Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Ervis Tafaj | ||
Date of birth | 10 September 1980 | ||
Place of birth | Albania | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Youth career | |||
Partizani FK | |||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2000 | Oakland Golden Grizzlies | ||
2001–2002 | Detroit Mercy Titans | 38 | (12) |
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2003–2005 | London City | ||
2005–2006 | Shkumbini | 8 | (0) |
2006 | London City | ||
2011 | London City | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Eris Tafaj (born September 10, 1980) is an Albanian former footballer who played in the Canadian Professional/Soccer League, and Albanian Superliga. He is currently a trainer and coach with Eurostar Football Academy and Elite Development Soccer Academy.
Tafaj played at the youth level with Partizani FK, but ultimately settled in Canada at the age of 14. [1] In 2000, he began to play at the college level with the Oakland Golden Grizzlies. [2] In 2001, he transferred to play with the Detroit Titans. [3] In 2003, he played in the Canadian Professional Soccer League with London City. [4] Throughout the 2003 season he helped London secure the Open Canada Cup, where he successfully registered a goal in the penalty shoot-out. [5] At the conclusion of the season he finished as the club's top goalscorer, and team MVP. [6]
In 2005, he was selected for the CPSL All-Star team against Glasgow Rangers. [7] After leading London in the scoring charts he was transferred to KS Shkumbini in the Albanian Superliga. [8] [9] [10] [11] After a season abroad he returned to London, and was selected for the second time to the CSL All-Star team against Clyde F.C. [7] In the middle of the season he departed from the club, but would eventually return for the 2011 season. [12] [13]
After retiring from professional he was recruited by former London City head coach Luka Shaqiri as a staff coach for Eurostar Football Academy. [14] Along with former teammate Isa Bulku he formed Elite Development Soccer Academy. [1]
London City
The Canadian Soccer League championship final or CSL Championship is the post-season match of the Canadian Soccer League (CSL) and is the successor to the CNSL Championship. The winner is crowned champion in the same manner as in other North American sports leagues. This differs from other top soccer leagues around the world which consider the club with the most points at the end of the season to be the sole champion. It is a Non-FIFA championship match that was previously sanctioned by the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) but is now affiliated with the Soccer Federation of Canada (SFC).
The Open Canada Cup was an annual knock-out cup competition in Canadian Soccer. The competition was first held during the 1998 season as the CPSL League Cup. It was organized by the Canadian Soccer League originally as a League Cup for CSL member clubs. After operating the competition for several seasons as an exclusive tournament, the league's ownership decided in 2003 to grant accessibility to all Canadian professional and amateur clubs. The decision was influenced by the lack of initiative by the Canadian Soccer Association in providing a potential candidate for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.
C.N.S.C. Toronto Croatia is a Canadian soccer team based in Toronto, Ontario, that plays in the Supergroup Open Division in the Canadian Academy of Football. The team's colours are red, white and blue, similar to those of the Croatia national team.
Brampton Stallions were a Canadian soccer team, founded in 2001 as the Brampton Hitmen before changing its name in 2005. The team was a member of the Canadian Soccer League and played in the National Division. The team went "dormant" in 2006.
London City Soccer Club is a Canadian soccer team founded in 1973. The team is currently a member of the Canadian Academy of Soccer League. The team plays their home games at the Milton Community Sports Park in the town of Milton, Ontario. The team's colours are red, black and white. Formed on Valentine's Day of 1973 by Markus Gauss in order to field a London entry for the National Soccer League after the departure of German Canadian FC. The Gauss family ran and provided the city of London a professional team for 38 years. Under their tutelage the club was most notable for providing an opportunity for young players to develop in a professional environment.
The North York Astros were a Canadian soccer team that was founded in 1990. The team initially played in the National Soccer League. The team played their home games at Esther Shiner Stadium in North York, a district of the city of Toronto, Canada. The team's colours were orange and black. The club was originally named North York Atletico Argentina Soccer Club, and witnessed instant success in its initial stages. After a merger with North York Talons, and a relocation to Scarborough the team was eventually renamed the North York Astros. The Astros were a founding member of the Canadian National Soccer League's successor league the Canadian Professional Soccer League in 1998.
