FC Edmonton unveils its first Residency products

Jeff Paulus introduces the new players.

A former Celta Vigo trialist is among the 11 local teens who were named to FC Edmonton’s Residency program.

The players were on hand at St. Joseph Composite High School, where they will attend school while they train and play for the reserve squad. Through the school’s individual self-directed learning program, the kids get core subjects in the morning, have study/consultation time and should be free to train by the early afternoon.

“I think this makes the city’s soccer scene a lot better,” said Juan Vergara, a projected left back/winger. Vergara was born in Colombia, came to Edmonton with his family when he was 11, and just returned to the city for FCE trials. He spent three months at Celta Vigo, but injuries hampered his progress with that club.

“This is great for the players who can’t get out to Europe,” said Vergara. “For a Canadian, you need to have a European passport to get that chance. We can develop here and also look towards, MLS, too.”

The team also includes Cameroon-born St. Albert, Alta. resident Aymar Sigue and Hanson Boakai, who were both at the national U-17 development camp. Boakai is expected to join the FCE squad in July.

Last week, 30 hand-picked trialists trained in front of FCE’s brain trust. FC Edmonton indicated that 12 prospects would be selected, but only 11 were introduced Wednesday. The 11 prospects will be combined with the FCE players who aren’t on the first team. That reserve team will play in the Alberta Major Soccer League. Jeff Paulus, hired as an assistant late in 2011, will coach the reserve side. He will also hold players back if they struggle academically. Paulus coached NAIT to an undefeated championship season at the Canadian college level in 2011.

Paulus said the new Residency players were selected not just because of skill, but because of their smarts. He feels that these players will be best suited to learn the complexities of the 4-3-3. The system requires a lot of position changing and ball movement. The reserves will play the same style that coach Harry Sinkgraven employs with the first team.

“All of the players we looked at were strong, technical players,” said Paulus. “But the players we picked showed us a lot tactically. You have to be smart to play our style of game.”

The junior players are amateurs, so they are not eligible to be called up for NASL games.

Sinkgraven said that because the majority of prospects don’t make it to the first team, that it’s important that the players continue their education.

“We will help out but, in the end, the responsibility is with the players.”

FCE’S 11 YOUTH PLAYERS
M Allan Zebie
LB/LW Juan Vergara
GK Ivan Hutsulyak
M Julian Sansano
RW Bruno Zebie
ST Aleej Singh Sarkaria
M Ajay Khabra
W Mark Kadlubicki
ST Aymar Sigue
CB Marko Aleksic
ST Hanson Boakai