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26 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR:JONKUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2012 Sorry to see you go But Oakville Soccer Club executive confident club can still thrive without departing technical director "It was a very difficult decision, to be honest with you. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute at the club. It's been a phenomenal aul Varian doesn't begrudge Jason de experience. There are some wonderful peoVos for his short tenure at the Oakville ple here, and I've made lifelong friends here Soccer Club (OSC). He's just grateful at the club." De Vos said his time at the OSC also gave the club had de Vos for as long as it did. De Vos officially announced his resigna- him a better insight into the challenges faction as OSC technical director on Friday, ing youth soccer in Canada, and more motivation to address them. leaving after 18 months to focus "It's been a great experience on his growing responsibilities as for me to see firsthand what the a soccer analyst for TSN. problems are in our system in "People like Jason aren't birds Canada," he said. "If anything, the who can be caged very long," experience I gained over the last Varian, the OSC's chief adminis18 months makes me even more trative officer, said of the former determined in playing a role in Canadian national team captain. fixing it. "Jason's obviously a character "Because there's a lot wrong of considerable notoriety in with the way we develop players Canadian soccer at large. To have in our country. I firmly believe we him with us was a pleasure," Jason de Vos can fix it if we work together colVarian added. "He came in at a very important time when the club was in laboratively and get all stakeholders pulling the process of working out what the club in the same direction." De Vos took big steps in that regard while wanted to be. He was able to come in and really help build a whole philosophy of at the OSC. He was responsible for installing advancing every player and not just certain the club's first fully-integrated technical players, building a really strong technical development plan and put together an plan to develop everyone based on universal- impressive faculty of professional coaching staff -- the OSC had no national level ly-accepted principles." De Vos said the decision to step down was A-licensed coaches when he arrived, and not an easy one. The 38-year-old, who served now has eight -- to execute the plan. In addition, de Vos worked as a Major League Soccer at the district and provincial (MLS) analyst for CBC Sports "People like Jason levels to drive reform to before joining the OSC in aren't birds who can be youth competition systems the fall of 2010, said he caged very long... To that allow the best environviewed his technical director have him with us was ment for the club's players position as "the path I was a pleasure." to develop in game play. He going to go down." has been integral in the But TSN, which de Vos Ontario Soccer Association's began working for last year, Oakville Soccer Club planning for a high-perforrecently increased its soccer CAO Paul Varian mance league, scheduled to portfolio by acquiring broadcasting rights to the MLS, the next two open in 2014, that will identify the top talent UEFA Euro Cup championships and two of in the province and allow them to develop the next three FIFA World Cup tourna- their skills through competition. "The legacy he leaves behind is one of ments. All of a sudden, de Vos's plate was getting opportunity," said Varian. "The word `foundation' is what I describe it as. When he a bit too full. "Given what my schedule is going to be came in, we'd started an academy program like over the summer, it became very clear to but weren't certain where it was going. We me that it would be impossible to meet the had some great coaches here, but they demands that the position of technical direc- weren't unified under a certain structure tor at Oakville Soccer Club needs and also at and there was no strategic plan at the time. the same time fulfill my commitments con- He's done a great job establishing, very tractually to TSN," de Vos said. See Different, page 27 By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR Sign of spring P ERIC RIEHL / OAKVILLE BEAVER / @HALTON_PHOTOG MAKING CONTACT: Athletics batter Mason Peberdy connects with a pitch during Oakville Little League opening-day action Saturday at Cornwall Park. For more photos from the game, log onto www.insidehalton.com/photozone. Second-period slump stings Buzz A bad second period was the Oakville Buzz's undoing in a 12-9 loss to the Markham Ironheads in Ontario Lacrosse Association junior B action Sunday in Markham. The Buzz led 4-3 after the opening period but was outscored 7-2 in the middle frame. Markham broke the game open with five consecutive goals after Oakville's Greg Campbell had tied the game 5-5 near the midway point of the second. Campbell finished the game with four goals, while Ryan Callaghan notched a hat trick for the Buzz. Also scoring for Oakville were Pat Shea -- who added four assists -- and Sam Neeb. The defeat came three days after the Buzz rallied for an 11-10 win over the Newmarket Saints at Glen Abbey Recreation Centre. Spencer Gallant and Keyan McQueen each recorded hat tricks and added two assists to lead the Buzz, which trailed 10-8 early in the third period. Five affiliate players -- Elion Salerno, Mitch Wales, Adriano Morgani, Chris Young and Shea -- also scored goals for Oakville. Ian Duffy recorded the victory in net. The Buzz (3-2) will visit the Green Gaels Thursday in Clarington, then return home to host the Halton Hills Bulldogs Friday (8 p.m. at Glen Abbey).