The Cumberland
United Soccer Club and the Capital United Soccer Club have
merged to become Ottawa TFC in partnership with the Toronto
FC Major League Soccer team.
Toronto
FC will support Ottawa TFC as a regional satellite club,
providing professional technical player and coaching development
at the youth level.
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Toronto
FC president Bill Manning and Ottawa TFC president
Terry Vida hold up an Ottawa FC jersey following
the launch of the new soccer club on Monday.
The club is an amalgamation of the former Cumberland
United Soccer Club and the Capital United Soccer
Club. Fred Sherwin/Photo
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Ottawa
TFC joins Windsor TFC and London TFC as exclusive youth
affiliate clubs of the Toronto club. Under the partnership,
Toronto FC and Ottawa TFC will work in collaboration to
enhance all technical programming, including coaching development,
sports science, methodology, curriculum devel- opment and
provide a direct pathway for the highest achieving athletes
to join the professional player pathway at TFC Academy.
The partnership
will include develop- ment programs for players, with TFC
coaches making multiple trips per year to Ottawa to provide
coaching instruction and technical training. Ottawa TFC
coaches will also make a number of trips per year to Toronto
FC's BMO Training Ground to observe and learn best practices
from TFC's staff.
Former
Cumberland United technical director and now Ottawa TFC
general manager Pavel Cancura says the partnership gives
area players a potential pathway to the MLS.
"It has
become a very real pathway for them,� says Cancura. "It
gives boith the opportunity and the responsibility that
we can look the kids in the eye even at the youngest ages
and say if you work hard enough and if you do the right
steps there's no barrier to keep you from actually fulfilling
your dreams.�
As for
the impact the partnership will have on area soccer players,
it will be minimal. The recreation program will see very
little if any change. While the academy program will benefit
from the combined resources of the former Cumberland and
Capital United soccer clubs and Toronto FC, the players
will have to go through the same tryout process for the
competitive teams as in the past.
News of
the merger comes on the heels of last week's announcement
that plans for a future dome at Millennium Park has entered
the Request for Proposal (RFP) stage.
The RFP
is expected to attract several proposals from the private
sector to build and operate the dome. Cumberland Ward Coun.
Stephen Blais, who has spearheaded the project, says construction
will likely take place in 2020.
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Orléans
Ward Coun. Matt Luloff addresses the crowd at
the launch for the Ottawa TFC soccer club as
Toronto FC president Bill Manning and Cumnberland
Ward Coun. Stephen Blais look on. Fred Sherwin/Photo
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(This
story was made possible thanks to the generous support of
our local business partners.)
TRIVIA NIGHT from 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday night at the Royal Oak Pub Orléans. Free to play. Prizes for the winning team! The Royal Oak Pub is located at 1981 St. Joseph Blvd. near Jeanne d'Arc. For more info visit 
OYSTER NIGHT every Wednesday from 6-9 pm at the Orléans Brewing Co. Two types of oysters served with lemon, Tobasco, horseradish, salt and mignonette. The Orléans Brewing Co. is located at 4380 Innes Rd., next to McDonalds.
OPEN MIC NIGHT at the Stray Dog Brewing Company, 501 Lacolle Way. Registration begins at 7 p.m. Music at 8 p.m. with your host Matthew Palmer.
ANNUAL UGLY SWEATER CHRISTMAS PARTY from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Royal Oak Pub Orléans. Live music with the Ryan Mac Duo starting at 8 p.m. Lots of door prizes to be won including a pair of Ottawa Senators game tickets!! Prize for the ugliest sweater of the night! Complimentary light refreshments while supplies last. For more info visit 
THE STRAY DOG BREWING COMPANY presents Bon Echo live and in concert as part of their SDBC Taproom Series. Tickets $10 in advance, $15 at the door. The Stray Dog Brewing Company is located at 150 Lacolle Way in the Taylor Creek Business Park. For more information visit 
