GS United (Gursikh Sabha United) of
Scarborough became the first team from Ontario in 16 years
to win the Canadian Men's National Soccer title. Since the
tournament started in 1902, Ontario teams have only won the
National 11 times. In addition to winning the Canadian
National Soccer Championship in Calgary, the team has also
won the Ontario Soccer League (OSL) title, Ontario Cup, and
the prestigious Ted Cumbs Award for the most consistent team
in the league over the last four years. In the OSL
individual awards the team was well represented by Captain
Emil Calixtero MVP, Courtney Campbell Best Goalkeeper, and
John Williams Coach of the Year for his second in 3 years.
It is customary to find on GS United teams
players who are on, or have received University
Scholarships, while others have moved on to national status
with the Olympic team such as Alim Karrim and Dwayne
De Rosario with the National team.
GS United has also won Caribbean Stars Indoor
tournament on four occasions and several Scarborough Soccer
Association (SSA) Indoor titles in both the Men’s Open and
O-35 Divisions. They have exemplified the true meaning of
sportsmanship reflected by the number of Most Discipline
awards they have won sometimes in mediocre season. GS has
contributed positively to the Caribbean Community and
society in general due to their perseverance and commitment
to excellence. The club is made up 50 players with
over 20 of them of different nationalities which is a true
reflection of the Canadian Multicultural Society.
GS Manager Dave Sidhu was candid when asked
about his team’s success compared to past seasons. He
responded “We have always had skill in our teams, that was a
given, but the addition of 5 to 6 players brought us more
dedication and cultivated ultimate and utmost respect for
each other”. When asked, what’s next for GS He replied, “In
my mind we were not the best team out there
consistently, and for next season we will be adding another
3 or so players that should put us in a good position to
defend our titles successfully”
GS United was formed in 1990 and had success
at the recreational level in Scarborough before joining the
Toronto and District (T&D) League winning five different
divisions in five years. The team was finally promoted to
the Ontario Soccer League (OSL) in 2001 after improving
their standing every year. They won some of the
league's major trophies in 2003 which included the League
Champions, OSL Cup, MVP, and Coach of the Year, Best
Goalkeeper, and Most Discipline Team award. In 2004 they
under achieved by placing 3rd and winning the
Most Discipline Team award for the second consecutive year.
With all their success in the past they were never satisfied
due to their disappointing play in the elusive Ontario Cup
tournaments, a tournament they were focused on winning for
quite some time. They finally achieved that goal and
ultimately went on to win the National as a result. Well
Done GS!
On behalf of GS United management Dave Sidhu would
like to say a special thank you to Bill Singh and all the
players and supporters who have associated with, and
contributed to, GS United from its inception.
by Aldwyn McGill
Caribbean Stars First Annual Memorial Outdoor Soccer
Tournament is being held in memory of all deceased soccer
players and soccer enthusiasts from the community.
The
Tournament is
scheduled for Saturday October 1st 2005, at LAmoreaux 1 & 2
Fields in Scarborough.
1981
TCSL Champions Colts Int’L
GS United coaching staff
won our Man of the Match award for their match ups and
timely substitutions to win the 2005 Ontario Cup. From left
to right John Williams (coach), Chris Handsor (assist
coach), Lester Burno, and Wayne Morgan.
GS Accepts
Ontario Cup
GS
United Emil Calixterio (captain) and Dave Sidhu (manager)
accepts the Ontario Cup after defeating Woodbridge Azzurri
in sudden death overtime at the Soccer Centre.
GS
United team
Family Day Sundayopened with an important Ontario Cup
game between G.S United shown above and Bramlea Celtic.
G.S was very aggressive at the start of the game
controlling the run of play with their ball possession.
They had a commanding 2-0 lead until 3 minutes
to halftime when a GS United defender good cute and
chest trap a cross ball in his penalty area. Needless to
say he lost the ball to a Celtic forward and the
play resulted in a goal for Bramlea Celtic and made the
game an interesting 2-1 score at halftime.
The second
half began as if the teams changed uniforms. Celtic was
now the aggressor and had the momentum and the control
of play but missed several scoring opportunities. The GS
United defense finally adjusted to Celtics attack up
their left side and the game balanced off into a see-saw
battle with both teams playing outstanding defense. The
game ended with an obvious all out do or die attack from
Celtic, throwing everyone in attack in an effort to
avoid elimination but time was not on their side, it was
too late. G.S United won 2-1 in a game that was won in
the first half of play and highly competitive. GS United
is a regular participant of Caribbean Stars
activities (schedule permit) and will be featured by
Caribbean Stars at the end of the 2005 season.
Scarborough GS United Soccer Club enjoyed
a bitter sweet week at the Scarborough Indoor Soccer
League on Clairlea after two of their teams won but
their premier team suffered a rare lost. After a close
3-1 win last week their Over-35 team won convincingly
over third place Vanier A FC 5-2. With three games left
in the schedule GS O-35 team is ahead of last year’s
champion Duncan House by 5 points. Although they play
Duncan House in two weeks they are in a good position to
win the league title with two of the three remaining
games against the two bottom place teams.
