When the curtain rose on the Sudbury Canadians 2006 season, optimism was sky high as the club hoped to win seven games and further entrench themselves as a rising franchise in the United Soccer League - W-League.
It didn't happen. In fact, the team went 180 degrees in the
opposite direction, going winless in their third season. They
finished the season with a 0-12 record (they won three games in
2005) and scored just two goals while allowing 58 against. The
team finished dead last in the Northern Division. Many
questions remain as to where the team is going and whether or
not they should even be in the USL.
Northern Life reporter Scott Haddow sat down with Canadians GM Frank Malvaso to ask the tough questions about the club, its direction and the future of the USL in Greater Sudbury.
SH: This was supposed to be a break out year for the
Canadians. What went wrong?
FM: There were two main reasons for it. One, our talent pool is
too small and two, we were optimistic the younger girls could
fill in. We learned the hard way. In Sudbury, we only have a
handful of players. The average age of the rosters of other
teams is 23...and ours was between 18 and 19. I am not happy
with the season, but it was a reality check as to where we can
go.
SH: Can Sudbury survive at this level and what would it
take?
FM: Yes. Recruiting is the serious problem we have to address.
Sudbury isn't big enough alone and we have to recruit from
outside the area. The clubs that are doing better have a broad
recruiting system. One of the things we have to do - and it
will be difficult - is getting players to Sudbury. We need a
core of Northern Ontario players, surrounded by a group of
players from other areas. We also need to meet with all the
soccer clubs in the north and leave no stone unturned,
searching for new players. Looking for players and recruiting
players is a full time job, but that's the answer and we have
to go out and do it.
SH: With such an uphill battle, which isn't getting
easier, why keep doing it?
FM: For the kids. There's people telling us to give it up and
Sudbury doesn't belong in the USL. We do it, and will keep
doing it, so the kids in the area have something to strive
for-playing soccer at the highest possible level. These kids
get to play the best players in the world and that's worth
it.
SH: Is the team going to fold?
FM: No we are not. Nobody is kicking us out either. The
challenge isn't staying in the USL, it's competing at this
level.
SH: What are your hopes for the immediate
future?
FM: If we have a team of primarily North American players in
2007, getting to .500 would be great. It's a realistic goal. It
will not be easy to do. We need a pool of about 27 players. We
also need to bring in more coaching resources and a training
and conditioning plan. We need to give it five years from now
because we haven't put all the pieces together. We will be back
and continue, knowing there's a lot of work ahead.
SH: Overall, what did you think of the effort put forth
by the players and rookie head coach Emile Malvaso?
FM: I admire the players for what they went through. They don't
make any money and despite the odds, they showed up every game
and battled. They never quit or gave up. They all have great
character. Emile was thrown in at the last minute and he did a
good job for us.
