BEBEK TO JOIN UOIT MEN'S SOCCER STAFF
"Goran will bring strength and confidence to our goalkeepers' performance this fall," said Vujanovic. "He will be a great addition to our team heading into our first season in the OUA."
After growing up learning to play the game in Croatia, Bebek came to Canada at the age of 19 and immediately joined the Adria Soccer Club in the Motor City Soccer League. He had plenty of success with Adria as his team went on to win a number of titles and awards. In 1998, Adria won the league championship and Bebek was named MVP and the top goalkeeper.
The following year, the Oshawa Flames, a semi-professional team in the Canadian Professional Soccer League (CPSL) was formed. Bebek was their goaltender under head coach Jens Kraemer for four successful seasons. He would end up finishing his playing career with the Whitby Iroquois Soccer Club in the Toronto & District Division (OSL competitive league), where he had only one loss on his record in the entire season.
Bebek's coaching career began with the Whitby Iroquois soccer club and the Oshawa Kicks. He was the coach of the Whitby rep team for eight seasons, while acting as the goalie coach for the Inter Oshawa (OSL team/2004), on the technical staff for the U18 age group for the Whitby and goalkeeper assistant to the club's head goalkeeper coach.
Bebek joins Anthony Whitney and Steve Ormonde as the Ridgebacks assistant coaching staff.
The UOIT men's soccer schedule has been set as the Ridgebacks enter their first season of play in the OUA. Things officially get started on Saturday, September 18 as the Ridgebacks home opener takes place against the Western Mustangs beginning at 3:15 p.m. on Vaso's Field. The game will feature a special opening ceremony celebrating the historic afternoon on campus as University soccer kicks off for the first time in the Durham region.
The Ridgebacks will be well prepared for their first home game as the team will have five regular season road games prior to their home opener. The team's regular season will begin on Saturday, September 4 in St. Catharines against Brock at 1 p.m.
Training camp for the Ridgebacks inaugural season opens on Monday, August 16 followed by a full exhibition schedule in preparation for the regular season. Head coach Vaso Vujanovic will be setting his sights on selecting a team to make history in the school's inaugural season. In 2009, the Ridgebacks played an exhibition schedule in preparation for their OUA debut.
Source: UOIT Ridgebacks