St. Catharines Roma Wolves, are a Canadian soccer team, founded in 1967. The team currently plays in the semi-professional League1 Ontario in both the men's and women's divisions. The club is a former member of the Canadian Soccer League (CSL), where it fielded a professional team from 1998 to 2013, and now operates youth teams in the Peninsula Soccer League. Teams play out of Club Roma in St. Catharines, Ontario in the Niagara Peninsula. The team's colours are dark red and white, mimicking those of the famous Italian club A.S. Roma.
York Region Shooters is a Canadian soccer team, that plays in the Canadian Soccer League. The Shooters played their home games at the St. Joan of Arc Turf Field in the City of Vaughan, Ontario. The team's colours were blue and white, mirroring those of the Italy national team and reflecting the cultural heritage of the club. The club had also competed under various different names as Vaughan Sun Devils, Vaughan Shooters, Italia Shooters, and finally as York Region Shooters.
SC Toronto is a Canadian soccer team, founded in 1994. The team was a member of the Canadian Soccer League, and played its final home games at Lamport Stadium in the city of Toronto, Ontario. The club found success early on since its inception as the Toronto Supra in the Canadian National Soccer League, making the postseason in 1996, and the championship finals in 1997. With the creation of the Canadian Professional Soccer League in 1998, Toronto missed out in registering for the league which resulted in the club completing in local amateur leagues. Supra would eventually return to the professional level in 2001, entering the CPSL as an expansion franchise.
The 1998Canadian Professional Soccer League season was the inaugural season under the Canadian Professional Soccer League name. The season began on May 31, 1998, and concluded on October 14, 1998, with the St. Catharines Wolves defeating the Toronto Olympians in 4-2 victory in a penalty shootout to claim the first CPSL Championship held at Centennial Park Stadium in Toronto, Ontario. Though Toronto was denied the treble they still managed to go undefeated the entire regular season, and dominate the league with the best offensive and defensive record.
Brampton City United FC is a Canadian soccer team, founded in 2002. The team plays in the Lika Supergroup Open Division. The club plays out of Victoria Park Stadium in the community of Brampton, Ontario.
The Canadian Soccer League is a semi-professional league for Canadian soccer clubs primarily located in the province of Ontario, and claims the history of the Canadian National Soccer League (CNSL). It is a non-FIFA league previously sanctioned by the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA), but now affiliated with the Soccer Federation of Canada (SFC). As of 2024, it consists of six teams, all located in Ontario. The season usually runs from May to October, with most games played on the weekend followed by a playoff format to determine the overall champion.
Harry Paul Gauss was a German-born Canadian soccer businessman, head coach, general manager, and soccer player.
Windsor City FC is a Canadian soccer team, based in Windsor, Ontario, that plays in League1 Ontario. The club was founded in 2004 and has previously competed in the Canadian Professional Soccer League (CPSL) and Canadian Soccer League (CSL). Throughout their tenure in the CPSL/CSL, Windsor won two Open Canada Cups, one American Indoor Soccer League (AISL) Championship, and maintained a status of regular playoff contender. Around the 2008 CSL season, the club faced financial and player commitment problems which resulted in the league revoking the franchise. In 2011, former Windsor and CSL Defender of the Year Filip Rocca was granted a franchise and brought back Windsor to compete in the Canadian Soccer League. Following the de-sanctioning of the CSL by the Canadian Soccer Association the club joined the newly formed League1 Ontario in 2014. The team plays their home games at the St. Clair College. The team's colours are red and white.
Hugo Ernesto Herrera is an Argentine former association football forward who had stints in South America, and most notably in the Canadian Soccer League with the Brampton Stallions and Toronto Croatia. During his tenure within the CSL he won three CSL Championships and two Croatian World Club Championship.
Phil Ionadi is a Canadian businessman, soccer executive, former soccer player, head coach, and the general manager for the Canadian Arena Soccer Association.
Caswain Mason is a Vincentian former footballer who played as a midfielder.
Hayden Fitzwilliams is a Trinidadian former footballer who played as a midfielder and forward and played at the international level with the Trinidad and Tobago national football team.
Velimir Crljen is a Croatian retired footballer and manager who played in the Croatian First Football League, American Professional Soccer League, Canadian Professional Soccer League, and S.League. He also had several notable terms as a manager for Toronto Croatia in the CPSL/CSL.
Vincent Ursini is a Canadian accountant, former soccer executive, and stage actor.