Gale adds force to WSA Winnipeg

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BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Manitoba Soccer Association technical director Rob Gale has joined the WSA Winnipeg soccer team. (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

With an average age of less than 20, WSA Winnipeg has decided to go young for its second year in the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League (PDL).

With one exception, and a notable one at that.

The team revealed Thursday that one of its three allowed overage players will be Rob Gale, he of international playing and coaching reputation and now technical director of the Manitoba Soccer Association.

Gale won't be in the lineup this weekend with the club opens the new PDL season with games Saturday and Sunday in Littleton, Colo., against the Real Colorado Foxes.

But as his busy schedule permits, he plans to be available at least on a part-time basis throughout the official 20-match PDL season.

"Maybe I'll bring the average age up," the thirty-something Gale joked with reporters on Thursday, when WSA Winnipeg coach Eduardo Badescu said he's quite sure his squad will be the youngest in the league.

Badescu said the team will not only benefit from Gale's wealth of experience but that it's a positive signal for all of soccer in the province.

"It really shows that we can work together for soccer in Manitoba, the provincial program, the national training centre, the academies, the clubs, the universities," Badescu said. "If we all work together, we cannot take credit we developed this player or that. It's happening altogether and Robby Gale is testimony to that.

"One of the reasons we asked Robby is that (it's like) having a coach on the field. He can provide that."

Gale said he will try to provide whatever the WSA Winnipeg coaching staff asks as the team tries to improve on its 3-12-1 record in its inaugural 2011 campaign.

"I can help in some training capacity behind the scenes and if I'm needed on the field with some experience, then I'll let the coaches decide," Gale said. "I've been around in soccer long enough to know not to decide my own fate there."

He said there should be no question about his ability to still compete.

"I'm still fit, young enough to play, especially in North America," he said. "It's good to be involved in whatever capacity, to give these guys some support and some experience and hopefully some leadership. Whatever role that takes, I have no problem with.

"It's a direct link with the players. I play against these guys in the local leagues anyways, when I've played with the Sons of Italy team. They've got the legs but hopefully I've got the brain and some organization and some leadership we can offer out on the field and hopefully it can help."

WSA Winnipeg's home schedule begins next weekend against St. Louis at the Winnipeg Indoor Soccer Complex.

The club also announced on Thursday that it has partnered with Special Olympics Manitoba for the coming season, to help support SOM's soccer programs. WSA Winnipeg will dedicate its July 14 home game vs. Springfield to Special Olympics Manitoba fundraising.

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 11, 2012 C4