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CONFEDERATIONS CUP: Y MACHINE LEVELS | FIFA’S LATEST MONE WORLD CUP PRACTICE ON MANY
IN THIS ISSUE:
BENITO FLORO: CANADIAN SOCCER’S NEW HOPE SOCCER SUCCESS IN THE MARITIMES
ON THE COVER: David Luiz celebrates Brazil’s 3rd straight Confederations Cup Championship. Photo by Les Jones - Covershots Inc.
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8 CONFEDERATIONS CUP: THE LATEST 32 KFC – SO GOOD FIFA MONEY MACHINE BY LES JONES BY BOB KOEP 34 PUTTING A FRUSTRATING
12 CONFEDERATIONS CUP PROVIDED WORLD CUP PRACTICE AT MANY LEVELS BY LES JONES
15 MARACANÃ: AN ICON IN THE SOCCER WORLD BY JUDY RAULIUK 16 GOLD CUP OVERVIEW: CANADIAN’S COME UP EMPTY BY STEVEN SANDOR 19 BMO TEAM OF THE WEEK IS BACK, CANADA! 20 SOCCER SUCCESS IN THE MARITIMES BY LAOGHAN HENDRA 22 BENITO FLORO: CANADIAN SOCCER’S NEW HOPE BY ARMEN BEDAKIAN
SEASON BEHIND ME BY DAVE KENNY
38 THE ARCHITECTS OF BRAZIL’S SUCCESS BY LES JONES 40 ROTATING DOOR KEEPS TURNING AT TORONTO FC BY ARMEN BEDAKIAN 42 EDDIES GEAR UP FOR NASL FALL SEASON BY STEVEN SANDOR 44 CAN-SO-REF BY MIKE KENNY 47 ANB ACADEMY FUTBOL TRIUMPHS AT THE 2013 KEELE CUP 48 ICELAND’S REY CUP A GROWING EXPERIENCE BY CLIVE SPURGEON
24 USING TREADMILLS TO IMPROVE SPRINTING: A PILOT STUDY BY SOCCER FITNESS
49 POWER FC WRAP-UP CAMPS WITH PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS
BY RICHARD BUCCIARELLI
52 INSIDESOCCER MARKETPLACE
28 BAD LUCK RAINS DOWN ON GOLD CUP SQUAD BY STEVEN SANDOR 30 THE RELIGION OF SOCCER BY TOKUNBO OJO
56 REFLECTING ON A SUMMER OF CHANGE FOR ONTARIO SOCCER BY RON SMALE
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Who would have ever thought, even as recently as 10 years ago, that the once obscure Confederations Cup could become a major world spectacle and with it another money spinning enterprise for FIFA. At the recent tournament in Brazil, it was all but apparent there seems to be no end to people willing to watch attractive soccer as brand new stadiums, built or renovated for next year’s World Cup, were usually filled to capacity. Needless to say, there was wall-to-wall coverage on TV around the world, some of it even
on pay TV. And, of course, it didn’t hurt that host nation Brazil had home fans in a frenzy and won the title in an exciting match against reigning world champion Spain before a 73,000 capacity crowd at Rio’s rebuilt (still in process) Maracana Stadium. The tournament also revealed that
Brazil’s young star, Neymar, gives new dimensions to his team and with him, Brazil must be considered a contender for the World Cup, if his condition holds after the upcoming grueling season with Barcelona. There were also stars such as 21 year old Oscar (Chelsea) and Fred, recently with French club Olympique
CONFEDERATIONS CUP THE LATEST BY BOB KOEP
Photos by Les Jones – Covershots Inc.
