SHERKO HAJI-RASOULI TO SUIT UP FOR CANADA AT SENIOR WORLDS

Sherko Haji-Rasouli, a six-foot-six, 326-pound offensive lineman who played collegiately at Miami and spent eight seasons in the CFL with Montreal and B.C. before being released by the Lions on Jan. 31 will be a member of the Canadian team participating in the world senior men's championship in Austria.

"I think Sherko and I will be able to spend time with the youngsters and teach them how to be good teammates and the importance of hustling on every play," Belli said. "I think I was always a good hustle guy on the football field.

"But, you know, I think he (Haji-Rasouli) is the hairiest man I've ever seen."

Head coach Larry Haylor expects Belli and Haj-Rasouli to lead the Canadian team on the field and serve as mentors to the young players.

"We're looking for presence and leadership," Haylor said via telephone from Graz, Austria, where Canada will play its preliminary-round games. "They're people who are recognizable by virtue of what they've done in the pro game and in terms of high achievement they represent the highest.

"Both Sherko and Adriano clearly understand they're not wearing Hamilton Tiger-Cats or Toronto Argonauts jerseys, they're wearing Team Canada. This is a world stage, they understand Canada is being represented and I know they will do that very well."

Canada will be in Group B with Japan, France and Austria. The United States, Mexico, Germany and Australia comprise Group A.

Tournament action kicks off Friday with Canada playing its first game Saturday against France. That will begin a stretch of three contests in five days for the Canadians, who'll take on host Austria on Monday before squaring off against Japan on July 13.


(tsn.ca.com)