(With files from Alyssa Ally)
Location, location, location – like in real estate, where Canadian women’s coach Carolina Morace wants to live for the next few years was the most important factor in finding a resolution to the issues that almost caused her to leave the program.
Morace feels that it’s in the best interest of the women’s program to base its camp in Europe -- while significantly reducing the amount of time it spends in Canada -- as it prepares for the Olympics next year. I’ve been told that the CSA has assured her that can happen and it was the biggest determining factor in her decision to back off her threats to leave.
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Morace will look for a similar commitment following London. If the CSA agrees, then it’s more than likely that she will be with the program through 2015 when Canada hosts the World Cup.
The players are ecstatic by the news that Morace will be staying.
“We are, of course, so grateful for everything she has done for our program,” Stephanie Labbé said. “She has completely turned it around, and brought a whole new meaning to Canadian women's soccer. Knowing that we will have her around until post Olympics is such a great feeling, and I know we will continue on our successful path with her leading the way.”
Emily Zurrer concurred.
“This news is exciting not only for our team, but for the future of women's soccer in Canada,” she said “Carolina is a world class coach and has helped our team reach an increasingly higher potential by adding knowledge, tools and tactics to our game that we had never tapped into before.”
Zurrer said that the women are far better prepared under Morace then they were under previous management.
“ She has completely changed the way we view and play the game, making us faster, stronger and smarter on the pitch. The future of female soccer in Canada is extremely bright, and we are proud and excited to have her as our leader until at least 2012.”
For its part the CSA does maintain some leverage. There are legitimate concerns within the organization about some aspects of Morace’s contract that they feel she has not lived up to. However, her massive popularity with the players and fans make it difficult to criticise her.
By agreeing to revisit things in 2012, the organization puts the onus on her to perform to the level that she has said the team is capable of. If the team fails to make an impression in either the Olympics or the World Cup then the CSA would have a stronger negotiating stance in 2012.
And if she does meet those expectations?
Then, everyone is happy.