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    Guest

    A call for transparency

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    On Wednesday Andrew Jennings was a guest on Prime Time Sports, where he was interviewed by Bob McCown and Stephen Brunt about the current FIFA and CONCACAF fiasco. In that interview, Jennings strongly encouraged Brunt to hang out at the airport and demand that the CSA representatives tell him how they voted last week.
    I don't know if he went that far, but he did pen a column today demanding just that. As servants to Canadian tax payers (by virtue of the fact that tax dollars help fund the CSA) Dominique Maestracci and Peter Montopoli owe us that level of transparency).
    Not shockingly the CSA gave Brunt a non-answer when he asked. The e-mail response from communications manager, Michele Dion
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Based on conversations I've had over the past few days I suspect Canada voted for the vote to be delayed and, likely, spoiled the ballot in the presidential election. However, I also have been told that it is highly unlikely that they will ever go public with how they voted. They want to play a role in helping to bring change to FIFA and CONCACAF, but they believe that they must do so on the down low.On one level you can understand the fear. Canada can't afford to give up any influence it might have ands sticking your neck out at FIFA generally doesn't accomplish much more than getting it chopped off.
    However, Brunt's right. These problems have evolved because the sport's leaders have kept quiet. We need to demand that the CSA disclose how it voted.
    Do you agree? If so, let the CSA know. The more they hear from the public, the more likely it is that they'll do the right thing.
    info@soccercan.ca
    Guest

    TSSL splits from TSA

    By Guest, in It's Called Football,

    In a bit of news that is sure to fly below the radar today, the TSSL (the oldest recreation soccer league in Canada) has split from its regional governance, the TSA, in what has become a protracted pissing contest over money - and caught right in the middle, is thousand of men's soccer players across Toronto.
    There is no clear solution on the horizon to this battle, one that essentially boils down to a fight over perceived exorbitant fees. But for now, the TSSL becomes a rogue league in Toronto and a number of OSA referees will now find themselves in a difficult position of choosing between the leagues that they have reffed for years and the body that governs them.
    We'll keep an eye on this as it develops and update when warranted.
    You can read the full press release after the jump.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Download PDF
    Message from TSSL
    Guest
    The most striking thing about the view from Ecuador is how little attention was paid to this match. A Thursday evening check of the web portals for the two biggest newspapers in the country found the match report buried deep within the football sections of each.
    News about another corruption scandal in Italian football, the domestic league and Lio Messi allegedly being punched by some random kid outside an Argentinian restaurant dominated the headline stacks.
    Granted, it was 20 hours after the final whistle, but it still appears this game mattered more to Ecuadorian immigrants and their extended family in Toronto than it did to people who actually live in Ecuador.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    For Ecuadorian media this match evidently was what it was: a largely meaningless tuneup for a national team missing two of its most high-profile players in Antonio Valencia and Felipe Caicedo. The second-last chance to practice live before the Copa America.
    I played around with a few Google searches and couldn't find any other local coverage in terms of blogs, betting sites, etc., but I'm willing to accept that I don't know a great deal about the Ecuadorian football team in general and even less about how to follow it online. Still I'm disappointed. I expected to find the sort of wild and flowery metaphors that fill out soccer journalism in Spain.
    A paltry five comments sat underneath the story in El Comercio - a wire pickup from Reuters' Spanish language service. It lead on how this was Ecuador's penultimate friendly before July's Copa America.
    Reuters said the Ecuadorians started by controlling the ball well in midfield, but were unable to generate quality chances. It said Terry Dunfield's goal came when "Ecuador appeared to be in its best moment, with its [Canada] almost immobile." It also said that his goal caused the Canadian fans to that "filled the stands" to "burst into yelling." There was no mention made about how the Canadian fans only occupied two sections of the stadium.
    The report devoted two paragraphs at the bottom to account for the controversial injury-time equalizer. Unsurprisingly for a wire report, it was a straight-ahead description.
    The five commenters were unified in their desire to see Reinaldo Rueda turfed as Ecuador manager. In the words of one, "...managing a team in South America is not the same as managing one in Central America. Central America doesn't have a Brazil or an Uruguay." Said another, who admitted he didn't even watch the match, Este señor Rueda no está a la altura de los jugadores que tenemos. Or, this Mr. Reuda is not at the level of the players we have.
    The report in El Universo at least appeared to have been written by someone on staff. It was headlined Descuido les quitó el triunfo a la Tri ante Canadá or roughly "Carelessness took the victory from la Tri against Canada." Which it most certainly did.
    Hilariously, this account said that Canada started by controlling the ball well and cutting down the Ecuadorian buildup. It said Canada had no major problems in the first half save for a couple of plays generated by Christian Benitez.

