9-15 April: Happy Birthday to our Canadian Footballers!
Posted on 8 April 2012 in Around the Soccer World
9 April 1981 - Ali Gerba
Montréal's Ali Gerba is Canada's co-leading goal scorer at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, with six goals in 13 matches from 2005 to 2011 (four competitions). With 15 goals overall in 31 career international matches, he ranks fifth on Canada's all-time leading goal scorer's list. A three-time Québec player of the year (FSQ Joueur professionnel 2008 to 2010), he made his Amway Canadian Championship debut last year with Impact Montréal. Currently without a club for the start of the 2012 season, the 30-year old striker hopes to resume his career shortly.
9 April 1922 - John McMahon (deceased 2006)
John McMahon served as Canada's national teams manager from 1971 to 1982, save for a brief spell in 1975-76. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, but then raised in Watrous, SK and Glasgow (he was one when his family moved to Canada, then nine when his family moved back to Scotland), McMahon moved to Canada permanently in 1951. He served as Canada's manager in three cycles of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (with head coaches Frank Pike, Eckhard Krautzun and Barrie Clarke), pushing Canada to within a goal of qualification for Spain 1982. In 2001, he became an honoured member of The Soccer Hall of Fame.
12 April 1934 - Ken Pears
Goalkeeper Ken Pears played in seven national championship finals between 1952 and 1965, winning four Dominion titles with Westminster Royals (1953), Vancouver Halecos (1956), Vancouver Columbus (1964) and Vancouver Firefighters (1965). In the midst of that run, he was Canada's starting goalkeeper in the country's first entry to FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, appearing in all four 1957 matches against USA and Mexico (two wins and two losses). He was honoured by BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 1986 and then by The Soccer Hall of Fame in 2000 (as part of the inaugural class).
12 April 1963 - Joan McEachern
Midfielder Joan McEachern was a national champion, winning the Jubilee Trophy with both the Edmonton Angels (three times) and Coquitlam Strikers (once). At age 24, she made her international debut with Canada on 5 July 1987. A year later, she represented Canada at the 1988 Women's International Tournament in China PR. From 1991 to 1995, she participated in one FIFA Women's World Cup (Sweden 1995) and three CONCACAF competitions (including silver in both 1991 and 1994). In 2009, she became an honoured member of The Soccer Hall of Fame.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Tina Blaskovic 11-April-1972 (Toronto, ON)
Greg Weber 15-April-1950 (Vancouver, BC)
