Morace to step down

This e-mail was sent to several journalists today that cover Canadian soccer. It appears to be an internal memo that was leaked:

[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

This is to announce that Carolina Morace, Head Coach of the Canadian Women’s National Soccer Team, along with her staff, intend to leave the Canadian Soccer Association following the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup taking place in Germany this summer.

“The Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) has a strategy to achieve their goals that differs from my strategy,” said Morace.

“I am proud of what my players have accomplished over this past year, winning the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualification Tournament in Mexico in November of 2010, the 2010 Cyprus Cup in February and Brazil’s 4-Nations Tournament in December. Just a few days ago, the team placed second at the 4 –Nations Tournament in China.”

“I am staying to execute my plan over the next few months because my players have worked hard and deserve to be prepared in the best way possible for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany.”

“My primary focus at this time is to prepare my players for the experience of representing Canada on the world's largest stage, and I will continue to be available to discuss my team and our preparations with the media at any time. In respect of my contract with the CSA, I cannot answer any questions regarding this decision until the World Cup is over.”

Sources close to the team have long suggested that Morace was frustrated by the lack of financial support the women have received. It has been reported to CSN that the money received for winning the CONCACAF championship was not distributed to the players. Rather, it was absorbed into the CSA general fund.

In the past, the Canadian men's team has had prize money distributed amongst the players.

Attempts to reach the manager of the women's program were unsuccessful.

We will continue to follow this as it develops.