FIFA MONEY MACHINE! 8 August/September 2013
Lyon but now with Fluminense. And don’t even mention the heroics of defender David Luiz, also Chelsea, who came up with one of the greatest defensive plays seen in recent times. For Spain the glory days seem to be over (for now at least) as that team couldn’t score a single goal in its last two games and revealed some holes in its defence in the absence of aging (and injured) Carles Puyol, 35, who used to rule the box at will. On the other end of the scale, the play of Tahiti gave many fans a real lift. Realistically, Tahiti had no business being there - one of the world’s minnows, rated 134th in the world. It seemed a laugh to match them with four world champions, past and present. Brazil celebrate their third consecutive Confederations Cup title
5 February/March 2012
But, heck, Tahiti won its confederation title and its players had the time of their lives playing before huge crowds, the likes of which they will never see again. They were crowd favorites wherever they played. Good show. Unfortunately, but not totally unexpected, the tournament also brought out protests that were smoldering below the surface for some time. The apparent corruption in Brazilian government in general and around the building of the stadiums in particular, the wasted millions, or rather billions, brought the mood on the street to a boil, with the people asking whether it makes sense to spend the country’s assets on nothing but circuses. The next World Cup (estimated to cost $13 Billion) will turn out to be three times as expensive as the last one in South Africa, and that was a record at the time. The often mentioned uselessness of even erecting stadiums in places like remote Manaus or Cuiaba to be used for all of four games and then to be abandoned has left a mark with the people on the street. Of course Brazilians eat, breathe and sleep soccer and they love their team. But if they protest at a time when their sport is in the global limelight, their complaints must be deeply rooted. FIFA will one day have to think about whether it can’t play six games in one stadium during the round robin part of the five week World Cup and make do with just eight stadiums instead of 12. Or just let the host countries spruce up existing stadiums rather than insisting on building several new ones. And play the games in established soccer centers rather than spreading the show all over a country. But going back to the history of the Confederation Cup, the tournament had the most humble beginnings, starting out in 1992 as the King Fahd Cup in remote Saudi Arabia. It was played in October when all the Leagues in Europe were in the middle of their campaigns. So the Cup attracted just four nations with Argentina beating Saudi Arabia,
3-1, in the final and the U.S. and Nigeria the only other participants. Not to mention that virtually nobody noticed the tournament was on. There was no general TV coverage and it was difficult to even obtain a score line. It was a surprise another tournament was arranged for 1995 in the same location. By that time six teams participated and Denmark was a 2-0 winner over Argentina in the final. It’s no surprise that Brazil fans wear rose-tinted glasses.
But by then FIFA smelled the beginning of a much bigger story, took over the tournament in 1997 and launched it as the Confederations Cup. Carefully analyzing what goes and what doesn’t, FIFA first ran the event on a biannual basis and started to move the locations around to Mexico or South Korea, for instance. But then it hit the jackpot in 2005 by scheduling the tournament as a World Cup dry run every four years in the host country of the next World Cup with eight teams in the fold, namely the winners of the Cups of the 6 federations plus the hosts and the reigning World Cup holders. So it took FIFA a number of years to fine tune this competition but as it always happens, the money started to roll in once the right system was in place. And that is where FIFA seems to excel. With the huge potential of live global television emerging in the 1980s/1990s FIFA went to work and invented one tournament after another so that the calendar today is filled InsideSOCCER 9
with inter-national soccer championships of one sort or another. Going back to earlier years, nobody in North America was able to watch a World Cup (or any other Cup) live on home TV until the World Cup came to the U.S. in 1994. The satellite signals were there years earlier and could be picked up by private operators. But Television networks in North America considered soccer a niche sport for the longest time and didn’t really want to touch it. With the advent of sports specific channels, soccer moved into the limelight as numerous new stations were looking for anything to fill out their airtime. And with it, soccer became popular even with the general public in North America. And with the spread of live home TV across the world, FIFA was right there to exploit the new possibilities. And, needless to say, hit the jackpot. FIFA had already created the Under-20 World Cup with an inaugural tournament
in Tunisia back in 1977. Then an under-17 global championship came along in 1985. But since it took a long time to gain attention, it was finally re-named the Under-17 World Cup in 2007. And that worked.
Sandwich ban at Confederations Cup NO YOLK! Egg salad sandwiches were banned from Confederations Cup stadiums - as a safety hazard. Even when soft-boiled. And even when carried in by the press. Perhaps there were concerns players would slip on them or that journalists would throw them at the military and start a riot. Or perhaps FIFA was worried about getting more egg on its face after the country-wide protests. Ladders, benches and bombs were also specifically banned from being brought in by spectators but kudos to anyone who managed it. However, how much of a danger or threat are sandwiches!? FIFA’s money-machine is no doubt maximizing revenues – the media were also relieved of any bottled water they brought to the 10 August/September 2013
stadium and, with no water fountains in the stadiums, had to pay $3 for small bottles of water (six times the retail price) from the official supplier. While any foodstuffs were banned, FIFA is obviously amenable to excessive drinking; one of the stipulations for Brazil hosting the 2014 World Cup (and, by extension, the 2013 Confederations Cup) is that beer be available for sale in the stands. Even where not previously available and even though currently outlawed because of problems with fan drunkenness. Similarly, Muslim Qatar has had to agree to stadium sales of booze at the 2022 World Cup. By pure coincidence, Budweiser is an official World Cup sponsor.
