Royiwsky in as new coach of the Don Bosco Eagles
The Don Bosco Eagles are one of the most famous football teams in Ontario, but not necessarily for the right reasons.
The Eagles are a high-school team based in Rexdale, and quite a prestigious one at that, as they made it to the Metro Bowl semifinals last year. The kicker is the coach who brought them there was Toronto’s mayor Rob Ford.
During Ford’s five year stint as high school coach, he brought quite a bit of attention to the team. For one thing, his fundraising efforts on its behalf eventually led to a conflict-of-interest court case. Newspapers such as the Toronto Star reported on separate occasions that he asked taxpayer-paid staffers to help with coaching and that he diverted a TTC bus for the team’s use.
While Toronto’s Catholic school board let Ford go from the team last May, the new Don Bosco Eagles coach, John Royiwsky, had only good things to say about the mayor and his tenure.
“Ford brought football back to the school,” said Royiwsky, a science and physical education teacher at Don Bosco. “He did a lot by bringing it back and initially funding the program.”
Royiwsky’s aims and aspirations for this year as head coach include promoting football within the Toronto Catholic District School Board and encouraging camaraderie and good sportsmanship among the players. He believes football gives something for the kids to do, allows them to pursue things not offered in the curriculum and brings them around students with common interests creating a one family unit within the school.
Asked if he felt there were any issues in following such a well-known predecessor, Royiwsky said no. “Football is football and it has always been about football. [Ford]s obviously a high profile character, but for me it’s about running practices and continuing the success [of the team]. I have too many things to worry about.”
Might all the media attention have distracted the players and other students at the school? Royiwsky said the students understand that it’s just politics; the Eagles are more worried about getting highlight reel plays and ‘swagging’ out.
“There were a few students that were affected, but it’s good with any sport to have a short memory and just move on,” said Royiwsky.
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