MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Over the winter months, Dean Cordeiro is getting a free preview of what his midfield could look like in 2018.
Sisters Suekiana and Laila Choucair both play for his Northwest United women's club team and both will play under his tutelage on the MacEwan Griffins next season.
Suekiana, of course, has already established herself as one of the most important players on the Griffins – holding multiple marks in the institution's record book as she prepares for her fourth Canada West season next fall. On Monday, Cordeiro announced that Laila will join her sister on the Griffins, committing to the team starting in the 2018 season.
"We're excited about the possibility of them playing together – some instant chemistry and we're trying that out already through the winter season with them playing club," he said.
And while they both play in midfield and have that typical Choucair flair, don't expect Laila to be an exact carbon copy of her older sister, said Cordeiro.
"Similar position, but very different players who complement each other very well," he explained. "So, it will be cool to see. They currently play together for me in women's league and they play on the same line.
"Like anything for first-year players, there's always a growing period of understanding your roles and responsibilities," he continued. "A lot of the players will often have a lot of flair and great imagination in the attacking third, but what they need to understand is how physical the league is and how defensively stout the league is and where you need to be positionally. That's the one big challenge for first years coming in."
Laila Choucair has been a top talent throughout her youth career, moving through the REX program (Regional Excellence) and playing for Team Alberta at several levels.
"She's a top-end central midfield player, plays with an edge, does a very good job of creating, much like her sister," said Cordeiro. "She's very dynamic in and around the goal.
"Another exciting thing about Laila is she plays with serious compete, she does a great job of breaking up the play for the opposing team before they can build up. She just does a good job of closing down and nicking balls, etc.
"I feel she'll make an immediate impact to our program, adding to an already talented group."
