Roziere ready for Alliance debut

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This article was published 08/01/2011 (5641 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After a few exhibition tests against men’s teams from the capital city, the Winnipeg Alliance are anxious to get down to business today in Edmonton as they begin their Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League season.

"It’s not the same as playing league games, so we’re kind of excited to get going on that front," said Alliance rookie midfielder Jesse Roziere of Brandon. "But the team looks pretty good."

After practice Thursday night, the Alliance bused to Edmonton, where they’ll face the Drillers twice today.

Roziere, 19, is one of the youngest players with a Winnipeg team that hopes to make inroads internationally and professionally, after a few lean years.

"It’s been pretty enjoyable," said Roziere, who lives and works in Brandon. "The four years (for the Winnipeg franchise) have been on and off and they were really struggling. But this year and last year, they really got the foundation going for it, so they’re hoping in the next year or so they can move into that league in the States and become a full professional team."

Winnipeg, Edmonton and Calgary are the Canadian teams in the CMISL mix this season, while their U.S. opponents are the Ohio Vortex and Detroit Waza.

"Last year, they had Saskatoon and Prince George, too, but they went bankrupt, so this year it’s just the three Canadian teams," said Roziere, who believes his Winnipeg assignment can prove to be a stepping-stone to pro soccer.

"When I was looking to play (with the Alliance), that was one of the main things. I’m training to play professionally, so this will get me prepared for the travelling. We’re busing to Edmonton and playing a doubleheader (today), and then right after that, we just drive home. I think it’s really going to get me ready for that kind of lifestyle."

Roziere is no stranger to an active lifestyle, having played both soccer and hockey at elite levels. Just two years ago, he was a top scorer with the Brandon Wheat Kings AAA Midget hockey team.

He has hung up his skates but remains a busy man, juggling two jobs in Brandon with his soccer duties in Winnipeg. The Alliance have been training since October, so Roziere is on the road a few nights each week for practices.

"I sometimes stay with friends or family in Winnipeg, because sometimes they’re pretty late nights, but I work in Brandon, so usually I come home during the week to work," he said. "I have a ton of support doing that. My family will drive with me if I’m tired, just to give me a rest to sleep.

"I’m the only (Alliance player residing) out of Winnipeg. There’s guys on our team that are in their 30s or late 20s, and they do have their careers set. So for them to get time off work, it takes a lot of commitment from them, too."

Roziere works in the Brandon school system as an educational assistant and with the city as a leader for an after-school gym program. Those jobs match his long-term career goals.

"I was thinking about going into the teaching or education part of it, but then the soccer (bug) really did kind of get me, so I’ve been concentrating on that for the last couple of years," said Roziere, whose training plans include a trip to England this spring.

Winnipeg’s home-opening games are Jan. 29 and 30 against Edmonton. The Alliance play out of the Gateway Indoor Soccer Complex.