Update!

Second call for registrations for Hamilton Croatia’s House League will be held on Sunday, March 7th following the 10 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. masses at Holy Cross Croatian Parish Hall (downstairs). We look forward to seeing you there!

Attention all parents with boys and girls born from 2003-06.

Croatia Hamilton is excited to announce a new venture for 2010 – a soccer house league for children aged 4-7. The league will be open to all boys and girls born from 2003 to 2006.  Games and practices will be held at the brand new soccer fields located at the Croatian Sports and Community Centre at 166 Green Mountain Road in Stoney Creek. It will be a total of two nights per week over the summer.

Cost is only $100 per child and includes a full uniform, ball, trophy, team picture and a year end pizza party!

Please feel free to pass the word along to the rest of the community. Limited space is available. Register now to reserve your spot!

For more information and to register, please contact Tom Saic at 905-560-3461or e-mail saic.toma4hammercro@hotmail.com.

Also view our flyer at http://www.hamiltoncroatia.com/soccer/houseleague.pdf.

Hamilton Croatia has been awarded an expansion franchise in the Canadian Soccer League. The club will field both a senior professional team and an Under-21 team for the 2010 season.

It was back in October 2005 the then-Canadian Professional Soccer League revoked Hamilton Thunder’s franchise for failure to meet financial obligations to the city and the league. That club, which had a four-year run, was locked out of Brian Timmis Stadium because of unpaid rent for its final four home games.

“We have no ties to that team whatsoever,” said Mark Vuksan, president of the Croatia Sports and Community Centre of Hamilton. “We have a long-standing relationship with the city. We’ve been well received.

“Our club is financially stable. We’re in our 53rd year. We’ve got a strong membership.”

Domenic Di Gironimo, the CSL chairman, says it costs the various clubs between $150,000 and $250,000 to operate. There is no franchise fee.

“Hamilton is an important city to have in the CSL,” he said. “We believe this is the right group.

“The club’s significant heritage, long-standing success and solid membership base were impossible to resist. Hamilton Croatia is a fine example of the future of the CSL with its strong community ties and a commitment to youth development.”

The league plans further expansion for the 2010 campaign. It includes teams based in London, St. Catharines, Brampton, Mississauga, York, Toronto and Trois Rivieres, Que.

“We expect to add six to eight teams in 2011,” Di Gironimo added. “We’re determined to become Canada’s elite development system.”

Croatia, founded as a club in 1957, was formerly a member of the National Soccer League. It went undefeated in the Ontario Soccer League South Region league in 2008 to earn promotion. And last season, moving up to Ontario’s highest amateur league, Croatia continued to be successful. It finished on top of the OSL West Division table.

Croatia also captured League Cup, Spectator Cup (the fourth time in six years) and advanced to the semi-final round of the Ontario Cup.

“We pretty much picked up all the trophies that we could,” Vuksan said.

Ron Davidson will return for his fourth season as head coach. He’ll be joined by assistant coach Jason Allen, goalkeeper coach Ante Culina and manager Mike Radencic. Allan Perin is the club’s director of soccer operations.

“We’ll be competitive,” said Davidson, last season’s OSL coach of the year. “I’m going to focus on local talent in Hamilton and the GTA.”

Depending on the possible additions of other teams to the CSL, Croatia expects to play 10-12 home games at Brian Timmis Stadium from May to October. Open tryouts will be held in March.

lmoko@thespec.com 905-526-2458

Frank Perin – With the Canadian Soccer League’s announcement of expansion to Hamilton becoming official, the hard work for Croatia has begun. It has become more than just a soccer team. There is a need to become well respected in all aspects of the sport as an entire club – from our youth to adult levels.

“In addition to our CSL squad we are committed to the U21 reserves, our rep team program, and a newly formed house league. We are proud to offer our athletes the CSA/OSA’s complete Pyramid for Play. We believe that every soccer player in Hamilton now has the opportunity to excel,” said director of soccer operations, Allan Perin.

Players such as last season's Under-8 Boys will have something to strive for.

Children playing soccer now have another way of approaching their long-term goals. Croatia Hamilton’s executive board and the CSL coaching staff have realized this and have already begun preparing.

“With our extremely passionate fan base and the support of the local soccer community, we are very excited to be able to bring professional soccer to the city of Hamilton. Our club is determined to create a winning environment and provide opportunities for all soccer fans and players in Hamilton,” remarked Croatian Sports and Community Centre President Mark Vuksan.

Coach Ron Davidson added, “I am both excited and thrilled to be coaching the team as we enter our first season in the CSL, I have gotten to know the Hamilton Croatia organization over the past three years and we have the perfect ingredients to be very successful in the CSL.”

Joining Ron on the sidelines will be assistant coach Jason Allen, goalkeeper coach Ante Culina and team Manager Mike Radencic. “All three staff members will be a tremendous asset to this team as we move forward in this new direction,” said Davidson.

The Canadian Soccer League will kickoff its almost 5-month long regular season on May 7 through to the end of September, to be followed by the playoffs and the Championship final during October.

Hamilton Croatia Selected for 2010 Expansion

TORONTO – After a formal review of competing bids, Hamilton Croatia has been selected to represent their city in the Canadian Soccer League.

Hamilton Croatia will be playing a senior professional team and an under-21 team in the upcoming 2010 season.

“The club’s significant heritage, longstanding success, and solid membership base were impossible to resist”, states CSL chairman Domenic Di Gironimo in making the announcement. “Hamilton Croatia is a fine example of the future of the CSL, with its strong community ties, and a commitment to youth development.”

In existence since 1957, the club’s recent successes include finishing the 2008 OSL South Region season undefeated, and ending on top of the OSL West Division table in 2009 during its first year of promotion to the OSL’s highest league. Ron Davidson, recently named OSL Coach of the Year, has been an instrumental part of Hamilton Croatia’s winning ways both on and off the field, leading the bid for promotion to the CSL.

The CSL team will be hosted at the new Croatia Sports and Community Centre in Stoney Creek, where the club intends to extend its rich history for many years to come.

“We plan to announce a few more expansion clubs for 2010 within the next few weeks as we conclude the reviews and negotiations with several prospective communities. By 2011, the CSL will complete its reach across Ontario, ensuring that the top young athletes in every region will have an opportunity to excel in the sport without sacrificing education or home life,” closed off Di Gironimo.

Canadian Soccer League Inc.
57 Pennsylvania Avenue, Unit 5
Concord, Ontario L4K 3V9
Tel: 905 564-2297
Toll Free 1 888 216-9913
Fax: 905 671-6450
Email: csl@canadiansoccerleague.ca
Website: www.canadiansoccerleague.ca

ISSA certified personal trainer/sports conditioning specialist.

A-Team defender Ivan Grubisic, better known to many as “Cousin Ive” has become a certified personal trainer with a specialty in sports conditioning at Goodlife Fitness.

“With my military and educational background I can create interesting and very unique workouts where stamina and confidence are important. I have the ability to train individuals for any fitness endeavour including any form of sports-specific training.”

What better way to celebrate the new year, and all the resolutions that come along with it, than getting in the best shape of your life.

Please contact 905-573-9494 or e-mail 201FM@Goodlifefitness.com to coordinate an appointment with Ivan today, or open this PDF for more information.