African
Dust settles in Thunder Bay
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By David Trifunov - The Chronicle-Journal
May 03, 2005
If nothing else, Josiah Seton has remarkable timing. But what else can
you expect from a guy with a nickname like African Dust.
The Thunder Bay Chill announced on Monday that Seton, a striker with
the Liberian national team, has signed for the Premier Development
League season.
During a telephone interview with The Chronicle-Journal, Chill owner
Tony Colistro was interrupted by his call-waiting signal. It was Seton
on the other line from Montreal.
“It’s a pleasure for me to come to a place like Thunder Bay,” Seton
said through Colistro.
The latest member of the Chill is expected to arrive in Thunder Bay on
Wednesday. The PDL team opens training camp on Monday night at
Chapples Park.
This is the second member of the Liberian national program to play for
Thunder Bay. Doco Wesseh, who played here the last two years, was
drafted this off-season by the professional Virginia Beach Mariners.
By all accounts, Seton will pick up exactly where Wesseh left off at
striker. He’s scored twice in six appearances for Liberia and added 17
goals during his junior career.
“This guy here was a nice catch for us,” Colistro said. “He’s
definitely a striker.”
Seton’s agent contacted Colistro in hopes of getting the player
established in North America. Colistro helped Seton secure a Canadian
visa and since December he’s been living with friends in Montreal.
Seton, 26, has also been training with the Montreal Impact of the
USL’s First Division.
He last played professionally in Malaysia, but Colistro says North
America represents more than just a place to play soccer for players
from developing nations like Liberia, which is still feeling the
affects of civil war.
“I think it’s about opportunity,” Colistro said. “It’s about quality
of life. These guys, they show up to my training camp, I give them a
kit and it’s like a treasure for them. They definitely come from a
different background than us.”
Colistro continues to retool the lineup heading into the Chill’s sixth
PDL season. Last week Brazilians Guilherme Souza and Marcelo Santos
were added to the roster. Both are NAIA all-Americans at Holy Names
University in Oakland, Calif.
Santos played last summer in the Swedish second division while Souza
has experience with the Brazilian under-18 side and Olympic program.
Souza scored 30 goals while Santos added 11 for Holy Names this
season.
“I felt a lot of commitment from the club and a lot of
professionalism,” Santos said in a Chill press release. “I have never
been in Canada before, but I am very excited for having this
opportunity and hope I can share all my skills with the club and have
a great experience for my soccer career.”
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