League1 Ontario: A Great Idea by Stephen Ademolu
Canadian flag & sky – Photograph
by Canadian journalist Djuradj Vujcic |
“Basically, I just gave the respected reader of the Urban Book Circle two innovative ideas to think about. We now have TFC Academy in this league that could be the gateway to all youths to get to play in MLS. Academy leads to first team and that’s what we want. The goal of teams in this league should be to win the league and to build players skill-level up so they can get a chance to play for Toronto FC in the end and maybe go to Europe, who knows.” – Stephen Ademolu, journalist, contributor to the Urban Book Circle
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League1 Ontario: A Great Idea
It’s
a great idea that we are making a new league and I hope we’re also working on
the quality of referees because they go hand in hand. Off topic, I did read that
we have a Canadian linesman at the World Cup so I’m very elated because it’s
been too long and we need this. Back to
the league talk, I hope this league is going to help the Canadian national team
find home players in Canada.
I think that’s a main problem with our system. We do not have a league that the
Canadian staff look upon for talent. My
first observation is from an article I read and in it League1 Ontario Chairman
Dino Rossi said, “This league is designed to bridge a gap in Ontario’s talented player pathway on the men’s
side. To this point we have not been able to adequately address the needs of
our top players once they have exhausted their opportunities at the highest
levels of youth soccer. League1 will go a long way to correct this issue.”
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Now I guess it’s my job now to analyze and critique – it feels good being on the other side for once. I’m not old and I believe I’m still relevant on and off the field. In my opinion, there is no gap to be bridged. We need a sturdy bridge with a lot of support. I didn’t go to school in the 1970s so I’m not outdated at all so when I see that statement, it’s not what I want to hear. I played for Windsor FC Nationals as a youth but right after that I went to university in the United States of America and that is how we bridge the gaps. We bridge the gap by first instilling in the youth that we want them to continue their education while hopefully getting a scholarship where it pays for your education while you learn to become a student-athlete. I think that’s a big problem – we have to get kids scholarships and full rides! The youth system is failing before they even get to this league. Our youths should be doing their SATs. We should be getting videos from their youth games and training them as much as possible and putting these kids in more tournaments not only in Canada but in international tournaments as well. This is what I want to encourage when I start my academy. Am I off here? Does this make sense what I’m saying? When I’m typing this, I have the biggest smile on my face because I’m not just a good player but I’m wise about the game beyond my age too.
The Canadian Soccer League isn’t a bad league but it’s not a league to develop kids the right way and this League1 is not like the icing on the cake in my eyes. Having said that, I’m very happy it’s here and it’s change so I’m interested. So, thank you to whomever made this happen! It’s a good thing in theory what Canada is trying to do. I do agree with that but the league still does not have teams like Ottawa and London and probably some other cities I might be missing but we need these teams to be complete in my eyes. This is a perfect start though and I might be playing in it to bless the league with professional experience – along with my “partner-in-crime” David Kadoic who I will talk about soon enough but another time.
The way the League1 has created its format is one of the best things I have noticed. Instead of having playoffs, I believe we have took the right steps from European leagues and made it into whoever wins the table wins the league. Whoever wins the league by the points system (3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 for a loss) will make the league become more elite. The Ontario Cup could be the league cup. I always think we should take notes from Europe and mimic them in any way possible and I believe this league is not necessarily bridging the gap but for teams like Toronto FC, it’s going to get them ready for MLS at a young age. This league is going to be a momentous thing and hopefully Toronto FC will be like a mother team for all teams. We want our best players playing for TFC Academy – until I open up my own academy than I believe TFC can come right to my academy and pick some players up! TFC can now find more talent in Ontario and put them in their books and improve them, chisel them, mold them into better players. TFC Academy has Toronto FC so the academy is just creating talented players to bring them up to the main team. The other young players in this league should try to win the league but also try and make the TFC Academy team because the system is all set up for the player to succeed there. If the player is good enough for TFC Academy, he will get called up to the first team and then hopefully his career will grow. I’ll say it again: I believe that if that’s the path a player is trying to go at then yes, this is a great league!
I still believe we should be trying to get our children into American universities where the competition is very hard especially if you go to a good Division 1 school. I went to UNCP which is a Division 2 school and we took soccer seriously. I also had the opportunity to go to the real University of North Carolina and let me tell you, that is a job right there! They do not mess around and it’s just like the professional level but instead of paying the player, they pay most of them to go to school. Meaning their education is free but soccer becomes a job and one of the best jobs. Video sessions, great gyms, facilities, workout programs, on and off-season programs, diet plans – you name it, they had it. Of course I would love to see players go to Canadian universities but the gap between UNC and a York University for example are on another level. If we could get our universities in Canada to give more scholarships and get to the level of a UNC or a Maryland University program then why wouldn’t kids stay in Canada?
