With the Ravens men’s soccer team off to a flying start to open the new season, much of the focus has been aimed at the return of veteran captain Nicholas Persichino and goalkeeper Karl Wasslen.
And while their praise has certainly been well-deserved, there is another familiar face back with the team who has flown under the radar since returning to Keith Harris Stadium.
Former all-Canadian defender Kwesi Loney is back with the program that he plied his trade with for five seasons — only this time around, he will be behind the bench.
Loney was appointed to the assistant coaching role this summer, and hopes to translate his success on the field to his new position.
“I feel that my extensive background as a player has allowed me to draw on practical situations when communicating various tactics with players,” Loney said. “As a former Raven student-athlete, I hope to share my experiences inspiring the players to excel on all fronts.”
The new role also gives Loney the opportunity to work alongside the man who coached him during his playing days at Carleton, Sandy Mackie.
“Coach Mackie has been a student of the game for many, many years, and to now be able to work with him in this capacity is a privilege,” Loney said. “During my years of playing, coach Mackie was constantly teaching positive habits, work ethic, responsibility and concept of team.”
“These principles are always the foundation which I build from,” he said.
While this may be his first coaching role with the Ravens, experience is certainly not an issue for the Carleton graduate.
After extensive work with the Ottawa Fury of the United Soccer Leagues (USL) Premier Development League (PDL), Loney moved on to Algonquin College. He led the Thunder to a fifth-place finish at the 2009 National Championships, en route to being named the Canadian Colleges Athletics Association (CCAA) men’s soccer coach of the year.
For his part, Mackie said he is not surprised by the rise up the coaching ranks for the former Ravens captain, and acknowledges his leadership ability as a key reason for his success.
“When Kwesi played he led by example,” Mackie said. “He was always on time for training, he always had the right mental attitude and he was a great mentor for the rookies, and that translates into his coaching.”
Both men said they are hoping the team can go one step further than they did in Loney’s final season of play in 2002, when the Ravens fell short in the National Championship game, losing 1-0 to the Brock Badgers.