May 26, 2005 USL Toronto Lynx news (from Share newspaper)
Lynx hopes trade will help
By RON FANFAIR
The winless Toronto Lynx has traded last season's Most Valuable Player and top goalscorer Ali Gerba to the defending United Soccer League's (USL) first division champions Montreal Impact.
In return, the Lynx has acquired the rights to defender Abraham Francois, who missed the entire 2004 season with a knee injury, and striker Sita-Taty Matondo who played one game with the Impact this season.
Coach Herbert Busby said the shake-up was made because of the team's disappointing start this season and the fact that Montreal-native Gerba wanted to be closer to his home. Gerba's wife did not want to relocate to Toronto with their seven-month-old baby.
"At the start of the season, everything was fine with Ali, but in the last two weeks I began to notice a change in his attitude," said Busby. "Of course, losing does not help so we thought it would be in the club's best interest to facilitate a trade for him and also get some pieces that will help make our club better as we go forward."
Toronto Lynx Chief Operating Officer Nicole Hartrell said the decision to part with Gerba, who scored both goals in the Impact's 2-1 win over the Rochester Raging Rhinos last Saturday, was difficult. He finished fourth in the league in scoring last year and led the Lynx this year in most offensive categories.
"In the end however we try and accommodate the personal needs of our players while at the same time making the necessary adjustments to our roster to improve our performance on the field and continue to provide our fans with high quality competitive play," she added.
Matondo represented Canada at the Under-17, Under-20 and Olympic levels and participated in the Swedish second division league last year before returning to the Impact for the 2005 season. Busby coached Francois in 2002 when the Ottawa Wizards captured the regular season title.
"I know what Francois can do and Sita-Taty is one of the young emerging players on the scene," said Busby. "I will work them gradually into the line-up as we seek to turn things around."
Busby also told Share that he's disappointed with the performance of Trinidad & Tobago international Conrad Smith who has just one point in six matches.
"No doubt he has to step it up because we are expecting much more of him," said Busby. "He understands the league and what is expected of him. His returns have not been good so far."
After a week off, the last-place Lynx returns to action on Saturday night against the Puerto Rico Islanders at Centennial Stadium at 7:30 p.m.
The Toronto Lady Lynx, on the other hand, has made quite an impressive start in its inaugural season in the USL W-league, shutting out the New York Magic 2-0 at Centennial Stadium last Saturday.
It was the Lady Lynx's second win in as many matches following its season-opener 3-1 victory over the Vermont Lady Voltage in the league's northern division.
Deana Everett and Melanie Booth scored the first-half goals.
The Lady Lynx will seek to boost its unbeaten record when the club opposes the Sudbury Canadians at Cambrian College on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, Caribbean Stars/North Scarborough United beat Ebony Juniors on penalty kicks in the Iere tournament final last Saturday at Lamport stadium. The game was deadlocked at nil-all at the end of extra time.
Caribbean Stars/North Scarborough advanced to the final by defeating Vincey United on penalty kicks while Ebony Juniors advanced to the championship game with a 1-0 victory over Everton.
Scarborough United and Young Lions were the other participants in the six-team tournament.
Caribbean Stars/North Scarborough mid-field player Benedict Wallace was voted the tournament's MVP.
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