Eddy Sidra

Eduard Mahir Sidra (born February 20, 1989 in Khartoum) is a Canadian soccer player. He is an attacking defender who often plays on the right side.

Club

Sidra began his career at the Green & Gold Soccer Academy of the University of Alberta for the Alberta Golden Bears in 2006. In October 2007 he had a trial with Energie Cottbus and signed later an amateur contract with them. Sidra played in his first season nineteen games for Energie Cottbus in the A-Junioren Bundesliga Season 2007/2008 and in his second season fourteen in the Regionalliga Nord for Energie Cottbus II. Sidra is looking to sign away from Germany with a European side this fall.

On January 28, 2011 Toronto FC of Major League Soccer verified that Sidra was one of three Canadian National team trialists that were traveling to Turkey for preseason camp. David Monsalve and midfielder Gianluca Zavarise were also on trial.

On April 2, 2011 FC Edmonton of the new North American Soccer League announced they had signed Sidra en route to their pre-season tour in Phoenix, Arizona.

The club released Sidra on October 12, 2011 after the conclusion of the 2011 season.

International

In 2009, Eddy played International Matches (as a starter),on the Canadian National U-19, U-23 and Senior National Men's Teams. Sidra was a starting selection for Canada at the 2009 CONCACAF Under-20 Men's Championship in Trinidad and Tobago. He earned his first call-up for the Canucks on 26 May 2009 and earned his first senior cap on 30 May 2009 in a friendly game against Cyprus. He was a standout in January 2010 in a friendly game against Jamaica, and on May 2010 a South American friendly match against Venezuela, where he had a run with the ball in extra time from left defense, going through the entire Venezuelan team to the goal just outside the box, where he was fouled. A free kick was awarded, that set up the goal to tie, with no time left. The outstanding run was played on highlight reels on sports televisions globally (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZYhIEKf6Jk). His national team positions have been versatile, playing as an attacking wing defender that jumps into the attack (like Roberto Carlos), as an attacking Midfielder (left & right) or as a stay at home defender. He typically plays the full 90 min of every game. Sidra was apparently contacted to play in the recent national team matches against Peru and Honduras but was ultimately not a part of the squad.

• 2006–07: University of Alberta Golden Bears' soccer rookie of the year