April 26, 2017 League 1 Ontario--Match Preview: Aurora FC vs Ottawa South United Force (from League 1 Ontario website)
Match Preview: Aurora FC v Ottawa South United Force 04/26/2017, 5:30pm EDT By League1 Ontario staff With only three days before the League1 Ontario 2017 season kicks off, anticipation is at an all-time high for what the season ahead will hold - the fourth season in the lifetime of this standards-based, pro-am, Ontario senior league. The off-season has brought a number of changes, with two new clubs coming into the league from Ottawa, a venerable name added to the women's division in Toronto Blizzard, and an exciting young women's team out of Unionville that looks stacked with junior national team players. These are only a few of the storylines in the league, and there are so many more... The weekend of April 28 - 30 is all about the men's division, with the women starting up on the weekend of May 5 - 7 (and a special women's kickoff event on May 13 in London, ON), so stick with us as we sequentially preview the match-ups and the teams that will do battle over our opening two weekends! Our second match of Matchday 2 for L1O Kickoff 2017 will also take place in the men's east division as Aurora FC enter their sophomore season with a home fixture against 2017 League1 debutantes, Ottawa South United (OSU) Force. St. Maximilian Kolbe H.S. in Aurora will be site for this match on Saturday April 29 (4 p.m. k.o.), as Aurora inaugurate a new ground for 2017. With a record of four wins, 15 losses and three draws in their first League1 season, Aurora will be looking to improve immediately on last year's record and quickly develop a home fortress mentality around their new ground at St. Max. OSU Force is an exciting and brand new entity in League1, representing both the nation's capital in general and an extremely successful youth club in specific in the League1 men's division. One of the largest youth clubs in the province with over 7,000 members, OSU's youth teams are known far and wide as top tier performers. The club has some impressive affiliations and should be able to avail of the depth and quality of a successful club and a region 900, 000 strong to select from. However, OSU will immediately have to grapple with the reality of the five hour drive to and from Ottawa on their opening day, so it remains to be seen how the team will cope with an Aurora side that has already recognized the importance of getting off to the right start in a League1 season. On the coaching side, this particular match-up will provide debuts for two highly qualified managers. Aurora was led by Toronto FC and Canadian international legend Jimmy Brennan in 2016, but with Brennan also operating as the club's Executive Director the coaching reins have in 2017 been transferred to Irishman Derek O'Keeffe. "Last season was our first season in the league, it was great start after building the team from scratch in 2016," said Brennan. "We've now got our foundation in place and been able to add to that with some great recruits and a talented new coach in Derek O'Keeffe." O'Keeffe is a UEFA B licensed coach, has a Bachelor of Honours in Sports Coaching and Development and two personal training diplomas. He currently operates as personal trainer in the Toronto area, but is well rooted in the North American soccer community with previous experience accrued during a spell with MLS side New York Red Bulls. Taking the lead for OSU Force is one of the city's most recognized names. As a player, Traian Mateas came up through Steau Bucharest academy in his native Romania, before playing professionally in Romania and later in Canada. Mateas has established himself as a coach of great renown in the Ottawa region after over 30 years of high-level player development locally and as a provincial instructor. Both coaches face a difficult challenge of squaring up brand new teams to compete in a league they have not yet experienced first-hand. Aurora had one of the top strikers of the season in 2016 via Swedish striker Simon Adjei (19 goals in 19 appearances), who accounted for nearly 80 per cent of the team's goals, but will have to find a new solution as Adjei is no longer involved in the set-up. Aurora will also miss the hard-work and industry of Zachary Mahrady, who left part-way through 2016 for a contract with Swedish side Tenhults IF, and with these and other influential players moved on to professional environments the club will have rebuilding to do. However, coach O'Keeffe does have personnel to highlight and will look to these names and others to develop a chemistry and signature style of play. "We have 21 year old, Joey Tituana is a central midfielder from Toronto that just recently won a provincial and national championship with the Humber Hawks," said O'Keeffe, "while 18 year old Dylan Rennie - a forward/ winger from Collingwood - will be beginning an athletics scholarship with the Algoma Thunderbirds in Sault Ste. Marie in the fall. Rennie has been playing League1 since he was 16 years of age and is a great prospect. His next step is hopefully going to the pro level." "Finally, we have 21 year old Matthew Caguana in central midfielder, who comes to us with plenty of top level experience from his youth teams in Spain. His experience and smarts will be an asset to this Aurora side," he said. "26 year old striker Ali Sozeri from Woodbridge has also come over from Boston University Terriers. This man will bring real target man toughness and experience to Aurora." "Finally we have an outstanding trio in keeper Alex Jakma, who returns from recent trials in Europe and some time with the Ottawa Fury; Maury Doner who has previous PDL experience in Florida and is a good energetic player that likes to get up and down the line, and Chris Jacovou is a University of Guelph Gryphon that plays in central midfield and likes to join in the attack." Out of Ottawa, head coach Mateas brings a squad that will not be well-known in the GTA but has top level credentials. "Dario Conte is a member of the OSU 1997 Boys team that were provincial champions in 2012," said OSU Technical Director, Paul Harris. "He's a technical center midfield player who is good on the ball and has the ability to unlock defences with a dribble or vision of a pass. He was part of the Ottawa Fury squad last year and has also spent time with Vancouver Whitecaps Residency program as well as attending trial at various clubs across Europe, including Blackburn Rovers, Crewe Alexandra, Peterborough United and Blackpool." "Marco Natoli was a member of OSU 1994/ 95 team and is a player well-known around the Ottawa area," he added. "Natoli currently plays at Algonquin College, was a youth member of the provincial team and had invitations for trials in Europe as well as with the youth National teams." "He's a number ten with great dribbling moves and again the ability to unpick defences with through balls or dribbles, as well as a potential free kick specialist." "Stefan Angelic is another member of the OSU 1997 boys team who joined the squad in their final years but settled in well. He's a tall and rangey midfield player who has the ability to get around the pitch and break up play before starting the moves from deep in a play making role." "Another player to highlight is Myles Cornwall, who was a member of the OSU 1997 Force team," he revealed. "Although he was actually born in 1998, he played up a year with this successful group." "Myles is a pacey left winger or centre forward with great work ethic and hunger and desire to improve. He's currently away in the USA at university, but will connect with the squad late in pre-season. We believe he will make an impact as the season gets under way." "Finally, we have Ricky Comba - member of the OSU 1999 Boys," concluded Harris. "He's a centre midfield player who was the captain of the provincial team for three years and again will be part of the Canada games squad for Ontario this summer. Tough tackling and creative midfielder whom we hope to introduce throughout the year and believe may thrive when playing at the next level." With a new ground to work with at St. Max, a foundation in place, and a year under their belt in the league, a young, energetic Aurora side could spring surprises from day one on unsuspecting opposition. However, with their depth of quality and experience at top tiers, OSU Force will have done their homework and prepared adequately to get their debut campaign off to the right start. OSU will know they can make Ottawa a home fortress of their own, and wins on the road could make or break a successful season. If you can't make it out to the match, follow the minute-by-minute account on League1 Ontario's Live Match twitter account, and tune into the League1 YouTube channel or head to League1Ontario.com afterwards for full match video, match recap, and post-match interviews with the coaches!
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