Winnipeg’s Invincibles
USB Les Rouges men’s soccer team wins MCAC title
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This article was published 13/11/2024 (382 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The Université de Saint-Boniface men’s soccer team found a winning formula this season.
Les Rouges recently won the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference championship, finishing an unbeaten season with a 1-0 victory over the Brandon University Bobcats at Winnipeg Soccer North Complex on Oct. 25.
On Oct. 24, Les Rouges hammered the Canadian Mennonite University Blazers 4-0 in the semifinal at the same venue.
Supplied photo
The Université de Saint-Boniface Les Rouges men’s soccer team won the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference championship after going unbeaten all season. Pictured are: (back row, from left) Yahia Chihab (assistant coach), Moussa Kane, Adam Zarouil, Musaka W’esuu, Mohammed Bouhaddou, Ismalia Ndoye, Lassana Maiga, Ibrahim Bezzahou, Abdoul Niangadou, Volidi Nkusu, Mohamed Osnou Youbouet, Omar Elhemely, and Seif Dhaoui (head coach). Front: (from left) Yatma Diop Hane, Roche Axel Adou, Hamed Njoya, Randy Gborie, Saidi Madaraka, Oliver Altemeyer, Emmanuel-David Kwilu-Kama, Amine Ajenkar, Mohamed-Omar Zellama, Amine Mrabet, and Reginald Jean-Paul.
“I’m very proud of what the boys have achieved this year,” said fifth-year head coach Seif Dhaoui. “We’d decided we wanted to try and go unbeaten this season, and that had been one of our goals.
“Everyone worked very hard to prepare and perform every week, and it was very pleasing to see everyone working so hard, holding themselves accountable, and seeing our senior players act as leaders for our younger players.”
Dhaoui said other factors behind the team’s success this season were savvy recruitment and a strong collective spirit and understanding: “We’ve seen lots of dedication, as well as camaraderie and friendships.”
“We’re like family,” he said. “We have fun, but also a strong work ethic, which is reflected by lots of late night practices.”
Dhaoui — recently named the league’s coach of the year — was speaking from New Brunswick, where Les Rouges were playing in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association’s championship, which was scheduled to run Nov. 5 to 8 in Fredericton. At press time, USB had lost its first game 1-0 to the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology Ooks.
“We fought really hard and it was a very close game,” Dhaoui said on Nov. 6, hours after the clash against the Edmonton team. “Their goal was down to an individual mistake, and we had a few chances to equalize. Overall, it was a good fight.”
Dhaoui acknowledged the support of everyone involved with Les Rouges this season, especially assistant coach Yahia Chihab and USB sports and recreational activities co-ordinator Zoé Savoie.
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