New colours. New team. New stadium. Same campus. For four members of 91ÑÇÉ«9 Football Club, their days as 91ÑÇÉ« Lions may be over but they've returned to the 91ÑÇÉ« campus to play in familiar surroundings for the inaugural season of the Canadian Premier League (CPL).
91ÑÇÉ« alumni Michael Cox, Daniel Gogarty, Ryan Telfer, and Colm Vance were all members of the 2015 national championship squad for the Lions and are looking to make their mark in the CPL as part of the first roster in 91ÑÇÉ«9 history. Current Lion Emmanuel Zambazis his first season with the Lions in 2018, makes a total of five players with 91ÑÇÉ« history playing for the newly formed team.
The CPL, which launched its inaugural season in April, features seven teams from across Canada. The rosters of the teams began to take shape in November 2018 with the first ever CPL-U Sports draft, where Gogarty became the first draft pick in 91ÑÇÉ«9 history when they selected him fourth overall in the first round. Zambazis was selected by the team in second round, while Cox and Vance were both signed to contracts by the team over the winter. Telfer was acquired on a season-long loan from the Toronto FC in March.
"It's great being able to play in a familiar setting," said Gogarty, on what it's like playing professionally on the 91ÑÇÉ« campus. "Being close to home means all my friends and family get to come out and support us which is something I don't take for granted. It's certainly helped with the transition from university, not having to move and staying close to home has made the transition to the CPL much smoother for me."
A few more familiar faces on the 91ÑÇÉ«9 team include Lions master coach Carmine Isacco, who is the first assistant coach with 91ÑÇÉ«9 FC; Luca Forno, who is also pulling double duty as Lions assistant coach and serving as 91ÑÇÉ«9’s equipment manager and as Lions assistant coach; and Constantine Poulos, who played with the Lions from 2009-10 and is the strength and conditioning coach for both teams.
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