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The Canadian Soccer Association announced today that technical director Stephen Hart will assume, on an interim basis, the head coaching responsibilities for the men’s senior national team for the duration of the 2009 season. Mr. Hart will lead Canada at the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup this summer, starting with the international friendly match in Larnaca against Cyprus on 30 May.
“We are very happy to have Mr. Hart in this role for the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup,” said Canadian Soccer Association President Dr. Dominic Maestracci.
The Saskatchewan Soccer Association has released the first edition of its new online newsletter, The Onion Bag. The April 2009 first edition was distributed to Sask Soccer members at the beginning of the month. The 32-page document highlights the beautiful game at the provincial, national and international level.
The April 2009 edition features numerous SSA Staff Reports, including referee development, awards and recognition and the Saskatchewan Premier Soccer League. There is also a Sask Soccer Club Profile featuring the WMG Prairie Canucks.
Soccer won three prizes at the annual Sport Prince Edward Island Banquet. Assistant referee Justine Lewis was named PEI Mutual Official of the Year, Avondale Islanders forward Paul Craig was named Paperflow Intercollegiate Male Athlete of the Year, and the national bronze medalist Avondale Islanders won Island Petroleum Team of the Year.
Lewis was nominated this year for the National Assistant Referee List. She is a former PEI Soccer Association Senior Official of the Year, having won the soccer-specific prize in 2006.
Canada will open the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup against Jamaica this 3 July at the Home Depot Center. Canada was drawn into Group A along with Jamaica, Costa Rica and El Salvador. The quartet will play in Los Angeles, CA on 3 July, Columbus, OH on 7 July, and Miami, FL on 10 July.
Canada faces Jamaica on 3 July at The Home Depot Center in Los Angeles. The match kicks off at 17.00 local (20.00 ET). The group then travels to Columbus where Canada will face El Salvador at the Crew Stadium on 7 July (19.00 ET kickoff). The final match is three days later on 10 July at the Florida International University Stadium in Miami. Canada faces Costa Rica in the early match at 19.00 ET while the other two teams (El Salvador and Jamaica) close out the group at 22.00 ET.
The Canadian Soccer Association announced today that Sportsnet will broadcast the 2009 Nutrilite Canadian Championship live and coast-to-coast across Canada, featuring the Impact de Montréal, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The live broadcast schedule features the 6 May match in Toronto, the 27 May and 2 June matches in Vancouver, and the final game on 18 June in Montréal.
“The Canadian Soccer Association is pleased to announce that Canadian soccer fans from coast-to-coast will be able to follow the 2009 Nutrilite Canadian Championship live on Sportsnet,” said CSA General Secretary Peter Montopoli. “Sportsnet is a committed partner in promoting the sport of soccer in Canada and a natural home for the Nutrilite Canadian Championship. The soccer expertise provided by Sportsnet will further enhance the Nutrilite Canadian Championship property.”
The Canadian Soccer Association announced today it has released national men’s head coach Dale Mitchell. The Association wishes to thank Mr. Mitchell for his years of service to the national teams.
“We are committed to the future of our men’s national team program,” said Canadian Soccer Association President Dr. Dominic Maestracci. “We have made this decision to move the program in a new direction.”
Canada remains the 11th ranked country in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Rankings this month. Canada held its place after posting two wins, one draw and one loss over the past three months of competition.
Canada sits in 11th place with 1,942 points, 21 points back of England. Canada had previously been six points back of England, but Canada lost two points while England gained 13 points. Canada’s only loss in the past quarter was a 1:3 loss to England in the 2009 Cyprus Women’s Cup final.
L’équipe nationale canadienne féminine senior s’est maintenue au onzième rang au dernier Classement mondial féminin de la FIFA, parrainé par Coca-Cola, publié ce mois. Le Canada conserve sa place après avoir affiché un bilan de 2-1-1 (deux victoires, un match nul et une défaite) au cours des trois derniers mois de matchs compétitifs.
Le Canada se trouve au 11ème rang avec 1 942 points, à 21 points de l’Angleterre. Auparavant, le Canada comptait six points de retard sur l’Angleterre, mais depuis, le Canada a perdu deux points, alors que l’Angleterre en a accumulé treize. L’unique défaite de la sélection nationale canadienne féminine senior au cours du dernier trimestre s’est produite face à l’Angleterre dans le cadre de la finale de l’édition 2009 de la Coupe de Chypre féminine. Le Canada s’est incliné sur le score de 1 à 3.
Trinity Western University soccer striker Nikki Wright was named SportBC’s 2008 University Athlete of the Year. Ms. Wright was so honoured at SportBC’s 43rd Annual Athlete of the Year Awards. The awards banquet celebrates the achievements of British Columbia’s sporting community. “This is an amazing award and I’m still in shock,” said Nikki Wright. “It is a huge feat for our team. This is award shows the efforts of our entire team and how they backed me up all year.”
