BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
Sudbury's Giuseppe Politi is looking to
finally kick a haunting injury bug and help lead the Laurentian
University men's soccer team to an Ontario University Athletics
(OUA) playoff spot.
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Giuseppe Politi is the key
offensive force on the Laurentian soccer Vees, who are
hoping to pick up key wins on home field this
weekend. |
In his three previous seasons with
Laurentian, Politi has encountered one costly injury each
season and they all came at critical times.
This season, Politi was hoping the injury bug
would ravage another player, preferably on another team.
It wasn't so. In late August, even before the
2005-06 season started, Politi was hit with a hamstring
injury.
After a couple of ineffective games, in which
Politi tried to play through the pain, the skilled star sat out
last week's games against Brock and McMaster.
Now, Politi feels a heck of a lot better and
is ready to start making opposing defenders shake in their
cleats with his superior skills and goal-scoring ability.
"I am hoping I am recovered so that I can
make my contribution to the team and close out my university
soccer career on a high," said Politi. "I want to build on last
year's first team OUA All-star achievement and give everything
I have to make this team successful. We want to make the
playoffs and get past the OUA quarter finals."
Politi is a key piece of the puzzle for the
men's squad.
"Politi took on a leadership role last season
and we need him to continue that and lead the team on the
field," said head coach Carlo Castrechino. "This team is in a
bit of a funk (0-4-1 to start the season) and we hope he can
get back and help us out.
"That just shows how valuable he is. Other
teams key on him and when they see he's not in the lineup, they
have a sense of relief."
Politi's tremendous package of skill, passion
and professional attitude make him a classic team player and
one to be feared.
"Politi is so skilled that when he wants to,
no one can touch him in terms of skills, smarts and pace in the
OUA" said Castrechino. "He works hard all year round...and it
shows on the field. Politi plays with confidence and smarts and
is a very hard player to defend."
Politi knows the role he has to play for the
Vees to be successful.
"My role is to contribute and generate
offence," said Politi. "Carlo's belief in my abilities allows
me to be creative and dynamic in how I play. I am a creator in
terms of offensive tactics. Also, given the chance, goal
scoring is what I like to do."
Politi relishes every second he plays for
Laurentian because he gets to compete in front of hometown
crowds on a regular basis.
"Having people from the community, who know
me and come out to watch is great," said Politi. "There is so
much support for Laurentian soccer in the community."
Politi also gives back to the game that he
has played since he was eight.
He dons the coaching cloak during the summer
to help guide young players, and gets a lot of satisfaction
from watching youngsters get off on the right foot to a
successful soccer career.
Politi coaches the Panhellenic 1990 girls
team.
"Coaching helps my view and perspective of
the game," said Politi. "It's certainly an asset and an
advantage for me to coach."
Politi and his teammates are in action this
weekend at Laurentian. They host Ryerson on Saturday, Oct. 1
and then welcome Guelph University Sunday. Game time for both
matches is 3 pm. The women also play Ryerson and Guelph on the
same days. Those games start at 1 pm.
The women are fourth in the OUA women's North
Division with a 1-1-3 record, while the men are also fourth in
the men's North Division and are hoping Politi will lead them
to their first victory of the season.
