Chris Pozniak is expected to anchor Toronto FC's defence during the club's inaugural campaign in MLS. (Jim Rogash/Associated Press)
Soccer
A case for the defence
Canadian defender Chris Pozniak is poised for his return to Toronto soccer
Last Updated Thurs., Nov. 29, 2006
By John F. Molinaro, CBC Sports
After a five-year career detour through Scandinavia, Chris Pozniak is finally coming home to Canada.
The 25-year-old defender from Aurora, Ont., was one of four free agents introduced last week by Toronto FC, Major League Soccer's newest expansion franchise, which is set to kick off its inaugural season this spring.
Pozniak played his formative years with the Toronto Lynx of the North American A-League from 1999 to 2001 before splitting the past five years between Swedish club Örebro SK and F.K. Haugesund in Norway.
Playing in Europe helped improve his game and he earned his first call-up to the Canadian men's team in 2002. But when the chance to return to Toronto presented itself, he jumped at it.
"It was [in the works] since MLS first announced a team was coming to Toronto [in 2005]. My agent contacted me and asked me if it was something I would be interested in and I said 'yeah,'" Pozniak told CBC Sports Online.
The hard-working defender, who was born in Poland, regretted leaving Canada and is excited at the prospect of returning to Toronto.
"I've been away from home for five years … you miss certain things about home. It was never really my intention to move from here. I like living in Toronto. It was just hard to carve out a soccer career here - that's the only reason I left."
Pozniak explained that the style of play in Sweden and Norway didn't always produce "the most attractive brand of soccer," but he admits that he grew as a player during his time abroad.
Playing in those two countries "made me more tactically aware," he said.
When Pozniak and fellow Canadian defenders Adam Braz and Marco Reda (Pozniak's former teammate with the Lynx) were introduced by Toronto FC last week, coach Mo Johnston boldly predicted the trio would serve as the backbone of the club's back line for years to come.
"I welcome that pressure," said Pozniak. "People will be a little critical because none of us have played a game in MLS, but I'm pretty sure the three of us are capable of handling the pressure and the level of play."
He's also looking forward to playing for Johnston, a charismatic Glasgow native who scored 14 goals in 38 games for Scotland and played for his native country at the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
"His resumé as a player speaks for itself and also from speaking to him, I think he's a real positive guy. Very enthusiastic," said Pozniak.
"Already, even speaking to him about non-soccer things, you realize his enthusiasm rubs off on other people, so I think that can be important coming into training every day and before games."
With the team still looking to fill its roster, Pozniak said it would be foolish to predict how Toronto FC would do in its inaugural campaign, but believes a post-season berth would not be out of the question.
"I think it would be realistic for us to set ourselves a goal of making the playoffs in our first year," said Pozniak.
Pozniak has played 17 times for Canada over the past four years, and he believes the presence of a Canadian club in MLS will have major benefits for the national team.
"It gives players such as myself, Marco and Adam the chance to play together all the time and get familiar with each other," explained Pozniak.
"Also, it gives young Canadian players something to look forward to, to shoot for a goal. It's a good level to test young players and to discover young players for Canada."
