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France
Women's U-20
Silvana Burtini, Gordie Ion and Dr. Walter Thomson head the list of 2010 inductees to The Soccer Hall of Fame. The three players will be inducted next year along with builders Brian Avey (executive) and Stuart Brown (coach). Also to be honoured is John Russell for the Pioneer Award, the 1976 Toronto Metros-Croatia for the Team of Distinction, and the Vancouver Firefighters for a new team award that celebrates notable success over many years.
The Canadian Soccer Association concluded its December Board of Directors meeting on Sunday 6 December in Montréal, QC. Highlights from the meeting included the approval of the Association’s 2010 budget, the approval in principal of the new governance framework, and the unanimous approval of Stephen Hart’s hiring as the new national head coach.
Of note, the approved budget promises greater programming for Canada’s national youth and development teams in 2010. That schedule not only includes the men’s and women’s U-20 and U-17 programs that will all take part in qualification matches this year, but also the renewed youth and Olympic development programs. In all, there will be 10 national programs in operation this coming year.
The Canadian Soccer Association announced today that Stephen Hart has been appointed head coach of Canada’s national team. Hart will be in charge of Canada’s qualification efforts as Canada works toward the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™.
“Stephen Hart is the man in charge with the task to lead Canada to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil,” said Canadian Soccer Association president Dr. Dominic Maestracci. “He delivers an exciting brand of football that has proven to be successful against our CONCACAF opponents. He will have full support of our country as he builds a winning team that will qualify us for Brazil in four years time.”
The third phase of ticket sales for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ is underway at FIFA.com. Fans can purchase tickets to the world’s biggest tournament in this third sales phase from 5 December 2009 to 22 January 2010.
“It’s traditionally by far the most important sales phase, as the world’s football fans will by then know who will be playing whom in the group matches,” said Horst R. Schmidt, chairman of the Ticketing Sub-Committee, ahead of the start of the next sales phase.
Soccer fans across the country are asked to vote for their favourite Canadian players in the 2009 CanadaSoccer.com Fans’ Choices poll. Voting begins today and runs through 20 December 2009. Fans are asked to vote for one male player and one female player.
Fans can select any Canadian player. The list of national nominees is the same as the list for the 2009 Canadian Players of the Year award. Unlike the player of the year vote (based on performance, voted by coaches and media), the CanadaSoccer.com Fans’ Choices is based on popularity. Each fan can make one male selection and one female selection.
The Canadian Soccer Association announced today the list of nominees for its 2009 player awards. Canadian media and coaches will be asked to select two players – one male and one female – for the Canadian Soccer Association’s top prize, the Canadian Players of the Year award. The award will celebrate Canada’s top-two soccer players in recognition of their 2009 achievements with both the national team and their respective club teams.
The Newfoundland Labrador Soccer Association Hall of Fame has honoured seven new members. The new members were honoured on Saturday 21 November at the NLSA Banquet in St. John’s, NL. The seven new inductees are Len Aucoin of Corner Brook, Charlie Chaytor of Mount Pearl, and Fred Brien, Jim Hamlyn, Don Hodder, Jim Royle and Darryl Smith of St. John’s.
“They are seven very worthy soccer individuals,” said NLSA president Doug Redmond. “Their exceptional achievements and contributions are well documented and they are certainly excellent additions to the Hall of Fame.”
Canada has maintained the fifth spot within CONCACAF on the most recent FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings. Canada has 573 points and is ranked 57th on the world ranking, still ahead of its best ranking from a year ago. Canada trails USA, Mexico, Honduras and Costa Rica within its own confederation.
The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings looks at each country’s international results from the last four years. The ranking takes into account the result, the importance of the match, the strength of the opponent, the regional strength, the time period, and the number of matches per year.
In advance of the NCAA Division I men’s soccer championship, University of Akron’s Teal Bunbury has been named the 2009 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year. The sophomore forward has had a breakout season while his school has compiled an unbeaten 20-0-0 record.
Bunbury is a member of Canada’s youth system, having recently represented Canada at the 2009 CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 Championship in Trinidad & Tobago. Bunbury is also the son of Alex Bunbury, a two-time Canadian Player of the Year and honoured member of The Soccer Hall of Fame.