Basically, I just gave the readers of the Urban Book Circle two innovative ideas to think about. We now have TFC Academy in this league that could be the gateway to all youths to get to play in MLS. Academy leads to first team and that’s what we want. The goal of teams in this league should be to win the league and to build players skill-level up so they can get a chance to play for Toronto FC in the end and maybe go to Europe, who knows.
The third idea is that youth teams have to get their players ready for the university level. That means that those SATs and high school grades have to get up in those As and there needs to be video of kids playing at the youth level. The other option I think is good is to not ever forget about university! I stress this because soccer players can’t play forever and you always need a backup plan or a Plan B and Plan C. Let’s get our children to go to university and get a free education!
The Canadian Soccer League isn’t a bad league but it’s not a league to develop kids the right way and this League1 is not like the icing on the cake in my eyes. Having said that, I’m very happy it’s here and it’s change so I’m interested. So, thank you to whomever made this happen! It’s a good thing in theory what Canada is trying to do. I do agree with that but the league still does not have teams like Ottawa and London and probably some other cities I might be missing but we need these teams to be complete in my eyes. This is a perfect start though and I might be playing in it to bless the league with professional experience – along with my “partner-in-crime” David Kadoic who I will talk about soon enough but another time.
The way the League1 has created its format is one of the best things I have noticed. Instead of having playoffs, I believe we have took the right steps from European leagues and made it into whoever wins the table wins the league. Whoever wins the league by the points system (3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 for a loss) will make the league become more elite. The Ontario Cup could be the league cup. I always think we should take notes from Europe and mimic them in any way possible and I believe this league is not necessarily bridging the gap but for teams like Toronto FC, it’s going to get them ready for MLS at a young age. This league is going to be a momentous thing and hopefully Toronto FC will be like a mother team for all teams. We want our best players playing for TFC Academy – until I open up my own academy than I believe TFC can come right to my academy and pick some players up! TFC can now find more talent in Ontario and put them in their books and improve them, chisel them, mold them into better players. TFC Academy has Toronto FC so the academy is just creating talented players to bring them up to the main team. The other young players in this league should try to win the league but also try and make the TFC Academy team because the system is all set up for the player to succeed there. If the player is good enough for TFC Academy, he will get called up to the first team and then hopefully his career will grow. I’ll say it again: I believe that if that’s the path a player is trying to go at then yes, this is a great league!
I still believe we should be trying to get our children into American universities where the competition is very hard especially if you go to a good Division 1 school. I went to UNCP which is a Division 2 school and we took soccer seriously. I also had the opportunity to go to the real University of North Carolina and let me tell you, that is a job right there! They do not mess around and it’s just like the professional level but instead of paying the player, they pay most of them to go to school. Meaning their education is free but soccer becomes a job and one of the best jobs. Video sessions, great gyms, facilities, workout programs, on and off-season programs, diet plans – you name it, they had it. Of course I would love to see players go to Canadian universities but the gap between UNC and a York University for example are on another level. If we could get our universities in Canada to give more scholarships and get to the level of a UNC or a Maryland University program then why wouldn’t kids stay in Canada?
Basically, I just gave the readers of the Urban Book Circle two innovative ideas to think about. We now have TFC Academy in this league that could be the gateway to all youths to get to play in MLS. Academy leads to first team and that’s what we want. The goal of teams in this league should be to win the league and to build players skill-level up so they can get a chance to play for Toronto FC in the end and maybe go to Europe, who knows.
The third idea is that youth teams have to get their players ready for the university level. That means that those SATs and high school grades have to get up in those As and there needs to be video of kids playing at the youth level. The other option I think is good is to not ever forget about university! I stress this because soccer players can’t play forever and you always need a backup plan or a Plan B and Plan C. Let’s get our children to go to university and get a free education!
Stephen Ademolu,
journalist
journalist
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Stephen Ademolu, journalist
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Column & Photographs: Stephen Ademolu
All rights reserved 2014. Copyright © Stephen Ademolu
Canadian flag & sky – Photograph by Canadian journalist Djuradj Vujcic
All rights reserved 2008. Copyright © Djuradj Vujcic
Design & Artwork by Djuradj Vujcic
Illustrated by Sarah Riordan
Edited by Prvoslav Vujcic
and Deidre McAuliffe
All rights reserved 2014. Copyright © Urban Book Circle
C O N T A C T
Published by Urban Book Circle on August 2, 2014
Urban Book Circle® (UBC)
All rights reserved 2014. Copyright © Stephen Ademolu
Canadian flag & sky – Photograph by Canadian journalist Djuradj Vujcic
All rights reserved 2008. Copyright © Djuradj Vujcic
Design & Artwork by Djuradj Vujcic
Illustrated by Sarah Riordan
Edited by Prvoslav Vujcic
and Deidre McAuliffe
All rights reserved 2014. Copyright © Urban Book Circle
C O N T A C T
Published by Urban Book Circle on August 2, 2014
Urban Book Circle® (UBC)
Urban Book Circle: a circle of the gifted, literate and brave.