    Again, only one paragraph was devoted to the game's wild finish, with the writer describing the events that led to Ricketts' goal a "careless blunder" on the part of Ecuador. Neither report made even passing mention to the huge majority of Ecuadorian fans filling BMO Field.
    Guest

    Another team for Milan

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Canadian international Milan Borjan is taking his talents to Turkey, after he signed a four year deal with Sivasspor. The club barely survived the drop this year, but remains in the Süper Lig, where they have played since 2005.
    The club's keeping situation was a bit bleak last season, so one would assume that Borjan will get a fair shot.
    Despite Sivasspor's poor showing in 2010-11, the club did capture a Champions League qualifying spot just two years ago.
    Borjan, who is making a solid claim as Canada's No 1, made 36 appearances in two years for FK Rad in the Serbian League.
    He will be a guest on It's Called Football tomorrow. You can listen live at 2 p.m. EDT.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest
    These are the images and emotions from Canada's 2-2 draw against Ecuador. All photos are courtesy of Chris Hazard at Hazard Gallery.
    He is shooting for Canadian Soccer News this year - at least until one of the major daily newspapers gets wise and takes notice of one of the best soccer photographers in Canada.
    You can purchase these and other photos here.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

    Canada's lost son returns home.

    There are no easy roads

    The burden of command

    Getting a foot in
    Part 2
    Guest
    These are the images and emotions from Canada's 2-2 draw against Ecuador. All photos are courtesy of Chris Hazard at Hazard Gallery.
    He is shooting for Canadian Soccer News this year - at least until one of the major daily newspapers gets wise and takes notice of one of the best soccer photographers in Canada.
    You can purchase these and other photos here.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

    Little man, big performance

    Late going, still getting stuck in

    Moments before the equalizer

    Protesting (once again)

    Saluting the Voyageurs
    Lots more photos here from the game. Watch the slideshow.
    Guest
    These are the images and emotions from Canada's 2-2 draw against Ecuador. All photos are courtesy of Chris Hazard at Hazard Gallery.
    He is shooting for Canadian Soccer News this year - at least until one of the major daily newspapers gets wise and takes notice of one of the best soccer photographers in Canada.
    You can purchase these and other photos here.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

    Supporting local football

    Supporting non-local football

    The face of support

    The many faces of support

    The screaming face of support (Rollins you're my hero)
    Many more faces of support here. Watch the slideshow
    Guest
    Yes, there were more yellow shirts in the stands yesterday than there were red. And, yes, that’s disheartening, irritating and more than a little pathetic. But, we knew what to expect going in.
    About 6-weeks ago we had been told that Ecuadorian groups were gobbling up tickets. At the same time we knew that Canadian sales were sluggish. If we hadn’t been hammering our heads against this particular wall for, oh, about 20-years now that news would have made us really angry. Instead, the focus shifted to the only thing we could control.
    Making sure that the Canadian section was as big and as passionate as it could be. Last night, it was.
    When Terry Dunfield launched himself into the bottom of 114 (and, yes, as it so happened, directly at me along with one of the biggest and longest suffering Canadian fans I know) it occurred to me that it didn’t matter how many were there cheering for their grandfather’s country rather than their own. We were having a grand time in the south end and, I think, the player’s noticed.
    If we can’t beat them with numbers we need to beat them in noise. It shouldn’t be difficult because, I’m sorry, the game matters more to those of us that live it every day than those who visit it only when the homeland is in town.
    Not enough Canadians care about the national team, but it’s not fair to say that no one does. And those that do care passionately. To paraphrase a popular chant that used to be sung in the stands of Eastlands and Maine Road: 25 years; and we’re still here.
    We’ll be here 25 more if that’s what it takes – proudly supporting the home team.
    As for the game itself, a 2-2 draw against a quality team is worth celebrating. If you were at the game you’ll know that the quality of football on display was about 10 times better than what BMO Field normally serves up (shame then that you missed it if you’re part of the yeah-but-Canada-sucks crowd). Hopefully the late goal will give them some confidence and momentum heading into next week’s 1812 Derby.
    It’s been way too long since we beat the Yanks.
    ....
    Guest

