September 2, 2004 Share Newspaper preview Metro Lions (CPSL) vs Portmore United (Jamaica)
Top JA soccer club to play in T.O.
By RON FANFAIR
One of Jamaica's top soccer clubs will make an appearance in Toronto next week for the inaugural Arnold Milan International Soccer Cup.
Portmore United, the 2003 Jamaica Premier League champions, will oppose Canadian Professional Soccer League (CPSL) Eastern Conference leaders Metro Lions at Birchmount Stadium on September 12.
The event is the brainchild of well-known entrepreneur and philanthropist Arnold Milan who owns the Lions.
"We are very excited about this new venture," said Voja Jurisic, the event's managing director. "When we looked around, we realized some of the world's top club sides like Porto and AC Milan were coming to this city and playing for sold out crowds, and at the end of the day, the local club players were not benefiting from this exercise.
"As a result, Arnold decided to come up with an event that will give exposure to some of the lesser known club sides around the world while giving club teams here an opportunity to play against them.
"We have players from the Caribbean, Africa, Russia, Serbia and Romania on our squad and we intend to bring a different club from a different part of the world every year to showcase their skills to our diverse community. That's the game plan."
Former Jamaican international Gregory Messam will lead the Metro Lions against Portmore in the contest. Messam, who was recently cut by the Toronto Lynx, represented Jamaica in 43 internationals.
Portmore United (formerly Hazard United) has been in existence for close to two decades. Prior to advancing to the Wray and Nephew national 12-team Premier league, the club started out in the Clarendon League Division Two series before advancing to Division One where it spent two seasons.
The club was forced to change its name last season because of a Jamaica Soccer Federation stipulation that each club must have a facility that accommodates 1,500 fans. As a result, the club was relocated from Clarendon to St. Catherine and now uses the Ferdie Neita Sports Complex.
Over the years, the club - coached by Lenworth Hyde -- has boasted several senior national representatives, including former captain Linval Dixon, Claude Davis and Omar Daley.
Tickets for the event range from $12-$20 and can be purchased at Nicey's food marts across the city or by calling (416) 636-4625. Kids Under-10 will be admitted free.
Kick-off is 4 p.m.
Prior to the main event, a Toronto Caribbean Soccer League West All-Stars side will clash with an East All-Stars Caribbean side, beginning at 2 p.m.
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