.”
Rough tacklers Jesse Sbrega and Ryan Steinman will be looked at to aggravate and intimidate opposing attackers, as they did effectively for last year's squad. The two will be looked at to stay away from taking altercations too far and getting into yellow-card trouble, though.
There will be some new blood in the veins of Cambrian's lineup this season that could provide the jolt Politi will need to get into the playoffs.
Much anticipated newcomer Arthur Vaies , whom Politi coaches on his Panhellenic Premier team will be favoured to win a starting spot on the defense, and possibly compete for captaincy.
“Arthur will certainly add some composure and stability to our back line,” Politi said. “He brings both positivity and maturity to the table. He really understands the game and I hope his knowledge will be contagious to the other players.”
Andre Veilleux, another newcomer, will be looked at to win air battles in the defensive end with his 6'5, agile frame, and to skillfully slide in and win the ball when the game is on the line, as he has for the Voima Lions (formerly the Polish Eagles) in Sudbury's first division as their sweeper for the past three seasons.
Also, 19-year-old Antonio Radford-Paz and English-accented Joel Cropp will be looking at translating their fast feet and lethal strikes from Sudbury Premier play to the college level.
“Joel can fulfill a striker role or a wide midfield position,” Politi said. “He has deceptive speed and, when tuned into the game, can finish very well. He's a quiet player, but can have a huge impact.”
Derek Huffels is another newcomer from Politi's Premier team, and will be looked at to have an impact.
“Derek provides a lot of energy and heart,” Politi said. “He can play up in a forward role or even in the middle of the park. He's got an instinct for goal and creates a lot for his teammates.”
As far as goalkeeping, Politi should feel safe with Cody Welsh as his last line of defense. The keeper's stats from last year can't be held against him, as most of the goals weren't a result of a mistake on his part. And with assistant coach Jonathan Hussak training him, he'll only get better.
Hussak was chosen by Politi to be the assistant coach.
“I brought in Jon (Hussak) because he worked with me all summer,” Politi said. “He knows my expectations, having worked with me for the last four or five months. He also has a specialty in goal-keeping, which is what I need the most help with. Goalkeepers need specialized training, especially at this level.”
Hussak worked with Politi for the Panhellenic soccer camp this summer and coached a team under Politi as the club head coach.
“It's an honour,” Hussak said of his appointment as assistant coach. “I asked him if I was going to work with the keepers, and he said that's what I'd be doing. So it was nice to know I'd be needed for that.”
Hussak won't only work with the keepers, he will help Politi work with players, run the team and run drills.
Coming into the official launch of training camp on Aug.31, Politi has 35 players registered, and that is not counting the dozens who usually show up unannounced, as has happened in the past.
Cambrian finished fourth out of five teams in the OCAA East division last year, with a record of 2-8-2. Politi is looking to improve on that.
“I'm not as familiar with the College circuit, coming from the University circuit, having coached and played there. Our number one goal is to make the playoffs. We'll do anything we can to make the playoffs.”
Politi has his CSA national B coaching license, and his USSF national B license, from the States. He is one of the most qualified coaches in the city. And possibly the right man to bring Cambrian men's soccer team to its first playoff race, which would require a second place finish in their division.
“I hope I can bring whatever I can to Cambrian soccer to move them up from where they've been,” Politi said. “Brian (Ashton) started it off great for the first five years with the program. Now we can move it forward.”
Ashton coached Cambrian for the last five years. He had an impressive resume, having played professionally in England and down in Toronto, coaching the regional youth program for Northern Ontario and having several national coaching licenses to his name.
Unfortunately for Cambrian this season, they will face the top-ranked team in Ontario and second-ranked team on the national college stage, the Algonquin Thunder, at home on Sept.11 to open up the season.
“We're excited to start,” he said. “It's a new adventure. It will be interesting to see what we can do at this school.”
Politi said some games will require an “ugly game” of soccer. Algonquin would be one of those games. In the past they have out-passed, out-chanced and out-ran Cambrian.
“At the end of the day, if we win, they won't put a little asterisk beside our name saying we didn't play possession soccer. But the tactics are results-oriented. We'll do what we can to get the result that we want.”
Politi will be hoping David can beat Goliath on Sept.11 at 8 p.m., even if it's not pretty.
