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France
Women's U-20
All 35 countries in the Confederation of North, Central American and Carribean Association Football (CONCACAF) have been drawn into their respective groups for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Qualification. Canada will open their qualifications against Saint Vincent & the Grenadines in Stage Two with a home-and-home series in June 2008.
“I don’t think that you can take that game too lightly,” says Canadian head coach Dale Mitchell. “We will find out what they are all about (in the coming months). It’s good to know who you are going to play (because) a lot of teams don’t have that advantage.”
Patrice Bernier was named professional soccer player of the year at the annual awards gala hosted by the Fédération de soccer du Québec. Bernier, who spent the season with FC Kaiserslautern in Deutschland (Germany), was named the 2007 award winner ahead of finalists Ali Gerba and André Hainault.
Bernier was one of a number of award winners on the night. Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault (male) and Rhian Wilkinson (female) were named senior players of excellence while Sean Rosa (male) and Sarah Boucher (female) were named youth players of excellence.
The Prince Edward Island Soccer Association announced its annual award winners in Charlottetown today. Michel Daoust (male) and Kristina Weatherbie (female) were named senior players of the year while Dan McAleer (male) and Kayla Balderston (female) were named youth players of the year.
Daoust represented Velvet Underground at the 2007 BMO National Championships Senior Men’s Challenge Cup in Halifax, NS (Hyundai Cup) in October. He also won a bronze medal with the University of Western Ontario at the CIS Championship. Just three years ago, Daoust was the PEISA Junior Player of the Year. Weatherbie, meanwhile, was the AUS Most Valuable Player after a terrific season with the University of Cape Breton.
Canada-South Africa match tracker
Canada’s men’s national team has made their final preparations for tomorrow’s international friendly match with the Republic of South Africa. The Canadian men’s team have spent four days training together at the ABSA Stadium in Durban. The first-ever meeting between Canada and South Africa will take place tomorrow at 19.30 local time. The game will be telecast live on Rogers Sportsnet (12.30 ET / 9.30 PT).
The Canadian team arrived in Durban last Thursday. Coach Dale Mitchell and his squad had training dates on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and today. Canada’s squad features 16 players, including team captain Kevin McKenna. Tomasz Radzinski (33 years) is the oldest player on the team while Will Johnson (20 years) is the youngest player on the team. Paul Stalteri (61 senior caps) has the most international experience while Marcel de Jong (no caps) has the least experience. Stalteri and Julian de Guzman are the only two players that have played in Canada’s nine international matches this season. André Hainault, meanwhile, was unable to make the trip because of a minor injury.
Two days before their final international friendly of the 2007 season, the Canadian men’s national team took time to visit the children at the SOS Children’s Village Pietermaritzburg in the Republic of South Africa. The day was equally fun for the adults and children.
According to village director Siphiwe Maphanga, the visit by both the national team and the Canadian High Commission was “history in our village”.
The Saskatchewan Soccer Association announced their 2007 award winners at the Saskatoon Inn Hotel and Conference Centre today. Kevin Krause and Kailee Marland were named senior players of the year while David Brown and Liz Hudon were named youth players of the year.
Krause represented Saskatchewan this year at the 2007 BMO National Championships Senior Men’s Challenge Cup in Halifax, NS (Hyundai Cup). Marland, meanwhile, was the goaltending star for the University of Saskatchewan.
Canada’s men’s national team will face the Republic of South Africa in an international friendly match on Tuesday 20 November at 12.30 ET / 9.30 PT live on Rogers Sportsnet.
“We know that South Africa will be a strong opponent as they build towards hosting the 2010 World Cup,” says head coach Dale Mitchell. “For us it is an opportunity to test ourselves against a different style of play but in conditions we face regularly in CONCACAF. 2007 has been a positive year for the men’s national team and we would like to continue to build momentum towards the qualifying process that begins in 2008.”
The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) has announced the location for next year’s women’s Olympic qualification tournament. The CONCACAF qualification tournament will take place from 2-13 April in Chihuahua, México.
The tournament will feature six CONCACAF teams including Canada. Canada, the United States, Mexico and Costa Rica will be joined by two yet-to-qualify Caribbean teams. Puerto Rico plays Trinidad & Tobago for one of those two spots and Jamaica plays Cuba for the other spot. The championship draw will take place after those two Caribbean teams have qualified for the final round.
La Confédération des associations de football de l’Amérique du Nord, de l’Amérique centrale et des Caraïbes (CONCACAF) vient de dévoiler le site du tournoi qualificatif de football féminin pour les Jeux Olympiques de 2008, qui aura lieu l’an prochain. Le tournoi qualificatif de la CONCACAF aura lieu en avril au Mexique.
Six pays participeront au tournoi. Le Canada, les États-Unis, le Mexique et le Costa Rica seront rejoints par deux pays issus de la région des Caraïbes qui n’ont pas encore été décidés. Porto Rico affrontera Trinité-et-Tobago pour l’une des places, alors que la Jamaïque devra faire face à Cuba pour déterminer l’autre pays qualifié. Le tirage au sort pour déterminer les groupes et l’ordre des matchs aura lieu après la qualification de ces deux dernières équipes pour le tour final.
