League honours Wolves coach
Federico Turriziani is thrilled to be named Coach of the Month for July for League1, but the head coach of the St. Catharines Club Roma Wolves insists the award is more than just about himself.
“It’s something that makes me very proud. It means what we’ve done the last two months is very unique,” he said. “I’m very happy for myself, obviously, but when you get this award there is a lot of work behind (the scenes) not just me. It’s the coaching staff, the players, the club in general from the president to the general manager to the technical director.
“Obviously, no one could imagine to win eight in a row but it makes me proud.”
Turriziani’s guidance helped turn around the Wolves season after a disappointing 1-5-2 start to win their last eight games and thrust themselves into playoff contention.
He said one of the keys is to delegate authority throughout his coaching staff.
“We have 25-29 players and I’m lucky to have people around that are good coaches and I try to give everyone a job,” he said. “I have three or four that come to practice with me and I rotate the coaches because they have other teams to take care of. They are happy to come and help and they are smart coaches.”
Turriziani feels winning also goes beyond the coaching staff.
“Everybody — the people that just help with the balls — is important. Even someone who picks up one cone, that’s important too. The more we have, it means the quality of my job is elevated with good, competent people who are close to you and everything is better.
“I told the players what we’ve done is because there is the guy who has helped with the game day and the guys who clean the washroom. Everything makes a point.”
The Wolves face their biggest test of the season Saturday when they travel to BMO Field in Toronto to take on first place Toronto TFC Academy. They conclude the regular season at home Friday, August 16 versus Unionville Milliken, who sit one point behind Roma in fourth spot.
TFC are 12-1-2, have scored the most goals, permitted the fewest, and have already gained promotion to the Premier Division for next season.
“The schedule sometimes is unbelievable,” Turriziani said. “Playing TFC is huge. If we can come out with points it means we are a top team in this league. The players are very confident and we’re going to do our best to keep going.”
The Wolves have lost a handful of players who have left for university but still have plenty of players (23) to finish off the season.
Second-place London will also be promoted leaving the team which finishes third to play the second-last team from the Premier Division.
“We know it will be very hard but we want to follow our dream and make the playoffs,” Turriziani said. “It would be amazing for us to play another game. I will be a historic moment for St. Catharines to close out our season as perfect as we could.”
A fan bus from Club Roma will be heading to Toronto for Saturday’s game. Text 905-321-2190 or e-mail gm@romasoccer.com for more information.
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