    Away from the storyline

    By Guest, in It's Called Football,

    Canadian Soccer News will have reaction throughout the day (as our voices return and the hangover's wear off) on Canada's 2-2 draw against Ecuador - including Dunfield's role on the national team, what happened on Canada's second goal and the support in the stands - but for now, if you haven't seen it yet, here are the highlights from last night's game.
    Aside from the goals, there were two personal highlights, for myself as a fan and an observer, that stood out from the standard storyline told from last night.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]


    1) Terry Dunfield - the man who left England and returned home in hopes of finding his way into the national team setup once more, jumping into the crowd after scoring a screamer to open the scoring for Canada. Jason DeVos once told me, "I would rather play with a team full of guys who chose Canada first, than a collection of guys who used it as a last resort."
    I'll take a Dunfield over a Junior Hoilett anyday.
    2) Julian DeGuzman's heads up play - as the Ecuadorian team gathered around the ref to complain, mere moments after some pretty pathetic time wasting, DeGuzman casually walked away from the crowd of yellow, placed the ball down and delivered it to Tosaint Ricketts, who calmly struck it into the back of the net. This was Julian at his best. A few defensive errors may have cost Canada a goal on his watch but when it mattered it was his pitch awareness - which, is still far and away, the best this country has to offer - that capitalized for the home nation.
    Check back throughout the day for more reaction.
    Guest
    "I want to support the Canadian men's national team, but..."
    While the country is indisputably full of soccer fans, the above sentence is one you'll hear quite often from folks who don't see fit to pledge their allegiance to the boys in red. Most often, the sentence ends with, "... but they're just not very good."
    Everyone's entitled to spend their sporting time and dollar as they see fit, of course. But the idea that one develops and retains fealty to a team based solely on the coldly economic determination of whether a sufficiently good "product" is being served up is, to me, a tragic reflection of how the business of sports has infiltrated and corroded what the nature of fandom is meant to be.
    It's even more tragic when it comes to our foremost team in the world's foremost sport.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Time was when sports fans really had no option but to cheer for their local side, as a paucity of coverage limited their ability to follow anyone else with any regularity. (There are also arguments to be made about the declining societal worth of once-lauded ideals such as loyalty, but that's a moral tirade for another day.)
    With the rise of satellite TV, the Internet and 24/7 sports coverage, fans have the sporting world at their fingertips. Where once a quick scan of the boxscores in the newspaper was a fan's only way to check up on out-of-town results, now it's not unusual for sports enthusiasts (soccer fans in particular) to be following several live games simultaneously through various media, even if those games are being played across an ocean.
    For those with ties to another country, then, it's become exponentially easier to keep up-to-date on the situation "back home", be it the Premiership or Serie A, or the exploits of whoever's plying their trade in the Ecuadorian league. At the same time, globalization and major clubs' push to "build their brand globally" (more reprehensible corporate-speak) have lead to annual traveling circuses, where some of the best players on Earth show up to play meaningless friendlies in far-flung locales.
    In other words, there are a lot of options to get your footy fix.
    Just prior to World Cup 1994, 60,000 fans packed Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton to watch the men's national team grab a 1-1 draw with Brazil, the eventual champions of that year's tournament. The crowd was overwhelmingly pro-Canadian, but also full of people for whom that game may have represented their only chance at seeing top-level international soccer. These days, you can catch top stars during one of their summertime North American kickabouts or, at the very least, streamed live directly to your laptop on a weekly basis.
    All of this preamble brings me to my point: I get it. I understand, intellectually if not emotionally, the reasons why you'd choose not to support our men's national team. Combine these economic and technological changes with the well-worn, intractable issue of "Canadian identity" (or lack thereof) and you've got the perfect storm of reasons why people may not support Les Rouges.
    Now for the reasons why they should.
    "Canada helped my family when we had bad times back home ... Now they helped us come over here, make a better life for me and my family, so this is my way that I can return it to them and say thank you. I don't have any other way to return it."
    That's Milan Borjan, goalkeeper for the men's national team, who will be on the roster for tonight's friendly against Ecuador and the upcoming Gold Cup. His family moved to Canada from Serbia when he was 13, and coach Stephen Hart brought him into the Canadian setup just last year. He had attracted some attention from the Serbian national program, but instead chose to represent Canada.
    "Before I accepted Canada people were talking about the Serbian national team. ... I was born down there and everything, my family's from down there. But I looked at it as, Canada helped my family. It's not how good Canada is (or) how good Serbia is in soccer. I looked at how to return it to them because they helped me a lot."
    I -- like most other Torontonians -- am the product of recent immigration. But my father has told me many times that he immigrated to Canada for a reason. And no matter how long you or your family have been in this country, the reality is, the country has done something for you too.
    It may not be as drastic as having given you refuge from a bloody war. But it could be the universal healthcare. The economic opportunities. The open, diverse and welcoming social setting. The beautiful natural scenery. The solid principles of democracy and freedom. So on and so on.
    None of these elements are perfect, of course. Neither is our men's national team. But the team is comprised of men willing to risk their potentially-lucrative professional careers -- for which they've fought for most of their lives -- in order to represent the nation that we all call home.
    The very least we can do is repay that favour by showing some support, don't you think?
    "Every country needs supporters. Every game they play at home, they need a lot of supporters," said Borjan. "We need to bring more fans to come and cheer for us, to give us that 12th player."
    Canada will never be Spain or Brazil or whomever else when it comes to soccer. We are what we are. But that's just the point, isn't it? It's us. It's our team. It's not about consuming a product. It's about wearing a jersey that ostensibly means something. Sure, notions such as nationalism and commitment to a sporting franchise are, at their basest levels, intrinsically ridiculous.
    But in a world of infinite choice, this is probably the easiest one of all. No explanations needed for why you cheer for the team, because the explanation is already built in: It's your team.
    Guest

