Winnipeg Free Press Fri May 9 2003 Season debut helps charity

Sons of Italy, Sokol kick off season with soccer game for worthy cause

By Ashley Prest

THOUGH the Manitoba Major Soccer League is entering its second season, tradition is a major part of the senior men's loop.

The MMSL, which was formed last season when the Super Soccer Alliance merged with the Manitoba Central Soccer League, will hold its first annual Charity Shield soccer game tomorrow at 3 p.m. at Vince Leah Community Centre, featuring Sons of Italy, the defending national champions and Manitoba Soccer Association Cup winners, and Sokol, winners of the Premier Division.

Based on the English model, which pits the FA Cup champion and the Premier League winner in a season-opening game, the MMSL will present the Shield to the winning team in this friendly match that will kick off the MMSL's second season but will not count in the standings. Admission is $2, with all proceeds going to Special Olympics Manitoba.

"We are very fortunate to have such high-profile teams in our province as the national champions Sons of Italy and Sokol, which led the Premier Division," MMSL president Sean Drain said. "We are excited about the charity game because it is our first official game of the season and it is being played for a very worthy cause. We believe an event like this will bring more recognition to our sport and to our charity."

Brent Boulter, the MMSL scheduler and third vice-president, said the referees have donated their time and the Vince Leah Community Centre donated the field time for the event.

"We hope this game will help Special Olympics Manitoba and encourage people to come out and see two very good teams from our league," Boulter said. Since forming in 1995, Sons of Italy have won the MSA Cup four times and won two medals at the nationals, a bronze in 1996 and last year's gold.

Gerald Olin, Sons of Italy co-manager, said his team was thrilled to be asked to participate in the game.

"It's a very exciting opportunity for us to reach out and do something good for the community. Sport has that great ability to help the community on many different levels," said Olin, in his sixth year with Sons of Italy. "Anytime you do something like this, it brings people together."

Sokol manager Irek Lemans said community is very important to his team as well, which has been part of the Winnipeg soccer scene since 1906.

"This game is something that we can give back to the community. Any way we can help and promote the game of soccer, we're all for it," said Lemans, whose team won all 16 of their MMSL games last season.

With the addition of the 10-team Winnipeg Men's League and the loss of Thistle, which has withdrawn from the Premier Division, the MMSL will operate this season with 79 teams, with the playing schedule opening May 25. Manitoba's under-17 team will play games in the First Division. The MSA Cup schedule is expected to open in July. The Premier Division will have 12 teams and the First Division will include 11 teams. The Second, Third and Fourth Divisions will field 12 teams each with the Fifth Division including 10 teams and the Winnipeg Men's League making up a Sixth Division with 10 teams.

Sons of Italy, focused on the defence of their national title, have been practising three times a week for the past month and are travelling to Calgary during the May long weekend for a three-game exhibition series against the Calgary Callies, the Alberta champions, the Calgary Storm professional A-League team and the University of Calgary Dinosaurs.

In June, Sons of Italy will travel to Duluth, Minn., to play an exhibition series against the Minnesota Thunder, another A-League side.

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca