Edmonton, AB – The Canadian Soccer Association today held a press conference in CIBC’s Jasper Avenue branch to kickoff the Qualification Match of the 2006 FIFA World Cup GermanyTM between Canada and Honduras, presented by CIBC on Saturday, September 4th at 7:00 p.m. in Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium.
“We look forward to playing in Edmonton in this crucial World Cup Qualifying match against Honduras,” said Head Coach Frank Yallop.
“As the diamond sponsor of the Canadian Soccer Association, CIBC is delighted to help kick-off Soccer Week in Edmonton,” says CIBC Vice-President Kevin Montgomery. “This week promises to be an exciting one and we are proud to be part of it. I invite members of the public to watch the Men’s Team at their open practice tomorrow. For that day, they are being renamed “Men In Pink” and will wear pink wristbands in support of the 2004 Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure, which occurs in 40 communities on Sunday, October 3rd.”
Ottawa, Ontario – Canadian Men’s World Cup Team head coach Frank Yallop today named his 18-player roster for the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers against Honduras on September 4 at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta (7:00 p.m. MT) and against Costa Rica at Saprissa Stadium in San Jose, CR on September 8 (8:00 p.m. local time).
Yallop has named 13 players from the team which lost 2-0 to Guatemala in the opening game of the semi-final round on August 18. Returning to the squad after missing the Guatemala game due to suspension is midfielder/forward Iain Hume from Tranmere Rovers. Defender Tony Menezes, who has been playing in China with Greentown Hangzhou, has also been selected. Goalkeeper Lars Hirschfeld, recently signed by Dundee United, also makes a return to the squad.
Both Tomasz Radzinski and Jason deVos, who missed the Guatemala game due to injury, are called in while Julian de Guzman has recovered quickly from his hamstring injury and is available.
“The next two games are obviously crucial ones and I am looking forward to having the players available for a longer period than we did in Vancouver,” said Yallop. “We are very eager to get going again.”
Canada’s Robyn Gayle has made her 50th appearance for Canada’s national team. Gayle reached the milestone in the semi-final stage of the XVI Pan American Games Guadalajara 2011 Women’s Football Tournament. Gayle entered the match as a substitute for Rhian Wilkinson in the 58th minute.
Robyn Gayle a représenté le Canada comme membre de l’équipe nationale féminine pour la 50e fois de sa carrière internationale dans le match de mercredi soir. Gayle a atteint le cap de la cinquantaine dans le stade des demi-finales du Tournoi de football féminin aux XVIes Jeux panaméricains 2011. Gayle est entré au match du 25 october 2011 comme remplaçante pour Rhian Wilkinson à la 58e minute.
Canadian defender Jason deVos has been ruled out from Wednesday’s WC qualifier. Upon arriving in Vancouver, he was assessed by the Canadian medical staff and underwent a bone scan which revealed a stress fracture at the top of his fibula.
Jason did not train with the Canadian team and will not be replaced on the roster.
VANCOUVER – Canada begins play in their semi-final World Cup Qualifying group as they host Guatemala Wednesday, August 18 at 10:00 p.m. (ET)/ 7:00 p.m. (PT) at Swangard Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia on Rogers Sportsnet.
Gerry Dobson will call the action while former Canadian National team keeper Craig Forrest supplies the analysis. Gene Principe rounds out the on-air team with live reports from the sidelines.
The Canadian Men last met Guatemala on June 2, 1999 in the Canada Cup in Edmonton and came away with a 2-0 victory. The win was Canada’s second over Guatemala in less than one week. Canada also blanked Guatemala 1-0 in Toronto on May 29.
Vancouver, BC – The Canadian Soccer Association will present Bruce Wilson with the FIFA Centennial Award of Merit at halftime of the Canada vs Guatemala World Cup Qualifying Match on August 18th at Swangard Stadium.
The Centennial Order of Merit was introduced to celebrate FIFA’s 100th birthday and was created to credit those who have had a profound influence on the history of the game in a given country.
The CSA nominated Wilson for his international and professional accomplishments which include 51 appearances for Canada, including the 1984 Olympic Games. Wilson captained the 1986 World Cup team that qualified for and competed in the 1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico. In 1998, Bruce Wilson was recognized with perhaps the highest honour ever for a Canadian player when he was selected to the CONCACAF “team of the century.”
Ottawa, Ontario – Canadian Men’s World Cup Team head coach Frank Yallop today named his 18-player roster for the upcoming World Cup Qualifier against Guatemala on August 18 at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, BC.
Yallop has selected 11 players from the squad which defeated Belize 4-0 in back to back games in the first round. Several of those players are now with new clubs, with Tomasz Radzinski moving from Everton to Fulham and Jason deVos signing with Ipswich Town. Defender Ante Jazic is now in Russia at FC Kuban.
In addition, Yallop has rounded out his roster with seven players from the Development Team which competed last month in Burnaby against Millwall and Hearts in a tournament hosted by the BC Soccer Association. From that squad, Yallop has chosen Montreal Impact goalkeeper Greg Sutton (who established a club single season record of 13 shutouts), Impact defenders Nevio Pizzolitto and Gabe Gervais, 17-year-old midfielder Jaime Peters, who has landed trials with Ipswich Town, Millwall, Derby and Manchester United; midfielders Josh Simpson and Adrian Serioux, who were both handed contracts by Millwall after their impressive performances last month, and striker Olivier Occean.
Ottawa, Ontario – Prior to joining the National team in Vancouver to make final preparations for the August 18th World Cup Qualifying match against Guatemala at Swangard Stadium, Canadian Men’s World Cup team head coach Frank Yallop will be making a pit stop in Edmonton on August 10th. At noon on Tuesday, several local teams, comprised of highly skilled young soccer players, will have the rare opportunity to work with Frank Yallop in a skills camp. This session is designed to allow Yallop to reach out to Edmonton’s grass roots level of aspiring future stars and share his experiences and insight.
“The value of an event like this cannot be overstated. Since there are very few nations in which this kind of access to the experience of a National Soccer Coach is offered, this unique opportunity will be cherished by all the players and coaches who participate. An excellent Canadian role model, being a former Canadian Men’s World Cup player, Frank Yallop represents the future for these young players and certainly offers ample inspiration to fulfil their ambitions.” said Liz Ferguson, Executive Director, Alberta Soccer Association.
The event will be hosted at the Edmonton Soccer Association Complex which is located at 14920 – 142 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6V 1H9. The facility has a number of full-sized outdoor fields and a Clubhouse with dressing rooms, concessions and lounge facilities on site. More information is available at:
http://www.edsoccercentres.com/locations/complex.html