In other action GS United men’s premier
division team lost 4-2 to their second place rivals FK
Ohrid which had the talented Kouzmanis brothers in their
line up. Heading into the game three points separated
the two teams and with the win Ohrid is now tied with GS
on points. With five weeks left in the season, the
league title could be decided when the two teams play
each other in their last game of the regular season and
It can’t get any better than that for the fans.
Until they meet these teams should be
prepared to play one game at a time because they could
suffer a disappointing blow if they take the third place
Guess team too lightly. For what I have seen Guess can
upset either team if all their players show up for the
game. The Guess team comprises of some of the players
from the last years Cup Champion Just Us team, but again
leadership and commitment of players seem to be their
problem.
GS United third team in the Scarborough
Indoor Soccer League (Division One) is having an
unbelievable season, sporting an impressive 14-0-0-0
record and as such has earned the luxury of a 12 point
lead heading into the last six games of the season.
There is no doubt that they will win the league but they
will be under pressure to complete the season undefeated
and with an unblemished 20-0-0-0 record.
Scarborough GS United is making a strong
claim as one of the best if not the best senior amateur
soccer team in Canada.
GS
United teams in tough Competition
Scarborough GS United Soccer Club has
endured some tough competition at the Scarborough Indoor
Soccer League at Clairlea in Scarborough but with two
weeks to go in league they have raised the bar and their
three teams are enjoying great success. Their Over-35
team would have clinch the League title just after this
article had gone to the press leading second place
Duncan House by 2 points with one game left this
Wednesday 15 against third place West Rouge. They only
need a tie to win the league.
In other action GS United men’s premier
division team is in a dogfight with second place rivals
FK Ohrid who has the talented Kouzmanis brothers in
their line up. Heading into last two games the teams
tied with 45 points and three games left. In their three
remaining they both play each other in the last game of
the season and more than likely the league title will be
decided by the outcome of that game. This is every
events coordinator’s dream to have a competition down to
the last play or schedule of their competition and it
doesn’t get much better than that for the teams and fans
either.
However until they meet these teams
should be prepared to play one game at a time because
they could suffer a disappointing blow if they
underestimate their opposition or take the other teams
too lightly especially third place Guess and Hearts
Azzurri,
GS United third team in the Scarborough
Indoor Soccer League is their men’s Division One team
who is having an unbelievable season. They clinched the
league title last Sunday with a 7-4 win over East York
United and are sporting an impressive 17-0-0-0 record.
Their only test left is the pressure of completing the
Indoor season undefeated.
With three men’s team competing with a
chance of clinching three league titles and more
Scarborough GS United is making a strong case as one of
the best if not the best senior amateur soccer team in
Canada.
GS Run Around to Win
Scarborough GS United Soccer Club
entered three teams in the Scarborough
Indoor Soccer League (SISL) and all
three teams have performed well in their
respective division. Entering into last
weekend schedule their men Over-35 and
Division-I teams clinched their League
title a couple of weeks earlier while
the Division-I team is still working on
an undefeated season with a 20-0-0-
record.
However their Premier team was not as
comfortable entering their game against
a tough FK OHRID team last Sunday with
both team tied with 52 points for the
league title. Weeks earlier OHRID beat
GS 5-2 and seemed very confident before
the game.
The game started very fast and neither
team was giving an inch. With the fast
pace of the game it was obvious that
something had to give and it was just
who was going to give some thing away.
FK had the first chance when GS
defensive gave up a break away but shot
wide of the outer edge of the post with
GS goalkeeper beaten. That muffed
opportunity was not a good sign for
OHRID because with less than 12 minute
left in the first half their frustration
took over and they were given a 2 minute
penalty. GS United capitalized and
scored with still over a minute left
with the man advantage. On the ensuing
play after the goal OHRID goalkeeper was
injured and had to leave the game
favoring his wrist and/or fingers. He
was replaced in net with striker Gus
Kousmanis which hurt FK offense
significantly. By that time GS gain
momentum and seized the opportunity to
pile it on attacking at will to score
two more goals to go into the half
leading 3-0.
The second half started much like the
first and just like the first GS United
scored the opening goal which
demoralized OHRID and to add insult to
injury GS was given a 2 minute penalty
for roughing when they caught OHRID
pushing to far forward and countered
attacked on a rebound to score on a two
on one to take a 5-0 lead with over ten
minutes left in the game. At that point
OHRID could have thrown in the towel but
they fought back and had some momentum
when they scored two unanswered goal to
trim the score to 6-3. GS responded and
broke the momentum by scoring against
the run of play to secure victory by a
final score of 7-3 and their third SISL
2006 league title.
GS
United Emil Calixterio (captain) and Dave Sidhu (manager)
accepts the Ontario Cup after defeating Woodbridge Azzurri
in sudden death overtime at the Soccer Centre.
