OSU Force Academy Zone: OSU banquet plays tribute to standout season throughout club

With a total of over 65 gold and silver medals from league, Cup and tournament play, it was another banner year for Ottawa’s #1 soccer club, and Ottawa South United took a moment to celebrate the achievements of its members on Sept. 28.


Over 400 attended the annual banquet at Centurion Conference and Event Centre for an evening of inspiring speakers, delicious dinner, awards, prizes and of course dancing.

“It was a really great opportunity to recognize everyone throughout the club for all our successes,” said OSU head coach Paul Harris, who thanked everyone for making him feel so welcome since he joined the club early in the summer after previously working with Everton FC. “When you come from the other side of the ocean, it’s hard to know for sure what things will be like. But I’m very pleased to see that OSU really is everything that I thought it was.

“I’m very impressed with the ambitions the club has for the future, and I look forward to helping OSU achieve those in the years to come.”

The club honoured a plethora of teams that won league championships this year, including the Force Academy 2003 boys (EODSA U11 Tier 3), the Force Academy 2000 Black boys (EODSA U12 Tier 1), the Force Academy 2001 Black girls (EODSA U11 Tier 1 & U12 Tier 2), the Force Academy 2000 Black girls (EODSA U12 Tier 1), the OSU Rage 1997 boys (ERSL U15 Level 4), the Force Academy 1999 Black girls (ERSL U13 Level 3) and the Force 1996 girls (ERSL U16 Level 3).

Numerous OSU teams were also runners-up – the Force Academy 2001 Black boys (EODSA U11 Tier 1), the Force Academy 2002 boys (EODSA U11 Tier 2 West), the OSU Rage 2000 boys (EODSA U12 Tier 3 West), Force Academy 2000 White girls (EODSA U12 Tier 2), the OSU Rage 2000 girls (EODSA U12 Tier 3 West), the OSU Power 1996 boys (ERSL U16 Level 4 Tier 1) and the Force U21 boys (ERSL Tier 1).

Two OSU girls’ squads captured East Region Cup titles this season – the Force Academy 1999 Black U13 Level 3 team and the Force 1996 Level 3 U16 side.

Three Force teams were runners-up in Ontario Youth Soccer League divisions – the U17 and U15 boys, as well as the U14 girls, who are currently appealing to be recognized as champions due to a controversial decision.

Four OSU squads earned promotions to the OYSL for next season – the 1999 Force girls, the 1998 Force girls, the 1997 Force Black boys and the 1996 Force girls.

The club also saluted nine of its 2012 graduates who moved on to play university soccer – Mekonen Lovemore-White, Daud Dahir and Callum Ayre (Carleton), Conner Elliot (Guelph), Abdul Ibrahim (Spring Arbor – Michigan), William Twardek (Queen\’s), John Cohen (Laurentian), Audrey Gingras (Bishop\’s) and Aiyana Gonyea (Acadia).
OSU presented special awards to three individuals and two teams at the banquet as well.

Jonathan Gervais received the Peter Cameron Memorial Trophy for a referee who puts “service before self.”

Erica Roberts from the 2001 girls’ Force Academy Blue team displayed the traits for which she was recognized as she accepted the Lindsey Catherine Winter Memorial Plaque for the U11 girl who best exemplifies team spirit, dedication to sportsmanship and a love for the game.

Dario Cobisa of the 1997 boys’ Force Black earned the Kirk Quaile Memorial Plaque, presented to an OSU U15 boy who best exemplifies Kirk Quaile\’s love and dedication to soccer.

And the 1998 girls’ Force (OYSL) and 1997 boys’ Force Black squads were chosen for Spirit of Excellence Awards for their success, commitment and dedication to the sport of soccer.

Another major highlight was the evening’s keynote speaker, retired Team Canada defender Paul Stalteri.

Stalteri shared the story of his career path to become the Canadian national team player with the most career caps – from getting cut from a provincial team as a teenager, to plugging away with a reserves team in the German league and eventually moving up to the first team, and later playing for Tottenham in the English Premier League, which was the best league in the world at the time.

The man who says his proudest career moments came when wearing Canadian colours also provided advice for the aspiring players in the room, stating that maintaining focus at all times on the task at hand is of upmost importance.

“Hard work and dedication are the pillars to success,” said Stalteri, who also congratulated the OSU players on all their accomplishments this season. “Hard work is the only way to do it.&rdquo