GERMANIA IS BACK

After a 10-year absence, Germania is back in the MMSL, and its young stars have their sights set on the Premier Division.

By Tom Thiessen
June 2008

It all starts with the warm up.

Their pre-game is an impressive display of quickness and agility. They’re sprinting and shuffling at a frantic pace, all the while creating a flurry of touch passes, with each kick tighter than the last. Decked out in brand new yellow jerseys and black shorts, they look like a swarm of bees hyped up on Red Bull.

They are the new and improved Germania Soccer Club, and they are—officially—back.

Young (their oldest player is 23) and fearless, they’re led by no-nonsense co-coaches Keith Gibson and Carlos DaSilva, and their matches to start this season haven’t been close. Wins of 3-1, 6-2, and 8-1 have led to a 3-0 start on the season, their first in Division 1.

Tonight’s opponent is United F.C., who should prove the toughest to date, but whose warm-up is considerably less spirited. Gibson takes notice.

“Look at these guys--they’re already beat,” says Gibson of United. A former professional with the Winnipeg Fury, and a coach from the high school to elite levels, he’s learned to spot the winners and losers early. “They’re so busy looking at us,” he explains, “they’re not even paying attention to what they’re doing.”

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A club whose history traces back to 1951, Germania had built itself into Winnipeg’s West End powerhouse, consistently placing in the top three at the Premier level. The club soon developed a reputation for championships, quality coaching, and elite level players, several of whom would go on to professional careers.

But by the mid ‘90’s, several clubs were paying players at the elite level, a practice that Germania refused to take part in. This, according to some, coupled with the politics and in-fighting that too often consume amateur sports organizations, eventually led to the club folding. The remaining players were forced to find other clubs to join, as were the coaches.

Gibson (left) and DaSilva are the club’s co-owners and co-coaches

And it would take a former player—Keith Gibson—to bring the storied franchise back to life.

“Carlos and I have been coaching together for six years,” says Gibson, who got his own coaching start at St. John’s High School in Winnipeg’s north end. “And in that time we’ve been molding this youth team into a potential senior men’s top-level team”

The youth team in question was the Phoenix Soccer Club Premier Boys squad, where Gibson and DaSilva had enjoyed coaching their sons (Kyle Gibson and Ryan DaSilva) over the course of several competitive seasons. 2007, however, marked the boys’ last year at the juvenile level, after which players generally call on teams to play for in the Manitoba Major Soccer League.

Coincidentally, 2007 also saw Winnipeg Croatia lose its spot as a Premier level team, by way of finishing in the bottom two in the Premier Division. Facing the inevitable demotion to Division 1, the club decided to put its top franchise up for sale, and focus instead on its remaining two MMSL teams.

Their timing was impeccable.

Gibson and DaSilva, of course, were waiting in the wings. The pair pooled resources and purchased the franchise together. Assembling a board of directors that includes Keith’s brother (and former Fury teammate) Wade, they resurrected the Germania name, and immediately began knocking on doors in search of sponsors. Two in particular—Natural Bakery and Bobcat of Central Manitoba—came on board in a big way.

“Sponsors are so important,” maintains Gibson. “They literally ensure the survival of the team. Their support covers entry fees, new jerseys…and we’re really fortunate–both Natural Bakery and Bobcat really get what we’re trying to do with this soccer program.”

Suffice to say Gibson, DaSilva and Co. aren’t just trying, they’re doing. Their soccer club has taken Division 1 by storm, reeling off victories in their first three matches with scores of 3-1, 6-2, and 8-1. And when talking about the club’s 2008 objectives, Gibson pulls no punches. “We want to end up 1 or 2 this year, and nothing less. That’s our goal.”

Well aware that a top-2 finish earns a promotion to Premier, it’s a bold statement, but the coaches and players are prepared. Although the MMSA general membership only ratified the sale to Gibson and DaSilva in March, the co-coaches/owners were running practices well in advance.

“We started practicing in November,” smiles Gibson. “Twice a week throughout November/December, and then we moved to three times per week starting in January. A lot of running, sprinting, haymakers. And then we scrimmage at the end.”

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Their practice schedule has produced one of the fittest soccer clubs in the province. And on a gorgeous night to kick off the month of June, they’re running circles around their unsuspecting opponents from United F.C.

Naumiuk (13) celebrates the first of his two goals with teammates.

Gibson had predicted that it was over in the warm-up, and he wasn’t far off. Just shy of the 11-minute mark, the United defenders are looking overwhelmed amid the constant Germania pressure, at which point striker A.J Naumiuk heads the ball in past the United keeper. The yellow shirts are up 1-0. Roughly five minutes later, Naumiuk scores a second.

Gibson and DaSilva employ an aggressive 4-4-2 formation that completely dominates the middle. It seems that the first half is either Germania playing keep-away, or attacking. Not surprisingly then, the first half presents no real scoring opportunities for their opponent. Whenever the blue shirts appeared to be putting together a charge, Germania’s aggressive fullbacks would draw their opponents offside.

It’s obvious that the coaches and players are familiar and comfortable with each other. The sideline instructions are calm and clear. “Quicker passes” calls out Gibson, and then “Relax.” “Midfield, I need more from you guys” beckons DaSilva. The halftime talk yields more of the same.

“The first fifteen minutes of this half they’re gonna attack. Don’t get caught flat-footed” says DaSilva. Gibson agrees. “Let’s start coming back and supporting. We don’t need another goal, so don’t press for it. Just play our game and the goal will come.”

True to form, the goal does come, near the end of the second half.

And what’s really frightening is that this club will only get deeper and better. Three players are sitting this one out due to injury, and one of Germania’s best—Petar Angeleski—is serving a one-game suspension. Red-carded one game ago for a slide tackle the referee disapproved of, the 5’9” midfielder was also barred from the pre-game locker room chat by Gibson. Angeleski has no hard feelings.

“I’ve played for these coaches for 5 years, and they’re awesome. They keep it fun for us, they’re good teachers, and good at strategizing, which is why we’re winning. And they’re always encouraging—never hard on you when you make a mistake.”

And along with his teammates, Angeleski—a university student who works for a building construction company in the summer—has responded with his dedication. A typical day? “Work from 6:30 (a.m.) to 5 or 6, soccer at 6:30 (p.m.) gym at 8:30,” he says, smiling. “Then it’s home to bed and do it all over again the next day.”

But can he and his teammates compete at the Premier level next year, should the opportunity present itself? “Of course” Angeleski replies quickly. “We’re younger, faster,” he pauses, “…and we’ve got heart.”

Watching from the far sideline, Chic Devenney agrees. The G.M. and head coach of the Winnipeg Alliance—the city’s indoor pro team that is part of the Canadian Indoor Soccer League—Devenney already has four Germania players (Angeleski, Tony Ferlano, Kyle Gibson, and Ryan DaSilva) on his roster. And he’s always on the lookout for more.

“Can these boys compete at the Premier level? Yes” says Devenney. “They’ve got speed, youth, and creativity. If they stay together, they’ll do really well.”

Germania is indeed blessed with speed to burn. But their frantic pace occasionally leads to some lapses in judgement. United F.C. exposes one of those lapses with a breakaway in the second half, but Germania goalkeeper Michael Szaura stops that one. For someone who hasn’t seen much action all game, he earns his keep.

The game ends 3-0 (the club improves to 4-0 on the season) and on this night the score is flattering to the opponent. For the better part of 90 minutes, Germania bore the look of a prizefighter holding up a sparring partner just for practice. Or just for fun.

Gibson and DaSilva are pleased with the win, as are the players. And you get the sense that, given their level of commitment, this is only the beginning.