Attakora, Tomic score as Toronto FC draws Partizan 2 Feb 2011 On a day designed for new Toronto FC head coach and technical director Aron Winter to look at fresh faces, a couple of veterans were the talking point of Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Serbian powerhouse Partizan Belgrade in Turkey. TFC defender Nana Attakora scored just six minutes in and Dwayne De Rosario, TFC’s all-time leading scorer, missed a penalty in the Reds’ first preseason friendly of 2011. Partizan fans, eager to see the team’s new striker pairing of Prince Tagoe and Dominic Aidiyah — both nabbed in the transfer window, and both played for the first 45 minutes —had to settle for a penalty goal from Nemanja Tomic.
MLS All-Star conflict with CONCACAF Champions League sends the wrong international message 1 Feb 2011 Major League Soccer continually talks about the importance of having its teams succeed in international competition but, once again, the league has placed its All-Star game in direct conflict with the CONCACAF Champions League. MLS announced that it will host its annual All-Star Game July 27 at Red Bull Arena. But, as has been the case with the last two All-Star events, it clashes with the preliminary round of the CONCACAF Champions League. CONCACAF has already slated July 26-28 as the window for the first legs of the opening round.
Bas Ent back as a trialist with Toronto FC 30 Jan 2011 Judging by his status as a trialist at Toronto FC’s training camp in Turkey, Dutch winger Bas Ent will need to start over in his quest to join the Reds.
MLS relaxes Canadian-content rule, but agrees to work with CSA 28 Jan 2011 Major League Soccer and the Canadian Soccer Association will work together on a plan to develop Canadian talent. That announcement came Friday, at the same time the league announced it was dropping the number of Canadian players its Canadian-based teams would be required to carry to three each.
Sidra’s speed could be a major boost for TFC 28 Jan 2011 Could Eddy Sidra be a difference-maker for Toronto FC? Sidra is currently out of contract after leaving Energie Cottbus, the German side that signs so much Canadian talent, last year. TFC announced that he is one of three confirmed Canadian trialists who will join the team in Turkey.
Crisis? What crisis? NASL releases 2011 schedule 26 Jan 2011 The North American Soccer League did its best impression of an organization NOT in crisis Tuesday, as it released its full 2011 schedule, and announced that six of the circuit’s eight teams will make the playoffs
Whitecaps, TFC take chances on longshots in Supplemental Draft 18 Jan 2011 he ‘Caps, as they did in the SuperDraft, held the first pick in the Supplemental Draft. With that pick, they grabbed New Zealander Michael Boxall from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Boxall had been expected to go in the SuperDraft but slipped badly in the eyes of the scouts during the combine.
FC Edmonton hopes to bring out 50,000 for TFC matchup 17 Jan 2011 Can a Nutrilite Canadian Championship game generate enough interest to sell 50,000 tickets? That question will be answered in May, when FC Edmonton hosts Toronto FC at Commonwealth Stadium.
Toronto FC fans too harsh in judgment of De Rosario 16 Jan 2011 Toronto FC fans need to lose the emotional baggage; it’s time to forgive and forget when it comes to Dwayne De Rosario. Canada’s largest city is also home to the strangest sporting culture in either this country or the United States. Toronto sports fans have a habit of transforming journeymen into stars, while blasting the city’s star players. Toronto basketball …
Toronto FC vetoed Celtic loan for De Rosario: Sources 14 Jan 2011 Dwayne De Rosario was on his way back to Toronto Friday after a loan deal between Celtic and Toronto FC did not materialize. Sources close to Celtic have indicated to The 11 that the Scottish giants had a loan offer for De Rosario refused by Toronto FC’s brass.