Remember the CSL? Me Neither. But Apparently They’re Expanding!
The Canadian Soccer League has announced plans to nearly double the size of the league, from 17 to 30 teams, and spread its reach across the country: Six teams are slated to end up in Alberta and the Prairies, one in Quebec City and a whack more in – you guessed it! – southern Ontario and Toronto (with 20 teams in Toronto alone. Twenty!).
The big question for us at Some Canadian Guys has to be “Is this good for Canadian soccer?”
The answer: I’m not so sure.
For starters, league commissioner Gary Kaplan is making a point of bumping up the number of sides in the
so-called “international division,” which I’ve already taken issue with. The proposed addition of Greek, Korean and African (presumably Kaplan knows that “Africa” isn’t a country) clubs may find supporters, but it will further entrench the stupidly Canadian problem of cheering for countries (or, as it may be, entire continents) that aren’t Canada. Drawing on Toronto’s multifarious the ethnic divisions may make business sense, but it’s not a great idea by most other standpoints. Mostly, as I’ve said, we should be trying to develop Canadian soccer, not give the thumbs up to the guys from Woodbridge who like to think that, despite their place of birth/raising/residence, they’re more Italian than Canadian, and so would revel in seeing Italy crush the Canadian MNT.
Also – and somebody call up Cathal Kelly – if you really want to fire up some soccer hooliganism in Toronto, why not create more entrenched ethnic division in a league league with an expanding profile. If the CSL becomes something that anyone actually cared about, those Serbian White Eagle v Toronto Croatia matches could amp up a bit, eh?
On the other hand, the league is reaching out to Alberta (Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer, reportedly) Saskatchewan (Regina) and Manitoba (Winnipeg), collectively a big soccer market that is currently sorely underdeveloped. That can’t but be a good thing for the development of the game in a big swath of Canadian soil with no MLS or USL teams on the horizon.
On the other other hand, is this spreading Canadian soccer a bit thin? If, as I’m sure Kaplan hopes, this boosts the CSL, and makes it a successful and more professional league, will that mean it is in competition with USL and (maybe to a lesser extent) MLS? If Canada spreads serious soccer over MLS, USL and the CSL, not only will the footie-loving population of this country be rendered senseless by the preponderance of acronyms, but the lack of focus could damage the impact of this growth.
Still another hand pipes in with: “well, Kaplan is eyeballing a move into the Nutrilite Canadian Championships, isn’t that a good thing?” Umm…I think so. The Voyageurs Cup already has good traction as an all-Canadian soccer competition, so expanding it can hardly be a bad thing.
Except, of course, if the teams are of such low quality they get drubbed by TFC and Vancouver (when they make the MLS big-time), and the whole thing becomes a farce. And, with twenty teams in the Greater Toronto Area (as Kaplan as wished upon a star for), the quality of play just can’t be near high enough to compete with sides boasting multiple internationals. In fact, I think I may already be slated to start in goal for the International Divisions newest addition, Pasty Caledonians FC.
Therefore, in the end, I have no idea if this idea will work, or even if it’s something Canadian soccer fans should want to work. But, for now, it’s growth that’s actually happening in Canadian soccer, so how bad could it be?
May 13, 2009 at 2:02 pm
20 teams in Toronto? There aren’t even 20 suitable venues in Toronto. What are they gonna do, spread 20 teams out between Lamport, Esther Shiner and Varsity?
As for your general argument… I already got in some trouble on the Voyageurs board for suggesting pretty much what you’ve said. Let’s hope that no fans of the Serbian White Eagles find this post (or they’ll talk your ear off about supporting Canadian water polo).
May 14, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Pls tell me about the African Icons fc. Best wishes to you all. Thanks
May 15, 2009 at 12:22 am
Hey Africa! Are the lions real scary?
(Sorry, I had to.)
May 13, 2009 at 2:03 pm
“Let’s hope that no fans of the Serbian White Eagles find this post”
That could be a problem, seeing as I just posted a link to this post on the V’s board.
May 13, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Expansion to 30 teams is a VERY LONG TERM ambition.
Medium term would be to grow the league to 12-14 solid Ontario/Quebec based clubs.
Further out will be to expand to a minimum of 6 Western clubs (Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, Brandon, Winnipeg and Thunder Bay have all been mentioned). I’ll believe Wester expansion will happen when I see it but if it can be pulled off, it will be very good.
