THE CSL/CPL CONNECTION
by Djuradj Vujcic
This article was written for the Volume 2, Issue 3 edition of the York United fanzine called The Crust.
The 2023 Canadian Premier League season is the fifth season of the CPL – the top level of Canadian soccer. That feels very good to write. As I write those words, I can’t help but also feel the need to reflect on our long journey here as it is nice to look back and reminisce.
There were many incarnations of the top level of Canadian soccer prior to the CPL. This included the still active Canadian Soccer League where several players who went on to feature in the CPL have played in.
Emilio Estevez began his career with CSL sides North Mississauga and Waterloo Region in 2018 before featuring for our club from 2019 to 2020. He then signed for ADO Den Haag and Ourense. Fun fact: he has ten caps for the Chinese Taipei national team but is not related to Charlie Sheen.
Molham “Mo” Babouli – a YUFC cult hero who needs no introduction – also has a CSL/CPL connection as he played for CSL side FC Ukraine United in 2019.
Joseph Di Chiara began his career in 2010 with CSL side York Region Shooters. He also played for York from 2019 to 2020 as well as for Cavalry FC from 2021 to 2022. Matt Silva – a goalkeeper who played in York’s inaugural 2019 season – also featured in the CSL. In 2011, he played with SC Toronto and in 2014 he played for the North York Astros.
Dejan Jakovic – who played for Forge in 2021 – got his start with CSL side Canadian Lions way back in 2007. Jakovic also played in the 2007 CSL All Star Game, featuring on the same International Conference side as Camilo Benzi of the Italia Shooters – a familiar name we now recognize as York United’s goalkeeper coach. One fun unprovable claim I have is that I almost scored on Camilo Benzi in a 2008 humanitarian match. Today, Jakovic captains CSL side Serbian White Eagles FC, is a TFC Academy assistant coach and is the assistant coach to Toronto FC interim head coach Terry Dunfield. Dunfield has a bit of an indirect CSL/CPL connection – he closed out his career with CSL side Toronto Atomic in 2016 and went on to be a colour commentator for several CPL games.
Looking up Jakovic’s early history reminded me of why I love doing deep-dives into the sometimes-hidden history of soccer in Canada. While playing for the Canadian Lions, Jakovic was coached by Goran Miscevic whose assistant was Blagoje Bratic. Bratic played for renowned Sarajevo club Zeljeznicar from 1964 to 1976 and featured for the Yugoslav national team three times in 1972. Bratic found refuge in Toronto in 1994 where he lived out his remaining days until his untimely passing in July 2008. Known for his size and strength, Bratic once even had the honour of defending the great Pelé and his Santos team-mates in a 1969 friendly in Sarajevo.
David Edgar – a well-known name in Canadian soccer – got his start with CSL side London City in 2001 and ended out his career with Forge in 2020.
The Toronto FC Academy team that played in the CSL in 2012 for example also had players such as Manny Aparicio, Sergio Camargo, Ryan James and Chris Mannella who would go on to become prominent CPL players (YUFC fans still fondly remember Aparicio in particular).
Karl Ouimette began his career with CSL side Trois-Rivières Attak in 2009 (winning the championship) and played for Atlético Ottawa in 2023. Maxim Tissot played for Trois-Rivières Attak in 2009 as well as the Montreal Impact academy's senior team in the CSL from 2010 to 2012. He would go on to play for CPL sides Forge and his current club Atlético Ottawa. Alessandro Riggi also played for the Montreal Impact Academy from 2010 to 2011 as well as CPL sides HFX Wanderers and Valour FC. Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé also featured for the Montreal Impact Academy from 2011 to 2014 and would go on to feature for the HFX Wanderers.
Jordan Webb of CSL side Scarborough SC also played for CSL sides Italia Shooters in 2009 and was a member of Atlético Ottawa in 2021. Webb played well and recorded a goal from a penalty kick in Scarborough’s recent 3-2 win over the Serbian White Eagles.
Trinidad and Tobago national team player Ryan Telfer played for CSL club Mississauga Eagles back in 2012 and has also played for CPL clubs York9, Atlético Ottawa and his current club HFX Wanderers. HFX Wanderers head coach Patrice Gheisar was head coach of CSL club SC Toronto back in 2012 where he coached the likes of Jonathan Osorio at Lamport Stadium.
To cap off, there have been several players who have featured in both leagues, and I hope I haven’t forgotten anyone. It is important to reflect on where we’ve been to remind ourselves where we’re going. Never a dull day in the world of soccer trivia.