But FIFA didn’t stop there. The women’s World Cup was launched in 1991. The Under-20 Women’s World Cup started in 2002 and a worldwide club championship seems well on the way. Currently, the mini tournament, frequently staged in Japan, has the European and South American winners joined by minnows from the other confederations. But that system will have to be fine-tuned to make it a more attractive spectacle for global television. Under the bottom line, however, I think we have reached the saturation point as there is hardly any room for more tournaments on the calendar. After all, countries still have to operate their leagues and the various confederations have their own title events. There is hardly any time for a summer break. The first leagues in Europe open play at end of July and World Cup qualifying resumes in September.
EAGLES DEVOUR THE MINNOWS BY LES JONES - COVERSHOTS INC. It was like shooting fish in a barrel; the minnows of Tahiti displayed energy, speed and even flashes of brilliance but they were always swimming uphill against the bigger Nigerian predators. It was Tahiti’s first appearance at the Confederations Cup, an amateur squad with day jobs (apart from the nine unemployed) and just one professional. Alongside the mighty of Brazil, Italy and reigning world champion Spain, among others. The crowd was hooked by the novelty, their charm and commendable endeavour but, in truth, Tahiti could have lost by more than 6-1. Nigeria benefitted from own goals, goalkeeping errors, the run of the ball and superior fitness but then there were the ones that got away; the Super Eagles spurned their bestworked, gilt-edged chances, shooting wide and shooting over with the net gaping, on too many occasions. The game’s highlight though was the Tahiti goal; a back-post header, following a corner, by defender Jonathan Tehau. It was the equivalent of a Pacific tsunami. It was the very first Tahiti goal in a senior FIFA tournament and it led to unrestrained joy, renewed enthusiasm and the exciting, if briefly held, prospect of a possible second goal. It even overshadowed a classic hat-trick of poacher’s goals by Oduamadi but it proved to be just a red herring and towards the end, the tiring Tahiti team was clearly floundering. Nigeria will no doubt have bigger fish to fry. Tahiti by contrast, had the sole aim of enjoying the occasion and avoiding 7 February/March 2012
embarrassment. Belo Horizonte wasn’t to be the place for a shock result but tiny Tahiti, while swimming with the sharks, did at least have a whale of a time.
NOTE Tehau, who’s five goals have all come away from home, got to celebrate the goal with his twin brothers and a cousin, all included in the Tahiti Confederations Cup squad. However, he also had the distinction of playing a major part in his country’s two own-goals against Nigeria and was on the team that later lost by a tournament record 10-0 to Spain. It was typical of Tahiti’s approach to the tournament that each of their three keepers started a game, giving everyone a chance for glory.
Steevy Chong Hue (13) joins his teammates celebrating Jonathan Tehau’s goal
InsideSOCCER 11
It was billed as a dry run for next year’s World Cup in Brazil. So how did things shape up at the Confederations Cup tournament held over two weeks at the end of June? Les Jones of Covershots was there and gives his take on the Brazilian experience.
Words and Photographs by Les Jones – COVERSHOTS INC.
Confederations Cup PROVIDED
World Cup practice ON MANY LEVELS
Brazil won the title in an exciting match against reigning world champion Spain before a 73,000 capacity crowd at Rio’s rebuilt (still in process) Maracanã Stadium.
