Despite not winning a single game last season, Peter Cox is pumped about the return of the Howe Sound Men's Soccer League (HSMSL).
Sure, his Zephyr FC team might have lost all 11 games they played in 2009-2010 but the way he sees it, there's nowhere to go but up.
"Our main goal for this year is to play good soccer and have fun," he said. "Some of the teams in this league have been playing together for years and we just need to build some chemistry."
The HSMSL returns again this fall and league president Jose Oreamuno is encouraging any interested players to continue their Sunday ritual since last year only five teams signed up, the lowest number in years. The situation left Oreamuno and the rest of the league players baffled by the poor turnout.
"When I arrived here from Chile many years ago this league was a tradition around town," he said. "We really had no idea why so few teams signed up last year. Maybe many people are busy with their families, but 麻豆社国产is such a young town that you would think more people would be interested."
So this year Oreamuno is focussed on building the league back up. He said seven teams, including defending champion Ellis Moving Eagles, have already agreed to take part this season, but there is room for three more as well as room for lots more players as every team has a 25-man roster.
Games take place on Sundays, usually with one set of games scheduled for 9 a.m. and another set at 11:30 a.m. The league starts up Sunday, Sept. 12 and continues until late November when a winter break is scheduled. They resume in mid-February and continue until the middle of March
Teams play 20 games before playoffs, which every squad automatically qualifies for - stronger teams often get byes or easier paths to the finals.
Oreamuno said the HSMSL recently named their championship trophy after a man the soccer community knows for his many years of unwavering dedication to the league - Bob Mangher.
"Bob passed away in January and we decided to honour him by naming our league trophy after him," said Oreamuno. "Bob was involved with so many soccer groups in 麻豆社国产and also did a lot of refereeing. It's really nice to be able to honour him this way.
Oreamuno said any players or teams wanting to join the league can do so by contacting him at 604-898-5579 or via e-mail at [email protected].
