This is a regular feature, residing in the new Insider’s View section on NASL.com. With every interview there is always something that gets left on the cutting room floor or, in soccer terms, the touchline when the final story comes out. “From The Touchline” will highlight some of these notes and extra tidbits from around the league.
Gerardo Bruna began his career at Real Madrid before following a fellow Spaniard, Rafa Benitez, to England to join Liverpool FC. Bruna talked about his time working with the Premier League manager who is now at Newcastle.
Also in the latest “From The Touchline,” Shamit Shome and his coach, Colin Miller, talked about the young Canadian’s recent debut for FC Edmonton.
Bruna On Benitez
Gerardo Bruna was at Liverpool from 2008 to 2011 and Rafa Benitez was the manager there from 2004-10 and helped attract Bruna to the Merseyside club. Bruna, who is now with Ottawa, didn’t feature for the first team, but there were valuable lessons gained from his time with the English club.
“It was really good,” Bruna told NASL.com. “He brought a lot of Spanish players into his team. He tried to teach them to one day put them in the first team.
“In the beginning when you’re younger you’re really close and when you’re older you get the chance to train with them. Once you trained there with all the big players under him, it’s a really good thing. You learn a lot.
“He tried to teach you, to give you the experience.”
Debutant Delight
Young Canadian Shamit Shome made his debut against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on April 16, starting and playing 80 minutes. The Eddies may not have gotten a win in the 1-0 loss, but it was a strong showing from Shome, who showcased his burgeoning talent in the match.
“It was a great feeling,” Shome said. “I was honored to be a part of the starting lineup. It was a great opportunity for me to become a better player.”
His coach, Colin Miller, believes the sky could be the limit for Shome, who has represented Canada at the youth level, recently playing in a friendly against England for the U-20s.
“I thought he had a terrific debut,” Miller said. “I’m really pleased with Shamit. He’s been terrific for us the entire preseason and played very well for us in Scotland.
“It’s no surprise the kid is going to be a mainstay at this club for many years and fingers crossed he becomes a mainstay with the Canadian national team as well. He’s a bright, intelligent young man.”