12 August/September 2013
They cut it close but all the advance concerns about stadium safety issues at the Confederations Cup – or as FIFA now apparently wants us to call it “The Festival of Champions” – proved unwarranted. All the stadiums were ready on time. Well, sort of. The temporary closing of Rio’s renovated Maracanã Stadium by a local judge, immediately prior to its inaugural match, Brazil vs. England, was due to construction materials and debris outside the stadium. Easily cleared. A panel in the plastic membrane roof of Salvador’s new $345 million Arena Fonte Nova that buckled under the weight of rainwater was re-installed. However, frantic last-minute preparations continued up until game-time and items that were incomplete were covered up. Digging, building and fixing continued in peripheral areas. At the Maracanã, for example, computer printers were temperamental, washrooms not fully functional or lacking supplies, directional signs inadequate, trim incomplete. At the Estadio Mineirão in Belo Horizonte, pathways around the pitch perimeter broke apart and a misfiring sprinkler soaked photographers lining up to take team pictures. Everywhere, the mainly volunteer staff was willing but rarely able to deal with anything other than routine enquiries. But it all worked out. Fine-tuning will no doubt continue until the World Cup itself - the real reason the stadiums were receiving an expensive make over - and other intended World Cup stadiums remain under construction. (However, Rio’s Engenhão – officially, Estádio Olímpico João Havelange, due to host track and field events at the 2016 Olympics - has been closed indefinitely after the roof was found to have major structural flaws. And, a Confederations Cup press tour of the Barra Olympic Park was also cancelled, raising further concerns.) Peaceful demonstrations that, after a few days, became full blown riots were somewhat of a setback. While 4 February/March 2012
ostensibly about spending public money on the stadiums when health care and education were under-funded, in reality they reflected frustration at government inaction, incompetence and corruption. Many members of Congress have criminal records or are on trial, and efforts by Congress to stop public prosecutors from investigating crime (something they do to aid the understaffed, under paid and disinterested police) particularly incensed the public. There has been a smouldering sense of injustice for years with social issues a key factor, including the treatment of gays, the divorced and rape victims. Ana Clara Benevides, a 28-year old law student from Belo Horizonte, was particular incensed at overcrowded buses and overcrowded hospitals, and at the actions of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God. This influential, modern organization, with its EvangelicalPentecostal doctrines and ownership of Brazil’s second largest television network, has repeatedly been accused of illegal activities - money laundering, charlatanism and extracting money from its often poor congregants to enrich its leaders rather than to assist the needy are just a few of the controversies surrounding it.
Economic issues, including a dramatic rise in the cost-of-living, played their part. Many everyday items have increased 200-300% in just a few years without a commensurate increase in wages The catalyst for the protests, however, was a roughly 10% increase in local bus fares (about 10 cents Canadian). It wasn’t just the increase but a mayor saying ‘it was an insignificant increase’ that really upset people, together with the continual poor InsideSOCCER 13
service provided. Resentment has been building and the spending of money on stadiums rather than health or education was an easy target. It was exacerbated by the belief that the construction and renovation costs were supposed to be from private money but instead much is coming from the public purse. The demonstrations were large but the protesters generally well-behaved and non-violent. Originally started by students – the group with the most time, energy and nerve – the peaceful protests deteriorated into dangerous riots with wanton destruction of public property, the setting of fires and looting by a minority of troublemakers - ‘Genuine protesters don’t wear masks’. Some suggested that the government organized the looting to discredit the protests. (The government has done far worse.) There was minimal impact on the games themselves. Most demonstrations began in large public spaces before spilling onto adjoining roads, and relatively few were held close to match venues. However, blocked roads did cause traffic congestion and together with extended “exclusion areas,” that meant some fans were late for kick-offs. There was also a beefedup military presence, personal safety being almost guaranteed by the very visible presence of heavily armed police and military with knives, revolvers, tasers, nightsticks and shotguns. FIFA did tactfully cancel the Opening Ceremonies for the 2nd Football For Hope Forum in volatile Belo Horizonte although the event itself, ironically to “explore the commitment of football to social development,” went ahead. It is likely the demonstrations quieted down not because many regions rescinded the fare increase, but because the overwhelming majority of demonstrators were themselves shocked and scared by the violence and wanted no part of it. Disbelief, surprise and worry were the prevalent reactions of locals – “Riots don’t happen in Brazil.” But new issues are being raised, tensions are rising and protests continue, as exemplified by the National Day of Struggle on June 11 - the first general strike in over 20 years. With the World Cup just a year away, and dissatisfaction intensifying, the potential for continuing “manifestaciones” and disruption of the tournament remains a strong possibility, despite the abiding love of football.
14 August/September 2013
MARACANã an icon in the soccer world JUDY RAULIUK/LES JONES COVERSHOTS INC.
