SFU coach Alan Koch to coach Canada at Maccabi Games

Alan Koch, the architect of Simon Fraser University’s soccer program, is taking on a new challenge. He will coach the Canadian team at the 2013 Maccabi Games.

The Maccabi Games are a world athletic competition open to Jewish athletes, and Canada will be sending men’s and women’s teams in a variety of age groups. Koch will helm the Canadian men’s open team, which is expected to have a few notable native sons in the lineup.

Koch led SFU to an 18-0-1 record in the school’s provisional NCAA Div. II season, and the Clan finished the year as the No. 1 ranked Div. II school in, ahem, the United States.

Now, Koch will steer a team that is expected to include Brad Rose, the Torontonian and Yale product who featured at the USL combine this past January. Daniel Haber, from Cornell University, is also expected to play for Koch. As a youngster The Torontonian had to take three years away from soccer because of life-saving surgery that forced doctors to remove part of his skull.

Also expected to represent Canada is Toronto teen Oliver Spring, who has been to the Netherlands to trial for Feyenoord — and has been invited to show his stuff again.

Canada’s most famous Maccabi Games alumnus is goalkeeper Tomer Chencinski, who played in 2005. He is now the starting keeper for Orebro SK in the Swedish Allensvenskan.

Shane Spring, the chairman of Maccabi Canada Soccer, hopes to send six teams to the 2013 Games in Israel.

Men’s masters: Born in 1978 or before
Open male: Born in 1994 or later
Open female: Born in 1994 or later
Men’s U18
Women’s U18
Men’s U16

Trials for the various Canadian teams begin May 18, and registrations open May 1 (CLICK HERE for the form). Athletes must be Jewish.

Locations for trials:
May 18 @ Crescent School, 2365 Bayview Avenue, Toronto
•U16 Male, U18 Male, U18 Female @ 8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. (arrive 1 hour prior to the start of this session)
May 19 @ Crescent School, 2365 Bayview Avenue, Toronto
•U16 Male, U18 Male, U18 Female@ 8 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. (arrive 45 minutes prior to the start of this session)
•Open Female @ 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. (arrive 1 hour prior to the start of this session)
•Open Male @ 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (arrive 1 hour prior to the start of this session)
May 20 @ Crescent School, 2365 Bayview Avenue, Toronto
•U16 Male, U18 Male, U18 Female @ noon – 1:30 p.m. (arrive 45 minutes prior to the start of this session)
•Open Female@ 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. (arrive 45 minutes prior to the start of this session)
•Open Male @ 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. (arrive 45 minutes prior to the start of this session)
May 21 @ Crescent School, 2365 Bayview Avenue, Toronto
•U18 Male @ 8 a.m.- 9:30 a.m. (arrive 45 minutes prior to the start of this session)
•U18 Female, Open Female@ 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. (arrive 45 minutes prior to the start of this session)
•Open Male @ 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (arrive 45 minutes prior to the start of this session)

Of course, not all of the eligible footballers will come from the Toronto area. For interested players who can’t make it out to the camp, e-mail Spring at shanespring@sympatico.ca.