CIS standout goes pro: Dosanjh signs FC Edmonton deal

Gagandeep Dosanjh

The name of the newly signed attacking midfield player that FC Edmonton coach Colin Miller has been hinting at throughout the NASL July hiatus has been revealed.

And it’s not a major surprise — former University of British Columbia standout Gagandeep Dosanjh has committed to FC Edmonton, and will join the club this week.

The team also announced that trialist Anthony Adur had signed a deal after a successful trial (CLICK HERE) and that youth keeper Norbert Janas has been given a first-team job, as Simon Thomas, who had been on a part-time loan from the Whitecaps, has now been recalled on a full-time basis to Vancouver. Janas will become the third-string keeper for the Eddies, while Whitecaps fans may begin all sorts of speculation about their four-keeper setup now that Thomas has been recalled.

Dosanjh, who was a key part of the Thunderbirds’ undefeated 2012 CIS championship season, had a trial stint with the Eddies before the spring season. But, Dosanjh wasn’t available to make the move as a full-time pro the time, as he still had school credits to complete. The Eddies clearly wanted Dosanjh enough that they were willing to wait.

Dosanjh spent the spring with the Whitecaps U-23 squad, and is a product of the Whitecaps’ residency. In 2009-10, he went on loan to German side Energie Cottbus and made six appearance for that club’s U-23 side.

This past April, Dosanjh was nominated for the Doug Mitchell Award, which goes to the best overall Canadian university male athlete.

Dosanjh led Canada West with 12 goals; he scored the extra-time winner at Edmonton’s Foote Field to give UBC the Canada West championship in a thrilling finale over the University of Alberta. And, he was named the MVP of the CIS Championship tournament.

As the NASL spring season wound down, FCE coach Colin Miller said that one midfielder had committed to signing with the Eddies in time for the fall season, and supporters were waiting for that player to actually be named by the club.

But, it was clear from the spring preseason sessions that Miller was impressed with Dosanjh; after watching him in game action and in training, the FCE coach spoke highly of how crafty and inventive a player the Abbotsford, B.C. native could be.

FCE begins the NASL fall season Saturday in Carolina, where the Eddies will face former CIS Player of the Year Paul Hamilton and the RailHawks.