The Maracanã is not the stadium it was: Named after a nearby river and built for the 1950 World Cup, Rio de Janeiro’s national stadium was not completed for another 15 years. It has been renovated and reconfigured several times since. It was most recently renovated in 2012 to the tune of $300+Million in time for the 2013 Confederations Cup - the dryrun for the 2014 World Cup - and much to the annoyance of almost everyone. The general population, suffering from inflation and desperate for social reforms, believes the money would be better spent on health and education. The fans, having seen the capacity reduced over time from close to 200,000 (a world record) to 78,838, due to FIFA’s dictating the removal of all standing areas, are concerned simply about being able to attend games. The fact that the lower tier of seats has been completely replaced, a new membrane roof installed to replace the concrete one and all seating replaced and upgraded, is little consolation. It also features two additional access ramps, 12
new escalators and additional elevators and snack bars. The stadium boasts the first use of goal-line technology in national competition with 14 cameras high up on a cat-walk to settle goal-line disputes. As it happens it was never needed. However, the stadium is still not completely finished, as all the bugs are still being ironed out (malfunctioning toilets, inadequate signage, finishing trim, etc). Two things at the Maracanã hit you immediately when you enter: 1) The colour - a radiant mix of yellow and blue retractable seats, seemingly randomly placed but morphing from one to the other, combine with the green pitch to invoke Brazil’s national flag. 2) The noise - even in a half empty stadium it is outrageously loud, the low roof retaining the sound and bouncing it back down to join the exuberantly chanting fans below. The modernised Maracanã will be the main stadium for the 2014 World Cup and, now meeting international standards for logistics, sustainability and security (360 cameras) will also host the 2016 Olympic Games. In a nod to the environment, solar
energy has been incorporated and rainwater will be retained to service the 292 bathrooms while the plastic seats are produced from recycled materials. Social consciousness is apparent with modified seats for those with special needs, including wider perches for larger spectators, and a tactile floor for those who are visually impaired. Ostensibly to aid security, items such as liquids, large amounts of toilet rolls, flour and dust, backpacks, megaphones and closed containers of any kind are not permitted within the stadium, nor are video cameras, large flags, fireworks, vuvuzelas and politically incorrect signs of any form. It goes without saying that ladders, benches and bombs are specifically banned! Although the Maracanã is not what it was, the facade has not changed and it remains elliptical. While the stadium’s formal name was originally ‘Municipal’ and later changed to Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, it will always be the Maracanã – and remains one of the iconic stadiums in the world.
The modernised Maracana will be the main stadium for the 2014 World Cup and, now meeting international standards for logistics, sustainability and security (360 cameras) will also host the 2016 Olympic Games.
InsideSOCCER 15
If you needed to sum up the state of men’s soccer in Canada in just one game, look no farther than the match that eliminated this country from the Gold Cup.
Gold cup overview:
Canadian’s Come Up Empty BY Steven Sandor
Photographs Courtesy of the Canadian Soccer Association/Mexsport After losses to Martinique and Mexico put the Canadian side on the brink of elimination, it went into its third Group A game knowing that a win against Panama would give it a chance to find a way into the knockout rounds. A loss or draw would surely send the Canadians home after just three matches. To get the result, Canada would have to score against a Panamanian team that had already qualified for the quarter-finals, and was resting many of its key players. What happened? Canada only directed two shots on target through the 90-plus minutes in Denver - the offence limited to bad-angle attempts from distance. Marcus Haber and Kyle Porter authored those shots, but neither would be considered highlight-worthy. In a game in which Canada had to score, it looked as if the team wouldn’t be able to manufacture a quality scoring chance over 900 minutes of football, let CanMNT starting XI vs Mexico: Front row: Jonathan Osorio, Samuel Piette, Kyle Bekker, Marcel de Jong, Issey Nakajima-Farran, Nik Ledgerwood Back row: Doneil Henry, David Edgar, Milan Borjan, Marcus Haber, Julian de Guzman 16 August/September 2013
alone 90. There was a shout for a late penalty, as striker Marcus Haber was pushed aside in the box, but we all know Canada was never going to get a 50-50 call like that in a CONCACAF-sanctioned match — not ever. So, in the end, Canada departed the Gold Cup without scoring a goal.
