(Ancien) article sur Mesut Mert

[Bxl Boy]

Date de début 2004
Source : Halifax Herald Limited


AFTER ANOTHER outstanding season, Mesut Mert had hoped that his accomplishments in Canadian university soccer would be enough to attract interest from European pro teams.

By Canadian standards, he offered a strong resume. He'd been the dominant player in his field in recent years. This past season the Halifax player led Saint Mary's Huskies to the gold medal game at the CIS championships. For the second time he was named the CIS's most outstanding player.

But the call from Europe didn't come.

As a result, the soft-spoken Mert, who came to Halifax with his family from Bulgaria when he was 13 and who was groomed in local minor soccer circles, temporarily changed direction. He was contacted by teams in the United Soccer League's professional A-League immediately after the CIS season ended and decided to take a more serious look at playing in North America. He eventually signed with Calgary Mustangs, a team he considers ideal for starting his pro career, in part because Calgary promises to help him land the European job if he proves himself to be of that calibre.

"Just because I have a CIS MVP tag on my name doesn't mean I should be able to make it anywhere else," said Mert, who recently turned 26 and leaves SMU with a commerce degree. "It just means I've accomplished a lot at that level. Now I need to move on to a higher level where the challenge is better. It's the higher challenge I'm looking for. Having been CIS MVP helps me with profile. A lot of people involved in soccer are looking for someone who has done something like that at the lower levels and is looking for that challenge."

Mert did his own negotiating with Calgary, since the salary wasn't the top priority issue. He concedes he wasn't as concerned about the dollar figures on the contract as he was about the opportunity it represented.

"The door to (playing in) Europe, that interested me more than the money. I'm interested in trying to put my foot in at the pro level, so to speak, to get in there and establish myself and go from there.

"My first goal is to obviously play good (in Calgary). My second goal is to use it as a stepping-stone. But if I don't play good that second goal won't be a factor. I need to play well and showcase my talents. Once I do that, then I can use the contacts that they have overseas and go from there."

Mert has been surprised by the reaction to his signing in Calgary. Already, there are stories on the team Web-site that he'll be the franchise player when the team opens play April 25 in Minnesota.

"It does put a lot of pressure on me," he says. "The (United Soccer League's) A-league is the highest league in Canada and one level below the MLS league in the U.S. It does kind of make me feel good but at the same time there is pressure."

SMU coach Stuart Galloway has enjoyed having the star in his lineup but he suspects Mert was probably ready for pro soccer a long time ago.

"The amount of work he's put in has been phenomenal," said Galloway. "He probably could have played in that league (A-league) three years ago. It (Europe) is something that he can do."

Mert's eager to get started. Though North American pro soccer may not have been his first choice, Canada's top university soccer star is confident it's the road that will eventually lead to his first choice.

"I do feel nervous, but it's a good nervous. It's excitement. Now it's just a matter of getting down to business."

[dani]

ce gars on la signe?

[Bxl Boy]

Oui !

C'est lui qui marque

http://s2.mmsdn.com/mustangs/calgary-se ... d-goal.wmv

[Bxl Boy]

http://www.smuhuskies.ca/SMU_ATHLETICS/video/mesco.wmv