1996 Canadian National Soccer League season explained

Competition:Canadian National Soccer League
Season:1996
Shield:St. Catharines Wolves
Shieldtitle:League cup
Best Goalkeeper:Joe Ciaravino
Biggest Home Win:Toronto Italia 9-0 North York Talons (August 25)
Toronto Italia 9-1 London City (October 6)
Biggest Away Win:North York Talons 2-8 Toronto Italia (July 14)
Matches:44
Highest Scoring:North York Talons 2-8 Toronto Italia (July 14)
Oakville Western Canadians 8-2 London City (September 7)
Total Goals:158
Prevseason:1995

The 1996 Canadian National Soccer League season was the seventy-fourth season for the Canadian National Soccer League. The season began on May 31, 1996, and concluded on October 27, 1996, with Toronto Italia defeating St. Catharines Wolves in a two-game series for the CNSL Championship.[1] St. Catharines managed to secure their fourth league cup title after finishing first in the tournament standings.

Overview

The membership in the league increased to seven teams with three new entries. The league expanded to the Oakville territory with the addition of the Oakville Canadian Westerns, and the acceptance of Toronto Supra from the Canadian International Soccer League (Puma League).[2] [3] While the North York Talons represented the Caribbean Community in the Greater Toronto Area.[4] The Hamilton White Eagles departed to join the Canadian International Soccer League, and the Toronto Jets merged with Toronto Italia.[5] [6]

Toronto Italia under new ownership transferred their home venue to Rainbow Creek Stadium in Woodbridge, Vaughan.[7] Italia also managed to recruit Diego Maradona for the CNSL All-Star match. In the league's executive branch Peter Li Preti served as president, and Michael Di Biase as commissioner.

Teams

TeamCityStadiumManager
London CityLondon, OntarioCove Road StadiumSteve Roney[8]
North York TalonsNorth York, OntarioEsther Shiner StadiumTrevor Dennis
Oakville Canadian WesternsOakville, OntarioSheridan CollegeMike Palmiotta
Scarborough AstrosJorge Armua[9]
St. Catharines WolvesSt. Catharines, Ontario (Vansickle)Club Roma StadiumMark Konert[10]
Toronto ItaliaVaughan, OntarioRainbow Creek StadiumPeter Pinizzotto[11]
Toronto SupraLamport Stadium

Playoffs

Semifinals

St. Catharines won the series 2–1 on aggregate.

Toronto won the series 6–4 on aggregate.

Finals

GK 1
RB 2 John Annisi
CB 5 Tom Perks [12]
CB 4 Richard Alexander [13]
LB 3 Franco Spadafina
RM 20 Nick Maxwell
CM 6Jack Zomparelli
LM 7Miguel Ferreira
ST 12Anthony Zanini
ST 10
ST 8
Substitutes:
DF 18Lou Fiaccola
MF 11 Marco Antonucci[14]
MF 16Garvin Houston
MF 23
Manager:
Peter Pinizzotto
width=25!width=25
GK 1 Dino Perri[15]
RB 3McIver Broomes
CB 2 John McNeil
CB 9
LB 15
RM 20 Tom Bernardi
CM 19 Anton Skerritt
LM 8
ST 9
ST 14Gary Bryan
ST 25
Manager:
Dino Perri
Assistant referees


Bill Teeuwen
Norma Clark

Toronto won 11–0 on aggregate.

Cup

The cup tournament was a separate contest from the rest of the season, in which all seven teams took part. All the matches were separate from the regular season. Teams played each other once home and away in the Cup competition, and the first-place team would win the Cup competition. One match involving Toronto Italia and London City failed to materialize, but was of no consequence as St. Catharines Wolves accumulated enough points to secure the title.[16]

Matches

All-Star game

The all-star team assembled by the league was limited in its selection of players due to St. Catharines, and Oakville protesting the allowance of their players. As St. Catharines earlier on participated in a European tour, and their players required the necessary rest.[8] Toronto Italia were selected as the opposition, and managed to attract Diego Maradona to play alongside his brother Lalo Maradona. The match was commemorated as the 75th anniversary of the league, and advertised as one of Diego Maradona's final matches.[17] [18] The reported payoff to Maradona was $40,000 with Boca Juniors receiving a share due to ownership of player rights.[19] An additional $15,000 was charged if reporters wished to conduct an interview, and the league insured Maradona for five million dollars.

GK 1
RB 2Leonardo Simon
CB 3 Rene Martin
CB 4John DiBuono
LB 17Paul Hillman
RM 5 Leo Lopez
CM 7Tony Tavares
CM 8Alex Nardi
LM 10
ST 16 John Bottineau[20]
ST 14Gus Kouzmanis
Substitutes:
GK 12Milan Popov
DF 24 Tonino Commisso[21]
DF 25Gerald Gallacher
MF 11Lincoln Williams
MF 6Ian Bryan
FW 9 Luan Jonuzi
FW 13
width=25!width=25
GK 1
RB 3
CB 4 Richard Alexander [22]
CB 5 Tom Perks
LB 2 John Annisi
RM 11 Marco Antonucci
CM 9
CM 10
LM 6Jack Zomparelli
CF 22
CF 23
Substitutes:
GK 00Mike Ivancescu
DF 7Miguel Ferreira
DF 18Lou Fiaccola
MF 16Garvin Houston
MF 20Nick Maxwell
FW 12Antony Zanini
FW 8
Manager:
Peter Pinizotto

Individual awards

The annual Canadian National Soccer League awards ceremony was held at the Hollywood Princess Banquet Hall in Vaughan, Ontario with an attendance of 400 people.[23] The majority of the awards were received by Toronto Italia with eight recipients. After leading Toronto to an undefeated streak, the double head coach Peter Pinizzotto was given the honor of Coach of the Year. Michele Gioia was named both the MVP, a Golden Boot winner consequently the following season he was signed by the Montreal Impact in the USISL A-League. For the second consecutive season Joe Ciaravino received the Goalkeeper of the Year, and also later was given a contract with the Toronto Lynx. The administrative branch of Toronto Italia was recognized with honors with Joe Mallozzi winning the Manager of the Year, and Pasquale Fioccola being awarded the President of the Year.