A 1-0 loss to Martinique opened the tournament, the shame punctuated by an injury-time wonder strike from Fabrice Reuperne. While the Canadian soccer followers considered this an upset, interim coach Colin Miller didn’t. He knew that Canada, based on its recent performances, didn’t have the right to be a favourite over anyone in the world — not even a Caribbean island that’s not even a country. “They are no mugs, and we are no world-beaters,” he said after the loss. And, already down 2-0 to the Mexicans, Canada came as close to scoring as it would all tournament long — a free-kick drive from Marcel De Jong that found the woodwork. Yes, over three games, the best offensive chance was created by a (gulp!) fullback. And that chance came when Canada’s opposition was easing through the final moments of a match it had already considered a win. But not scoring has become so
common for this team, that nobody nobody - respects Canada as a force going forward. In the opening game, tiny Martinique outchanced the Canadians by a three-to-one margin. Fullbacks were activated and holding midfielders joined the attack. It was clear that the players from the small island territory weren’t worried about what Canada could do to them on the counter. If you don’t fear the repercussions, you can attack in numbers — and that’s what Martinique did. And why should they? They would have looked at Canada’s match history and seen a heck a lot of zeroes. “We know we need to improve our final ball and craft in the attacking third,” Miller admitted after the loss to Martinique. “We need to get more bodies supporting the attack.” Before Canada went scoreless at the Gold Cup, it lost a May friendly in Edmonton to Costa Rica. The score... 1-0. In March, Canada was shut out by Belarus. Before that, Canada lost 2-1 to Japan, with Marcus Haber’s goal coming off a corner. In January, a 0-0 draw with the U.S. was preceded by a 4-0 loss to Denmark. And let’s go back to World Cup qualifying. In that 8-1 loss to Honduras, Canada’s lone consolation goal, scored when the game was long out of hand, came off an Iain Hume free kick. So, in its last nine international matches, our men’s national team has scored just twice — and both of those came off set pieces. Goals out of open play? Nada. Zilch. And those games saw a variety of different attackers used; no matter the combination, the scoring chances were few and far between. The biggest challenge for new national-team coach Benito Floro, who took over the squad Aug. 1, and technical director Tony Fonseca, is finding goals, somewhere. Does Canada have an offensive saviour on the horizon? Is it Real Valladolid’s Keven Aleman, the former U-17 star who was cap-tied to Canada in the 2-0 Gold Cup loss to Mexico? Or do we have to look at the current crop of U-17s, players such as TFC Academy’s Jordan Hamilton or FC Edmonton’s teenage sensation, Hanson Boakai? Or does salvation come in the form of immigration? Camilo da Silva Sanvezzo, the Brazil-born sparkplug of the Vancouver 4 February/March 2012
Interim Head-Coach Colin Miller
Whitecaps, has gone on the record, saying he’s interested in representing Canada once he gets his passport. But, that will be a slow process. Unlike
other nations, who bend the immigration rules in order to help their soccer programs, Canada won’t do that. Really, as Canadian soccer followers, we can’t be crushed by Canada’s failure to get out of the group stage. Nor should we be shocked by our national team’s inability to score. During the tournament, Miller himself noted the side’s struggles in the final third of the pitch. He spoke about the troubles in bringing players forward and getting good crosses in from the wings: “This is a results-oriented business and ultimately we will be judged by our performance here — but I am proud to have given a good number of players their first caps during the last several months. We are bitterly disappointed to be going home at this stage but it is important to
Jonathan Osorio vs. Richard Dixon InsideSOCCER 17
remember that this Gold Cup has been part of a long-term rebuilding process for us.” That process now falls to Floro, who watched the team at the tournament. He spoke to Miller during the Gold Cup, but it wasn’t as if the two had extensive meetings on a daily basis. Floro didn’t pull the strings from the sidelines; he was a silent observer. When he was announced as the new coach, the Canadian Soccer Association publicly stated that Floro would in no way interfere with interim coach Miller’s Gold Cup plans. Floro hasn’t shown that he’s a man of many words. In fact, his English is passable but it would be a dream to imagine that he’ll have as much to say to the media as Miller did, or Stephen Hart before him. But CSA president Victor Montagliani said Floro’s ability to rethink offensive soccer was one of the major factors in the hiring. “Benito Floro is renowned for his tactical and strategic approach to the game and his influence in implementing a more attacking style of football in Spain,” said Montagliani when Floro was introduced as coach. Doing it in Spain was one thing. Helping Canada move forward will be another thing entirely. Let’s look back to the’90s; Canada’s attackers were Tomasz Radzinski, who played top-flight soccer in Belgium and then, later, in the English 18 August/September 2013
Voyageurs, Canadian Soccer Supporters Premier League; Paul Peschisolido was one of the top attackers in the English Championship/First Division. Alex Bunbury played in Portugal’s top league. And that team didn’t qualify for the World Cup. Canada’s current crop of strikers doesn’t come close to that kind of pedigree. Tosaint Ricketts and Marcus Haber were left to do the heavy lifting in attack. Haber played last season in the
English lower divisions; Ricketts is now with a Norwegian club that brings up the rear of the top league. You can argue that in terms of offensive talent, this generation is behind the generations that came before. Floro needs to start moving us forward; but it’s hard to get offensive production for the national side when there aren’t Canadian forwards playing regular minutes in the world’s top leagues.
