London
Free Press: City Hoping for Buzali Return
August 30, 2002
CITY HOPING FOR BUZALI RETURN
By Kathy Rumleski, Free Press
Sports Reporter
As London City gets set for five Canadian
Professional Soccer League games on the road, the team is hoping one of its key
players will be in the lineup soon.
Gentjan Buzali, 24, was to meet with the
Elgin-Middlesex Soccer Association over his involvement in a scuffle July 7 in a
Western Ontario Soccer League game between Benfica and Porto. The Premier
Division game was replayed Wednesday night and ended in a 2-2 tie. Porto was
leading 1-0 when the July 7 game was abandoned by the referee.
WOSL
secretary Ada Edwards said it was the league's decision to replay the game
because it was felt "both teams were at fault."
Buzali recently returned
from Portugal, where he was trying out for Second Division team Oliveira Do
Bairro. Once he receives citizenship after his marriage next year to a
Portuguese woman, Buzali anticipates playing professionally in Portugal.
"They want me to go back next year," he said.
He has been out of City's
lineup for close to two months. "I'm itching to play."
Manager Harry Gauss
would like Buzali in Thursday's game against the Hamilton Thunder, who are tied
for third, five points ahead of London in the Western Conference.
"It will
make a huge difference (if he's playing)," Gauss said.
Buzali has scored
four goals for City in his shortened season.
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