CPL HFX Wanderers FC

Strong Maritime contingent among list of players in final trials for Wanderers

Published on February 28, 2019 under Canadian Premier League (CPL)
HFX Wanderers FC News Release


Halifax, N.S. - HFX Wanderers FC have released a list of fifteen players who will be fighting for the final places in head coach Stephen Hart's squad.

Competition will be fierce as the preseason camp invitees will be asked to show what they've got in games over two days, to try to make it onto the Wanderers roster.

They'll be tested in matchups with and against the players who have already been signed by the club, at the beginning of the Wanderers training camp.

There's a strong Maritime flavour to the trials, with eight of the players coming from Atlantic Canada and five from Halifax.

Players will also travel from further afield on their own dime, with the dream of making it to Canadian Premier League soccer, including one from Scotland and a number from Ontario.

"The players all know the situation they're coming into and they have to be willing to compete at the best of their ability and show they're ready to play at this level," said Wanderers head coach Stephen Hart.

16-year-old Halifax prospects Suliman Elromani and Luke Green are the youngest to be invited to the trials after impressing the Wanderers staff.

They'll be competing against veterans such as Calum Ferguson who has played in Scotland's pro leagues - and is travelling from there to be here - as well as Adrian Butters, who has played in defence for Guyana, and local player Derek Gaudet who represented Canada at the U-20 level.

Former FC Edmonton player Paul Craig from PEI will be another name many will recognize.

The players will be competing for several remaining spots still available in Stephen Hart's squad at Soccer Nova Scotia. The action will be behind closed doors March 4 and March 5.

The Wanderers Canadian Premier League debut is on April 28 against Pacific FC on Vancouver Island.

The club's home opener will be the following weekend on May 4 against Hamilton's Forge FC.

The full list of the players invited to the trials are below.

André Bona

Born: January 19, 1990

Place of birth: Marseille, France

Position: Centre-back, Right full-back

Previous Clubs: Sporting Club Bonneveine, CS Longueuil, Citadins de l'UQÀM

Adrian Butters

Born: July 15, 1998

Place of birth: Georgetown, Guyana/Grew up in Canada

Position: Defender

Previous Clubs: Toronto Lynx, Woodlands Wellington, FC Oresund (Denmark), BK Frem (Denmark), Edgeworth Eagles, Oakville Blue Devils, York Region Shooters, Vaughan Azzurri, Guyana senior team - 5 caps.

Paul Craig

Born: March 14, 1998

Place of birth: Charlottetown, PEI

Position: Striker

Previous Clubs: UPEI Panthers, Saskatchewan Huskies, Avondale Islanders, Thunder Bay Chill, FC Edmonton, Rochester Lancers, Halifax City S.C.

Suliman Elromani

Born: May 16 2002

Place of birth: Halifax, NS

Position: Winger

Previous clubs: Halifax Dunbrack

Calum Ferguson

Born: February 12, 1995

Place of birth: Inverness, Scotland

Position: Striker

Previous Clubs: Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Montrose, Albion Rovers, Elgin City, Canada U-18 and U-20

Derek Gaudet

Born: May 14, 1989

Place of birth: Bayside N.S.

Position: Attacking midfield

Previous Clubs: Halifax County, Halifax Dunbrack, Toronto FC, Portland Timbers, Saint Mary's Huskies, Canada U-17 and U-20

Ian Greedy

Born: April 19,1991

Place of birth: Halifax, N.S.

Position: Striker

Previous Clubs: Suburban FC, Cape Breton University Men's Soccer, Calgary Callies, United DFC, Ottawa Fury (PDL), Victoria Highlanders (PDL), Team Nova Scotia, Team Canada World University Games.

Luke Green

Born: December 12, 2002

Place of birth: Halifax, N.S.

Position: Centre-back/Centre-Midfield

Previous Clubs: Suburban FC, Nova Scotia

Jonathan Hammond

Born: September 20, 1990

Place of birth: Saint John, NB

Position: Left-back/ Left-wing

Previous Clubs: Halifax City, Acadia University

Sam Karklins

Born: August 29, 1989

Place of birth: Halifax, N.S.

Position: Midfield/Striker

Previous Clubs: Halifax City Celtic, Halifax City wanderers, Western, Dunbrack, Halifax County United, Suburban, Scotia, Dartmouth, Cole Harbour, Kings ACAA, Dalhousie

Rory Kennedy

Born: May 14, 1988

Place of birth: Halifax

Position: Defender

Previous Clubs: Halifax City, Saint Mary's University, Portland Phoenix, Victoria Islanders, Kingston FC, Canada U-17

Marcus Lees

Born: June 27, 1993

Place of birth: Scarborough, Ontario

Position: Shadow Striker

Previous Clubs: Sigma FC, UNB Reds

Adam LoFranco

Born: June 2, 1997

Place of birth: Toronto

Position: Centre-midfield

Previous Clubs: US Latina, Vaughan SC, York University

Peter Schaale

Born: June 14, 1996

Place of birth: Wittlich, Germany

Position: Centre-back

Previous Clubs: FC Köln U-17, Viktoria Köln U-19, SG Köln-Worringen Mens, Cape Breton University

Dieu Merci Yuma

Born: February 10, 1996

Place of birth: Congo/Grew up in Toronto

Position: Striker/Right or Left-wing/Attacking midfield

Previous Clubs: Sanjaxx Lions (League1 Ontario), CS Sedan (France), Electrico FC (Portugal), Crato FC (Portgual), FC Hulcin (Czech Republic)

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