Marcel de Jong after Mexico defeated Canada
BMO Team of the Week is back, Canada! The annual youth soccer competition is in full swing once more, as one lucky team from Canada will be crowned the BMO Team of the Week 2013 Champion. A total of 15 teams were chosen from across the nation since the start of April, and now, they will have a shot at winning the grand prize – a $125,000 renovation of a local field, a trip to see any of the Vancouver Whitecaps, Montreal Impact or Toronto FC or Canadian National Team home match, plus a $5,000 donation made by BMO on behalf of the team to a charity of the team’s choosing! BMO Team of the Week is in its third year, and this time around, the competition includes some familiar faces from the Canadian Women’s National Soccer Team! The women made a huge splash at the 2012 London Olympics, picking up the bronze medal and bringing pride to Canadian soccer fans across the nation. Their performance was so inspiring that women’s soccer gained a whole new level of importance in Canada, and with the introduction of the National Women’s Soccer League, the women’s game is growing tremendously. So too is the BMO Team of the Week competition, fuelled now by BMO Ambassadors Erin McLeod, Rhian Wilkinson and Diana Matheson, who were all crucial players on the bronze medal-winning team. The BMO Ambassadors are inspirational role models for children of all ages, and their dedication and passion for the beautiful game is helping to grow the sport in Canada. These three women also know full well how important a strong youth foundation is for the growth and development of each soccer player. They themselves went through the Canadian soccer system as children and had first-hand experience with the impact youth sports have in a community. The BMO Team of the Week program provides the chance for a team to gain national recognition for their commitment to their community and to the game of soccer. It creates lasting friendships and memories, while promoting the development of future talent like Matheson, McLeod and Wilkinson. The 2011 BMO Team of the Week champions, Glen Shields Sun Devils 2000, will have their ribbon cutting ceremony this September to commemorate the opening of their new field, funded in part by the $125,000 grand prize! Last year’s winners, Ladner Storm U-10 Girls, had a special sign unveiling in April, to commemorate their win. Who will win this year’s prize? Visit BMOSoccer.com after September 11, 2013 to find out! InsideSOCCER 19
My brother’s kids were outside playing kick-around with our dog, Flynn. I was in the kitchen, weekend nephew-sitter, cleaning up the latest round of meals, a tornado’s path cut through the room and out the back door. BY Laoghan Hendra
SOCCER SUCCESS IN THE
MARITIMES The McCain New Brunswick Premier Soccer League
Tidying done, and the boys still happily occupied, I fired up my near-dead computer to witness a coming-ofage for soccer in New Brunswick, the second annual Maritime Champions League tournament, live-streaming from Moncton’s Rocky Stone Park. Though you might not guess, the event was historic: a second year for a growing regional tournament, the first on T.V., the fourth season for a new-kidon-the-block league that many thought could never succeed; and as added proof that high-level soccer is back for good in the province, the McCain New Brunswick Premier Soccer League this year added a women’s division. As with so many things, the increasing success of the McCain NBPSL might seem like something organic that just happened; but for those who toil to make dreams reality, the truth is somewhat different. For them, it is obvious that nothing comes without hard work and a willingness to wear a lot of different hats, if something of value is to be built. Let me give you an example. My clunker hack-box fired up without crashing, I found the website, clicked on the link, and a game appeared on-screen. As I watched the to-and-fro of the heated match-up between men’s squads Valley 20 August/September 2013
United and Codiac First Touch, something puzzled me. It was a skilled, fast-paced affair—the build-up of play, quick counterattacks, the nimble striker whose name I couldn’t catch—but it wasn’t the play that caused confusion. A voice from the livestream, one of the two commentators, sounded familiar. But I couldn’t place it. “Did you watch?” my brother asked, checking in on the boys later in the day. “I did. It was weird, though. I feel like I knew the announcer, but I couldn’t place the voice.” My brother chuckled and, I imagined, shook his head, smiling, as he often does with me. “Well, little brother, you’ll figure it out at some point.” “It was you!” I exclaimed, clueing in. “I knew it!” “No, you didn’t,” came his typically flat, deadpan response. “People’s voices sound different on T.V. That’s a fact!” I offered, weakly. “Yeah. Yeah. Nice try.” He answered, moving the subject along in typically modest fashion, asking about his boys. Before he hung up, I asked the obvious question, “How did you end up doing that?” “No one else could, so I kind of had to.” “Cuilean, you were good.” “Really?” He asked, surprised. “Yup, you might have a career change in the works.” He laughed, and hung up. This was my brother, jack-of-all trades McCain NBPSL co-founder and president, and