Toronto Supra came in second with two awards with Gus Kouzmanis being named the Rookie of the Year. The Best Public Relations Director award was given to Sergio Giancola, who notably later was instrumental in acquiring a Major Arena Soccer League franchise in the GTA as the Mississauga MetroStars.[24] The remainder of the awards went to North York Talons as the Most Improved, and London City as the Most Disciplined team. The Referee of the Year went to match official Manuel Orellana.

Award Player (Club)
CNSL Most Valuable PlayerMichele Gioia (Toronto Italia)
CNSL Golden BootMichele Gioia (Toronto Italia)
CNSL Goalkeeper of the Year AwardJoe Ciaravino (Toronto Italia)
CNSL Rookie of the Year AwardGus Kouzmanis (Toronto Supra)
CNSL Coach of the Year AwardPeter Pinizzotto (Toronto Italia)
CNSL Manager of the Year AwardJoe Mallozzi (Toronto Italia)
CNSL President of the Year AwardPasquale Fioccola (Toronto Italia)
CNSL Best Public Relations Director AwardSergio Giancola (Toronto Supra)
CNSL Referee of the Year AwardManuel Orellana
CNSL Most Improved Team AwardNorth York Talons
CNSL Most Disciplined Team AwardLondon City

References

  1. Web site: Canadian National Soccer League 1993 to 1997. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20151125110918/http://canadiansoccerleague.ca:80/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/CNSL-1993-1997.pdf . 2015-11-25 . April 21, 2020. canadiansoccerleague.ca.
  2. Web site: Isac Cambas Brought Soccer to the Portuguese Community . Canadian Soccer League. Adamson. Stan. April 1, 2019. en-US. 2019-08-24.
  3. News: June 12, 1996. CNSL comes to Oakville, home opener Saturday. 35. Oakville Beaver.
  4. Book: McGill, Aldwyn. Aldwynable - Vintage Midget. Star Soccer Review. 88.
  5. Web site: Our Story Hamilton & District Soccer Association. hamiltonsoccer.net. en. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200325194848/http://hamiltonsoccer.net/our-story/ . 2020-03-25 . 2020-03-25.
  6. Web site: Miolla. Piero. 2020-07-08. Il lucano Michele Gioia, definito il "Giovinco degli Anni '90" nel racconto di Nicola Sparano. 2021-06-03. il Caleidoscopio. it-IT.
  7. Web site: Pro Soccer in London, Ontario. 2001-05-02. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20010502081248/http://www.geocities.com/london_ontario_soccer_fan/london.html. May 2, 2001. 2019-12-13.
  8. Web site: CNSL game of Sunday October 13, 1996 between North York Talons and London City. Glover. Robin. October 13, 1996. www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. 2019-08-20.
  9. Web site: North York Astros Soccer Club Powered by Goalline Sports Administration Software. 2009-06-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20090601082652/http://www.northyorkastros.ca/page.php?page_id=13527. June 1, 2009. 2019-07-07.
  10. News: Jeanneret . Mark . 1 November 1996 . Konert steps down as Wolves' coach . C2 . St. Catharines Standard.
  11. Book: Jose, Colin. On-Side - 125 Years of Soccer in Ontario. Ontario Soccer Association and Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum. 2001. Vaughan, Ontario. 227.
  12. Web site: Canada Soccer. canadasoccer.com. 2019-08-19.
  13. Web site: Richard Alexander (1991-1994). Syracuse University Athletics. en. 2019-08-19.
  14. Web site: Canada Soccer. www.canadasoccer.com. 2019-08-19.
  15. Web site: Dino Perri - Men's Soccer Coach. McMaster University Athletics. en. 2019-07-01.
  16. Web site: CNSL Week 20 FINAL. October 14, 1996. www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. 2019-08-26.
  17. Web site: Special Exhibition between Toronto Italia plus Diego Maradona vs the CNSL All-Stars. Glover. Robin. September 2, 1996. www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. 2019-08-23.
  18. Web site: Maradona uncertain whether he'll play again. September 16, 1996. Newspapers.com. The Gazette. en. 2019-12-12.
  19. Web site: Don't cry for him. Gallagher. Danny. October 28, 1996. Newspapers.com. The Kokomo Tribune. en. 2019-12-12.
  20. Web site: John Bottineau (2015) - McMaster Athletics Hall of Fame. McMaster University Athletics. en. 2019-08-22.
  21. Web site: London Ontario Soccer News: Commisso ready to hang up boots. en. 2019-08-22.
  22. Web site: Richard Alexander (1991-1994). Syracuse University Athletics. en. 2019-08-19.
  23. Web site: CNSL 75th Anniversary Annual Awards Gala. Glover. Robin. November 8, 1996. www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. 2019-08-20.
  24. Web site: Major Arena Soccer League expands to GTA The Star. Armstrong. Laura. April 11, 2017. thestar.com. The Toronto Star. en. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170411190430/https://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/2017/04/11/major-arena-soccer-league-expands-to-gta.html . 2017-04-11 . 2019-10-12.

External links