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Sports Oakville Beaver By Krissie Rutherford OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF www.aplushomes.ca from 2 .4% ·Full MLS ·Full Service Call ADAM CAMPBELL Broker 905-844-4444 SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2006 31 Aidoo brothers team up to share football expertise Kwame Aidoo wasn't sure exactly what he was getting into when he signed to play a season of professional football in Italy. "At first, I didn't really think it was American football -- in England, football is soccer," he said, smiling. "Everyone was asking me, `Are you sure you're going for football?'" It turned out the 26-year-old was on the right track. Aidoo recently returned to Oakville after a sevenmonth season with the Bergamo Lions, who finished first in Italy's premiere football league and made it to the quarter-finals of the European Championship - the Eurobowl. "It was a great experience, good, competitive football," said Aidoo, who plays defensive back. "It was a good opportunity to see a lot of Europe, too. I was living in a small town with lots of history and we got to travel around." Aidoo was playing with and against many other Canadians and Americans in the Italian league, which boasts eight teams. After playing for five years at McMaster University, the Loyola grad decided to head to Italy for a season along with a few old teammates. "One of the guys, I played with at McMaster the year before," he said. "The opportunity came up, so I decided to go." The Italian leagues may be finished for now, but Aidoo is still very much involved with football. He just started helping out McMaster's defensive back coach, Mark Forsyth. "He's one of those guys you meet and never forget. He's a great coach, and I'm happy to be able to help out," said Aidoo. After graduating from McMaster, he was signed by the Canadian Football League's Hamilton TigerCats, but was released near the end of training camp. His other project since returning to Oakville is running a football development camp for kids in town. "We started the training company to help kids and teens train properly," Aidoo said of Excel Sports Performance, which he launched last year with his older brother, Kwame, who's in his fourth CFL season with the Tiger-Cats. "We're coaching and helping kids with the right direction with training," he continued. "(It's) lacking big-time in Canada. "In the States, you get high school coaches dedicated to training kids in Football. In Canada, we have the talent, but there's no proper training." That's what he and Kojo are hoping to offer through Excel Sports Performance. The Aidoo brothers and a few other Loyola grads are currently preparing for the first annual Fall High School Football Camp, which kicks off Oct. 1 and runs every Sunday over four weeks. The camp aims to help players get to the next level by presenting new training principles to add to existing high school training and conditioning. "We're hoping to help them out in any way we can," said Aidoo, who noted they'll also help players with post-secondary school recruiting. The camp includes position-specific drills and training tips the Aidoo's have picked up that have allowed them to play football at the next level. As the Aidoo brothers' company motto states: "Train like one to be one." To register for Excel Performance Camp, or for more information, call Kwame Aidoo at 905-3201688 or email aidookj1@yahoo.ca. BARRIE ERSKINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER GIVING BACK: Kwame Aidoo recently returned to Oakville after a seven-month season with Bergamo Lions, a premiere Italian football squad. The 26-year-old Loyola grad and his brother, Kojo, are running a football camp this fall for high school players. THANKS FOR A GREAT SEASON! On behalf of the Oakville Soccer Club we would like to thank all the Players, Coaches, Convenors & Volunteers who made the 2006 Outdoor Soccer Season such a Success! COME OUT & SUPPORT YOUR CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE PLAYERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE JOHN CACADOR MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT! CSL OAKVILLE BLUE DEVILS VS. LONDON CITY AS THEY COMPETE FOR THE NATIONAL DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP! THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2006 @ 8:30PM BRONTE ATHLETIC FIELD THANK YOU TO ALL OUR CORPORATE LEVEL SPONSORS & COMMUNITY PARTNER SPONSORS FOR MAKING THIS SEASON A WINNER FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED! 504 Iroquois Shore Rd., Unit #11, Oakville, ON L6H 3K4 Tel: 905-849-4436 Fax: 905-849-3677 Thanks to our Key Sponsors: The Oakville Beaver A Proud Sponsor of Oakville Soccer Club