Nicki Paterson Interview

March 29th, 2014

Scotsman Confident Ahead of Inaugural Season

Photo courtesy of the Ottawa Citizen’s Julie Oliver.

First impressions are key, and my first impression of the Charleston Battery’s two-time offensive MVP was a bizarre one.  Picture a footballer modelling his club’s spiffy new kit for a camera and simultaneously speaking into a mic, while doing some Shakira-like hip movements. 

In all seriousness, Nicki Paterson is a leader.  Very outgoing, with a booming Lanarkshire accent, the Scotsman knows his way around North American professional football, having spent time with Real Maryland, Harrisburg City, and most recently, the Charleston Battery.

The first signing made by OFFC, way back on November 6th, Paterson is a box-to-box midfielder who is clearly one of the leading candidates for the captaincy of the expansion club.

Here is the full exclusive interview with the 29 year-old Motherwell product:

Falas Português…Speak Portuguese?

March 19th, 2014

Tudos juntos…All together!
OFFC manager Marc Dos Santos faces a tricky challenge- how will him and his coaching staff form a cohesive unit with this multicultural, varied squad?

When viewing Fury FC’s roster, the Brazilian flair that gaffer Marc Dos Santos brings to the nation’s capital is abundantly clear.  Three (presumed) opening day starters hail from Brazil (Vini Dantas, Maykon, and Oliver Minatel), and with Portugal native Mauro Eustaquio also expected to contribute, we can expect lots of one-on-one conversations between MDS and his Portuguese-speaking charges to be in the bela língua.

Opposition Scouting Report – Ft. Lauderdale Strikers

It‘s a warm spring evening in Fort Lauderdale, and the Strikers take to the pitch for their 2014 home opener.  All eyes are on their opposition this evening, as Ottawa Fury FC make their competitive debut…

While Fury FC are still just over a month away from their first competitive match down in Florida against the Strikers, it is never too early to begin advance scouting.  While Marc dos Santos and his charges recover after a vigorous opening week of training camp at the Complexe Branchaud-Briere in Gatineau, take a gander at this on- and off-pitch scouting report on the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, compiled by yours truly.

In-depth Look at OFFC’s Seven Trialists

Fury FC’s training camp invitees, both from the development squad and trialists, will be hoping to don the red-and-black of OFFC come April 19th at Keith Harris Stadium.

While Fury FC has officially signed seventeen players who will be attending training camp at the Complexe Branchaud-Brière in Gatineau, 27 footballers will be in attendance Monday when the camp kicks off.

With seven trialists and three academy players invited to training camp, it promises to be a very competitive next few weeks in Gatineau as manager Marc Dos Santos puts the finishing touches on OFFC’s inaugural NASL entry.

Joining camp from the youth academy will be goalkeeper Nicholas Jeffs, midfielder Mitch O’Brien, and striker Thierry Lemay.  Regardless of whether or not these youth academy stand-outs make the final squad selection, their experience at a professional training camp will be invaluable to their development.

Now, for a more in-depth look at the seven trialists who will be looking to impress the coaching staff and earn a professional contract:

• Felipe da Costa is a 29 year-old Portuguese midfielder.  He came up through Benfica’s youth ranks, and has plied his trade in places like England (Leeds United), Bulgaria (CSKA and Levski Sofia), and most recently Greece (Panachaiki, Panserraikos).  Could definitely challenge for a spot in the Starting XI, although he’s never stayed at a club for more than one season.
• Sandro Rajkovic is a midfielder who most recently played in the AUS Fall League with the University of Cape Breton, earning two caps.  Very little is known about him, although one can assume he’ll bring a high work rate and physical play in the midfield, standing 6’3.
• Kenny Caceros will be a familiar face to Ottawa footy fans.  The 25 year-old is a homegrown product, and was capped 33 times for the Fury between 2008 and 2010.  He also starred in the CSL with Capital City FC during their one and only 2011 campaign.  Most recently played with USL Pro’s Harrisburg Islanders, one has to wonder if he has enough quality to merit a spot on an NASL squad.
• Defender Kevin Cossette joins camp after spending multiple seasons with the Université de Laval’s squad.  Formerly a Montreal Impact academy player, Cossette is one of four defenders trying to nail down a roster spot.
• Defender Adrian Le Roy enters camp with more NASL experience than most of the other trialists.  The 26 year-old has been capped seven times by FC Edmonton, and is no stranger to Keith Harris Stadium, having played 37 times with the older version of the Fury.
• Jean-Philippe Etienne is a Haitian-born defender.  While there isn’t a whole lot of information available about him, we do know that he played in the CSL with the Trois-Rivieres Attak, when current OFFC manager Marc Dos Santos managed the squad.
• Edmund Amadeo is yet another dark horse to make the OFFC backline.  He could be a good depth addition at the back, and I’ll try and glean more information about him as training camp gets underway.

Seven trialists and three youth players, all of whom are gunning for a professional contract.  It should be a very intriguing training camp in Gatineau.

As we trudge at a snail’s pace towards opening kickoff against Fort Lauderdale on April 12th, one can’t help but admire the multiculturalism the Fury’s roster has taken on as more and more signings have been announced.  Players with experience on three continents, a coaching staff littered with foreign contacts, and a strong base which could capture the imagination of the Ottawa sporting community.

Only forty-nine days until the home opener…