As for Ontario, I don’t love the ethnic team names but there is no argument that those are the teams that CURRENTLY bring in the biggest crowds. I think people who believe that fans of Toronto Croatia don’t wish the best for Canada simply don’t know the people who are in the stands. The vast majority of the players in the league are Canadian, the younger ones almost exclusively aspire to represent Canada and the fans in the stands are all Canadians who like to support the club that is reflects them best. Do I wish Serbian White Eagles were called White Eagles FC? Sure. Will it keep me from games? No, because the quality of play is high.
The CSL is uniquely positioned to help promote the fortunes of the Canadian national teams better than any other senior league. If the league would make it a priority to set aside roster spots for the best U18 players in the province/country, over time, we would have a larger pool of players who have actually been tested by players who are better than they are, who are forced to play under pressure in tight space, who are forced to become more tactically aware because they are being guided by professional (rather than amateur) coaches.
Squizz, your comment about facilities has some validity but what I would counter with is that, because most facilities now have turf rather than grass, we don’t need as many stadiums to support these teams. I have no issue with teams sharing stadiums. Toronto Croatia and White Eagles are apparently sharing Centenial.
Don’t forget that Birchmount Stadium (Northeast part of the beaches/southwest part of Scarborough) has a new turf field and would make a very adequate site for a CSL team.
There is also Varsity Stadium (which might be too expensive to rent but which has excellent seating and a high quality turf pitch).
Right now, Vaughn Shooters plays at a high school in Maple with a turf field and seating for about 1000-1200. I would imagine that, if necessary, arrangements could be made with muncipalities and school boards to put sufficient bleacher seating at high schools equipped with a turf pitch (like what the Shooters did in Maple) and a scoreboard. I know that there is a school in Mississauga that would be a perfect site for that type of retrofit.
I would suggest to anyone who cares about the fate of our National Teams that they ought to throw a little support to the CSL but demand loudly that this league become part of our player development problems. They have the capacity to do so. I have personally challenged the league officers to force the CSA to work with them to help develop the region’s best young players and I think they are listening.
May 13, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Just remember, readers: Sure VPjr is a much more respected personage in the Canadian soccer world; and fine, so he’s a more active and highly regarded Voyageur than the three of us knuckleheads combined; and he does indeed provide better insider information, and more insightful, level-headed commentary into the world of Canadian soccer. Yes, he offers all of that.
But note that he didn’t make even one cheap, self-deprecating joke about himself, and we all know that’s why you’re visiting this site.
Now, for the record, I heartily agree with VPjr’s comments. Specifically, using a revamped and cooperative CSL as a platform for player development is a fantastic idea, and ties in nicely with the competitive upper tier of Canadian footie that Jason DeVos is calling for over at the CBC.
That said, I can’t get past the idea that the International Division is a bad thing, if only in that it perpetuates the idea that soccer is somehow not Canadian. That single idea is a big stumbling block our development as a soccer country. It may be simple things like the name “Serbian White Eagles” as opposed to “White Eagles,” but the perception that the team is better or more successful (which, in turn, becomes the reality) by being “European” and not Canadian is damaging.
This mindset keeps alive, again, the idea that soccer is not “Canadian,” even though it is. And (according to youth registration numbers) it IS Canadian, in greater numbers even than hockey.
It’s fair to say that we succeed in hockey partly because we think of it as “ours,” and we refuse to accept failure in a game that is “ours.” If the system needs fixing, we care enough to fix it (see the Hockey Canada revamp after the Nagano Olympics gong-show). Canada needs that kind of mindset (amongst other things, obviously) for soccer.
May 13, 2009 at 10:58 pm
“Squizz, your comment … has some validity”
That might be the first time I’ve heard that from anyone, never mind someone of Dino’s stature. I’m going to get it put on a plaque.
But you’re right – how the hell could I forget Birchmount Stadium, home of the Robbie? (Thanks BNL).
May 14, 2009 at 11:01 am
[...] The Canadian Soccer League has announced plans to nearly double the size of the league, from 17 to 30 [...]
May 14, 2009 at 11:53 pm
[...] some canadian guys writing about soccer a canadian perspective on the beautiful game « Remember the CSL? Me Neither. But Apparently They’re Expanding! [...]
May 15, 2009 at 3:10 am
“As for your general argument… I already got in some trouble on the Voyageurs board for suggesting pretty much what you’ve said. Let’s hope that no fans of the Serbian White Eagles find this post (or they’ll talk your ear off about supporting Canadian water polo).”
squizz for this you have a beer from me.
PS. please send my love to peace keeper in Calgary from me. He gave me inspiration for the nick. See you at the next Canadian National Team water polo match
.
May 15, 2009 at 12:59 pm
^ Deal. If the YouTube clips I’ve seen of Ultra Serbs ‘06 are any indication, I bet it’d be a hell of a good time!
May 20, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Serbia!