That鈥檚 what makes sports at the minor pro and high senior amateur levels so intriguing: Everybody has a story to tell.
鈥淚n Europe, if you are not playing professionally as a footballer in the highest league at 24, you are considered old,鈥� said Kron Jashari, who came up in the development academy and played for the reserve team of Beerschot AC of the Belgian Pro League in his hometown of Antwerp.
So begins an adventure for Jashari, at that age of 24, in the three-day open-tryout camp of the Victoria Highlanders of the United Soccer League Premier Development League, which concludes tonight at 8 with the intra-squad game at the PISE turf field on the Camosun Interurban campus.
A connecton to Victoria brought Jashari to the Highlanders鈥� trial. It鈥檚 quite an investment since trialists must pay their own way to the camp and for their accomodation. Players who make the team will be reimbursed by the club.
The first thing Jashari did when he got to Victoria this week was take a peek down on the city from one of the higher local vantage points.
鈥淏elgium is quite flat,鈥� said Jashari.
And it鈥檚 soccer mad.
鈥淔ootball and cycling are the two biggest sports,鈥� he said.
Before coming to North America, Jashari tried to watch as much MLS as he could to understand the style. He rates the MLS as the equal of the Second Division in most top European soccer nations.
If he can elevate himself from the PDL, the top amateur development league in North America, to North American pro, then the trip will have been worth it.
A forward-thinking player, who can play either as a striker or attacking midfielder, Jashari brings a style most soccer fans can appreciate.
鈥淚 always look to score as many goals as possible,鈥� said the Belgian, who is fluent in Dutch and English.
鈥淔ootball is about scoring. The team that scores the most in a game, wins.鈥�
Although the sprawling PDL exisits primarily to develop top local amateurs in each market, the imports any PDL team can afford to bring in are crucial to success.
鈥淲e have a tough division [Northwest Division] and face three MLS reserve teams [Vancouver Whitecaps, Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers],鈥� said Highlanders GM Mark deFrias, who said he is obligated to look beyond the Island for a few key import players on a Higlanders team otherwise built with a core of UVic Vikes, other CIS/NCAA players and some VISL stars.
鈥淲e have some exciting signings coming up of two [import] players who have played at competitive pro levels in Europe 鈥� Fourth Division in Germany and top level in Finland 鈥� and are just awaiting international transfers.鈥�
As for popular English import Ash Burbeary, the Highlanders GM said: 鈥淲e are waiting to hear back from Ash.鈥�
The Highlanders open the 2013 PDL season May 4 against the Kitsap Pumas at Royal Athletic Park.