    All for the Reds (and white)

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Tonight is about Canada.
    That is the message that needs to be understood by the fans that head down to the park. Although I've never understood the need to be vigilant about it, I do understand the thinking behind those that call for fans not to wear TFC gear to the stadium.
    That said, if you see a person wearing a TFC strip tonight – and you will – try and remember that we need more fans cheering for Canada and if wearing the wrong strip is the worst thing they are guilty of, well...perspective. Try to engage them, but for the love of God do not chase them out of the stadium.
    While it is true that Canadian soccer existed – even in Toronto – before TFC, there is little denying that the emergence of the Reds has raised to profile a great deal more in those four years than it had been raised in the 40 or so years prior to that. So, there are new fans. Some of those fans will be at their first national team game tonight. They need to be educated, not chastised.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    One area that will be particularly difficult to get over for the TFC-first fan will be the existence of two players on the pitch – one “good guy” that the TFC fan will want to boo and one “bad guy” that they will want to cheer.
    I’m referring to Dwayne De Rosario and Joao Plata of course. Although Plata is not likely to feature a great deal, it may be hard for the Reds’ fans to not smile a little if the little twerp (see, I’m trying to get in the spirit) gets a run out. Actually, the worst case scenario is Plata being subbed on late – the standing ovation might be hard to take.
    And then there is DeRo. If Montreal and Vancouver supporters could get over it and cheer for him when he played for the nats before, then TFC fans should be able to tonight too – although it is way too soon.
    To use an analogy most new fans can understand, no one Canadian was concerned that Sidney Crosby was a Penguin when he scored the goal in Vancouver – even if they were Washington fans themselves.
    TFC has a marketing slogan – All for One – that is apt tonight.
    All for One; All for Canada.
    Guest

