.svg){kind=icon}
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.
Major League Soccer has honoured Canadian goalkeeper Pat Onstad for making the MLS Degree Men Save of the Year. The Houston Dynamo goalkeeper earned the award for his save on 19 April against Colorado Rapids’ Conor Casey.
Onstad actually made two terrific saves on the play. First, Onstad stopped the Casey penalty kick with a diving play. Onstad was diving to his right when he reached high with his left hand to stop the shot. He then quickly got up and protected the opposite side of the net on an ensuing Terry Cooke rebound shot. Onstad’s saves helped maintain a 1-0 lead for the Dynamo.
Canada’s men’s national team concluded its 2009 schedule on Wednesday in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Canada finished the season with a record of four wins, one draw and three losses following an 0:1 loss to Poland.
“It was important for us to get the opportunity to be together and play some games,” said head coach Stephen Hart. “Overall, I think it is important for us to see each other, to work together and to see how the players are progressing.”
Thirty-two countries have booked their place for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. The last of the teams qualified on Wednesday 18 November, thus completing the field for the world’s biggest football tournament. Next up is the Final Draw on 5 December 2009.
From North America (CONCACAF), the three qualified nations are USA, Mexico and Honduras. From South America, the five qualified nations are Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay. From Oceania, the one qualified nation is New Zealand.
The second phase of ticket sales for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ has been extended until this 20 November 2009. Fans can purchase tickets to the world’s biggest tournament in this second sales phase via FIFA.com. This second phase of ticket sales began on 5 May.
During this phase, applications can be made via the FIFA website (FIFA.com) or at First National Bank (FNB) branches. Tickets will be allocated on a “first come, first serve” basis. Each applicant can apply for up to four tickets per match and up to seven matches in total. Ticket prices start at USD 20 (ZAR 140). For further information, customers can send an e-mail to enquiries@2010FWCTC.com or fax +41 43222 6800.
