De Guzman Charity game a success

To see other sections go —>To see Past News articles go here –>

“Julian De Guzman and Friends Celebrity Challenge Charity”

Canada soccer program is picking up momentum at the right time since the Women U-20 last week has just defeated USA to win the CONCACAF tournament and the just concluded “Julian De Guzman and Friends” Celebrity Challenge Charity” soccer game held at Birchmount Stadium in Scarborough Ontario was well received by the fans in attendance.

The “Julian De Guzman and Friends Celebrity Challenge Charity” soccer game was presented by the Annual Robbie Tournament and sponsored by UMBRO Canada and coordinated by Kudos Management.

The Celebrity game was reintroduced to allow the fans to see live some of the players that they usually see on television. The Charity game was also geared towards raising funds for the Cystic Fibrosis foundation and this year’s tournament raised $50,000 for the foundation.

The two teams of the Celebrity Challenge were well balanced and were lead by members of the Canadian National team with Julian De Guzman in charge of the Celebrity team (Whites) and Paul Stalteri in control of the Inter national team in blue team.

The game started slowly but picked up in tempo as the Blue team took the lead on penalty kick which held up until Jonathan De Guzman worked his magic and equalized early in the second half in what turned out to be a see saw battle of some of the best bunch of talent ever assembled in Canada for a fun game.

As the game progressed the players were determined not to over play their options but with the ability of their opposition each team had to do extra running to create space to avoid any serious tackling.

However soccer is a contact sport and as the Celebrity team began to take control of the game Jonathan De Guzman was fouled in the 18 yard box and goalkeeper Brian Bowes was summons to the spot to take the kick. Bowes converted the penalty to give the Celebrity team a 2-1 lead and the edge.

Then with time running out the elusive Desmond Humphreys of the blue International team salad his defender and slotted home the tying goal from a give and go combination that broke down the Celebrity (Whites) defense, leaving goalkeeper Bowes stranded.

With the game tied at two apiece at the end of regulation time the teams went straight into penalty kicks and goalkeeper Brian Bowes stepped up his game in net to give the Celebrity team the win.

The Celebrity was a treat for me because I got to see Brad Parker a lad I use to tease in the gym on Saturday mornings when he must have been around the age of 12.

The game also gave me the opportunity to meet Jonathan De Guzman and vice visa since he admitted he was mystified with the person/s behind caribbeanstars.com

National players Atiba Hutchinson and Paul Stalteri on the blue team look quick and sharp in the game and I am sure that they must have appreciated the run and the welcome change of pace from what is going to be a tough World Cup qualifying round ahead for Canada.

Missing were Dwayne De Rosario and Adrian Serioux of Scarborough who also happens to be starters on the Canadian team but due to their busy MLS schedule with the Houston Dynamo and Dallas Stars respectively they were unable to participate in the game. The quality of players are to numerous to mention so at this point I think you may have to take a look at the two team

 Celebrity team (White): Julian De Guzman, (Canada National & MVP of Deportivo), J. Sharman (Footy Show Host) Ainsley Romany (Orlando Sharks) Daniel Fernandes (Producer Soccer Central) Mathew Scianitti (Editor of Soccer 360) Lyndon Hooper (Former Canadian International) C. Handsor (MISL) (N. Gionatti (U-19  HIBS SCOTLAND) A. Stewart (NHL Florida Panthers) R. Titus (Former TO Lynx)  A. De Blasis (TLN television commentator) J. De Guzman ( Holland)  D. Boucher- (Canadian Boxer) B. BOWES (CSL) P. Haddad

The Inter national team (Blue): was lead by P. Stalteri (Canada captain) T. Kouzmanis (Former Canadian International) D. Pottinger (Orlando Sharks) M. Vonella (Umbro Rep) W. Giummarra (Soccer Freestyle) B. Parker (Former Canadian Int’l and Feyennord of Holland youth system) A. Hutchinson (Denmark & Canada) J. Phillips (GS United) T. Micallef (The Score Tonight host) R. Dummit (GS United) D. Humphreys ( Canada Futsal National Team) S. Seixeiro (The Score Tonight host) T. Zagar (Former Toronto Lynx). Coach J. Bent

Canada will be facing Jamaica at home in Toronto in the first game of Group 2 on August 20 at BMO Field and there is no doubt in my mind that the stands at BMO on that day will be a carnival like clash of colours in a festive atmosphere. The Canada-Jamaica opening game should be a close game providing the Reggae Boyz enters BMO Field with the right mind set due to the explosive abilities of Canada’s midfielder and strikers.

The return leg of the first game against Jamaica will be played on 19 November in Kingston (Jamaica). Canada will play Honduras on September 6 in Montréal, QC, and Mexico on October 15 in Edmonton, AB.

Tickets to the Toronto match will be available through Ticket master (ticketmaster.ca or 416.872.5000) while tickets to the Montréal match will be available through Admission (admission.com or 514.790.1245). Tickets for the first two matches go on sale this 14 July.