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Dominic Maestracci has been elected the new president of the Canadian Soccer Association. Dr. Maestracci was selected by acclamation to a four-year term at the 2008 Annual General Meeting in St. John’s, NL.
Also elected at the AGM was new vice-president Rob Newman, director-at-large Francis Millien, and director professional Greg Anderson.
Canada is getting its rematch. Canada’s women’s national team announced today that it will face Australia in an international friendly on 23 May in Sydney. It will be Canada’s first contest with the Australians since a 2:2 draw at last September’s FIFA Women’s World Cup China 2007, a draw that in essence eliminated Canada from the competition.
“Even though we are again bound for another big trip, the team is eager to play Australia in Sydney,” says coach Pellerud. “Australia has for years been such an even competitor for us. They have proven to be able to beat all teams around (the world). As late as some few days ago, they held the United States to 2-2 until overtime (the United States won 3:2). Games of this nature help us tremendously in our Olympic Games preparations.”
Le Canada aura droit à sa revanche. L’équipe nationale canadienne féminine senior a annoncé, aujourd’hui, qu’elle affrontera l’Australie dans le cadre d’un match international amical, le 23 mai prochain, à Sydney, en Australie. Il s’agira du premier match opposant le Canada aux « Matildas » australiennes depuis le match nul de septembre dernier (sur le score de 2 à 2) qui a effectivement éliminé le Canada de la Coupe du Monde Féminine de la FIFA, Chine 2007.
« Même si nous devons faire à nouveau un long voyage, les joueuses ont hâte d’affronter l’Australie à Sydney, déclare l’entraîneur-chef de l’équipe nationale canadienne féminine senior, Even Pellerud. Depuis des années, l’Australie est un adversaire qui se situe au même niveau que nous. Les Australiennes ont démontré qu’elles étaient capables de battre n’importe quelle équipe dans le monde. Il y a à peine quelques jours, elles ont tenu en échec les États-Unis sur le score de 2 à 2, jusqu’aux prolongations (les Américaines l’ont finalement emporté sur le score de 3 à 2). Les matchs de ce calibre nous aideront énormément dans nos préparatifs pour les Jeux Olympiques d’été. »
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Canada’s men’s national team announced today that it will face Brasil in an international friendly match on 31 May in Seattle, WA. The match will be part of Canada’s preparatory schedule before their two-match set with Saint Vincent & the Grenadines in the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ Qualifiers.
“Whenever you are presented with the opportunity to play the most famous national team of all, I don’t think that you can pass it up,” says head coach Dale Mitchell. “Our players will be able to measure themselves against some of the world’s best. This game will help us to prepare for the qualifying matches upcoming.”
L’équipe nationale canadienne féminine senior rentre aujourd’hui à son camp résidentiel à Vancouver, en Colombie-Britannique. Sous la direction soignée de l’entraîneur-chef Even Pellerud, l’équipe connaît désormais la route qu’elle doit prendre au cours des quatre prochains mois, avec comme destination finale le Tournoi Olympique de Football Féminin 2008, qui se déroulera à Beijing, en Chine. Le mois dernier, à Ciudad Juarez, au Mexique, l’équipe nationale féminine senior s’est qualifiée pour les Jeux Olympiques d’été pour la première fois de l’histoire du programme de soccer féminin.
« Il nous manque quelques joueuses à cause d’un tournoi des moins de 20 ans (U-20) qui a lieu actuellement aux États-Unis, mais le reste de l’effectif retournera au camp le 1er mai suite à une pause de deux semaines et demie à l’issue du tournoi préolympique fructueux au Mexique, affirme Pellerud, qui attend le retour de ses joueuses U-20 le 4 mai. La sélection devrait être prête à regagner le terrain de jeu. »
Canadian supporters can buy general-public tickets to the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ Qualifiers starting next Wednesday. All single-seat tickets to the 20 June Montreal match will be available through Admission starting at 09.00 ET (local time) on 7 May. Ticket prices range from $10-30.
“One of the things that can certainly help us during the qualifying process is the fan support,” says coach Dale Mitchell. “I have to admit to being a little envious to what has gone on in the last year or so within Canada. (At the Toronto FC home opener), there was a sea of red in the stands cheering on the team. I can tell you as an ex-player that that would have been a great lift to the team. Our players are very excited to be playing at home in front of Canadian fans. That can be a big advantage to us.”
The Government of Canada announced its new federal policy for hosting international sports events, which will provide the foundation for a proactive and strategic approach for the bidding and the hosting of international sport events in Canada. The policy will assist national sport bodies such as the Canadian Soccer Association in securing future international events.
“We applaud the Government of Canada’s proactive approach to hosting future international events,” says Peter Montopoli, General Secretary, Canadian Soccer Association. “Bringing the world to Canada is just another way that we can showcase this great nation while also developing the sport from athletes to infastructure.”
Canada’s women’s national team returns to its residency camp today in Vancouver, British Columbia. Under the watchful eye of head coach Even Pellerud, the team now knows the route it must take for the next four months, culminating in the 2008 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in Beijing. Last month in Juarez, México, Canada’s senior team qualified for the Summer Olympics for the first time in women’s program history.
“We are missing a few players due to an ongoing U-20 tournament in the United States, but the balance of the roster is returning to action on 1 May after a two-and-a-half week break since the successful Olympic qualification event in México,” says Pellerud, who expects his U-20 stars back by 4 May. The team should be ready to step on the field again.”
The Canadian Soccer Association heads to St. John’s, NL this weekend for the 2008 Annual General Meeting on 3 May. At the top of the agenda is the election of new officers, specifically the president (four-year term), one vice-president, one director-at-large, and the director professional.
The full weekend includes an Executive meeting on Thursday, a Board of Directors meeting on Friday, and the General Meeting on Saturday morning. The General Meeting will be followed by a press conference (online webcast available to the general public) and evening banquet. The Association’s annual award winners will be celebrated at the evening banquet.