    Canada happy

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    From the the Guardian's live blog of the FIFA presidential "election"
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Sometimes even I have trouble taking us seriously.
    Guest
    Not surprisingly, an attempt by England to hold off on the coronation of Sepp Blatter, pictured above, for another term as FIFA president failed today. A disheartening 172 of 206 voters went with the status quo.
    Blatter claims that he's heard the call for reform and is the man to do it. Never mind that he's 75-years-old and has been in charge while the shenanigans have been going on. He's the man to lead the sport to a pure, new beginning.
    His words:
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    He's right. It is undignified. As stated, it has been for a long time. If we are to be stuck with Blatter for another four years then it's imperative that the media and the public continue to make him uncomfortable moving forward. Let him have the presidency, but make him actually work.Is it naive to think he'll work towards necessary reforms? Likely, but it's better to be naive than cynical. We've been cynical for too long and it's gotten us nowhere.
    That's the feeling of English FA chairman David Bernstein. He wasn't expecting to carry the day today, but he wasn't about to sit back and just let it be.
    When it comes to this whole mess, Bernstein does seem a little more sincere than most, but then again it's hard to tell.
    More as it develops...
    Guest
    By: Nathan Terlesky
    The Eddies turned in another positive result Tuesday night, beating FC Tampa Bay 4-0. While the crowd wasn’t the best that FC Edmonton has seen, they got their best score line of the season.
    With this win, Edmonton moves back into second place in the NASL with a game in hand (against Carolina and Minnesota) and a much better goals-for record.
    With much of the talk in Canadian soccer focusing on the firing of Vancouver Coach Teitur Thordarson, and Toronto’s dismal performance against the Philadelphia Union, Edmonton has quietly shown that Canadian talent can get positive results. FC Edmonton is ahead of Montreal by a mile in the NASL, and has a better result than both Vancouver and Toronto (in league play). While I’m not trying to say that Edmonton is far and away better than Canada’s MLS teams, I do believe that Canadian talent, along with a sprinkling of veterans and some surprise young talent has helped the club find success.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Kyle Porter alone has demonstrated that Vancouver missed a huge opportunity when they elected not to sign him. And while I doubt that Edmonton has signed him for more than one year, I am hopeful that Edmonton can retain some of the talent that has made them so successful in the early part of this season. Players like Paul Hamilton, Porter, Kyle Yamada, and Paul Craig have shown to be integral parts of Edmonton’s solid play. Edmonton still struggles with some nerves in the early goings of games, but they have begun to settle in nicely and have been able to pot a few first half goals that have complimented an otherwise full 90 minutes of solid, possession football.
    All this, coming from a team that has more wins than Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal combined, shows how Edmonton is quickly turning into Canada’s team... Or at least should be. The commitment to Canadian content, along with the club's record right now (5-1-2) is proving the Fath’s trust in their Dutch coach (both Harry Sinkgraven and the groundwork of Lodeweges last year) is more than justified.
    It will be interesting to see Edmonton’s style of play against Montreal on Saturday afternoon. While Montreal has the psychological advantage after the last meeting, Edmonton enters the game having not lost a match since. And Edmonton has adjusted to the poor pitch at Foote Field, and now turned the poor pitch into a home field advantage. However Edmonton adjusts to the superior pitch in Montreal come Saturday, it will be equally of interest to see how the team with superior Canadian content performs.
    Guest

    CONCACIRCUS

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    If you follow links to the official Web site of the Barbados Football Association's you end up here.
    Someone forgot to pay the bill, I guess.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Yet the association's 75-year-old president has been entrusted to run CONCACAF. It's a bit like appointing the Mayor of Maple Creek, Saskatchewan acting Prime Minister the next time Stevie Harper gets a cold.
    To call Lisle Austin Jack Warner's puppet is probably an insult to puppets. Not that Warner apparently needs a mouthpiece as he's been busy making demands from the sidelines, suspended or not. Welcome to CONCACAF, where its leaders do not dignify their spit by displaying any level of transparency.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0puFaKUg56I
    The arrogance is staggering.
    As for Austin, well, apparently he didn't have the authority to fire Chuck Blazer. That didn't stop him from trying.
    Ah, CONCACAF:


    We'll keep the links coming. Who needs the Gold Cup with this entertainment?
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