E
S
now, T.V. colour commentator. It spoke volumes about the lengths to which he and Chris James, co-founder and treasurer, are willing to go to make the league and its early-season tournament a success. Both have spent countless hours building and expanding the operation, getting a top-level sponsorship partner in McCain Foods, and in simply leading the way forward. Though a growing success, the league was never a sure thing. And as I spoke with both my brother and James about the league origins, the picture of a tenuous start emerged. “When I was coaching Schooners F.C. out of Charlotte County,” Cuilean began, “I tried to get a provincial FA Cup-style tournament going. It was a total disaster. Only two teams from New Brunswick were interested: Wanderers S.C. from Fredericton, and, well, us. Chris was the Wanderers’ goalie and manager. Instead of giving up on the idea, he and I worked together to instead create a pilot season of teams interested in bringing back Senior A soccer in New Brunswick. E-mails went back and forth, and the league was born. We decided on two divisions: Northern and Southern. One of the reasons the previous league had struggled was travel costs. We wanted to make a new league as affordable as possible.” “The first summer we piloted the league it went remarkably smoothly,” added James. “I’d say the biggest
challenge was raising standards and expectations. We wanted teams following timelines and deadlines. For new entrants to our league, I think it was a bit of an eye opener when they were fined if they didn’t submit a game sheet or canceled a game at the last minute. They were not used to this and struggled with the concept. But we knew if we wanted to make things run properly, we needed to have and enforce high standards.” Of the nine teams in that trial year, seven made the cut and committed to form a top-tier league. Since then, the McCain NBPSL has solidified. From an outsider’s point of view, it seemed clear that Hendra and James worked well together from the start, representing a winning combination of skill sets and talents, but I was interested to know where the drive came from to make this league successful. I knew of my brother’s passion for the sport, but I asked James about his motivation. “I’ve played soccer since I could walk. My dad played for Memorial University and won a national championship with them in the late ’70s. I think his interest in the sport drove my passion,” Chris recollected. “As well, growing up playing both soccer and hockey, you see the difference in the attitudes to the two. With soccer, we have the highest number of registrants for any sport, but the majority are recreational and the numbers decline rapidly after U10-U12. I want to see soccer
McCain NBPSL at a Glance Website: www.nbpsl.ca Twitter: @NBPSL Cuilean Hendra: Co-founder and President Chris James: Co-founder and Treasurer Major Sponsor: McCain Foods, Florenceville, N.B. • 9 teams in the men’s division • 5 teams in the women’s division • Maritime Champions League, annual tourney held in early May Future Goals • Expanding the Maritime Champions League tournament to include teams from Newfoundland. • Adding and solidifying teams, as well as raising the level of play. • Competing with larger market teams from other parts of Canada. raised to the same profile competitively as hockey is now, and to do so, we need to create pathways for the kids to grow developmentally. The McCain NBPSL can help achieve this.” But it hasn’t come easily, and though motivation can be worth its weight in gold, others have stepped up to help this venture succeed. Here, Cuilean offered his thoughts. “McCain took a chance on us and they have been there right from the beginning. We’re very proud to have a strong New Brunswick company supporting a New Brunswick league. My contact, Barb Sharp, McCain public relations coordinator, has been amazing to work with, a true professional, and a believer in our passion for the sport. Jeff Salvis, former Soccer New Brunswick executive director, was also very keen on the idea and mentored us along the way. Essentially, he made it easy for us to get this league off the ground. Last thing, and so crucial, is that all the league reps and players have bought into the idea. Without their dedication and support, the league would not exist.” He was right. Many such ventures prove to have very short shelf lives. But if the energy of Hendra and James is any indication of things to come, we’ll be hearing more about top-tier soccer in this small but resourceful Maritime province.
InsideSOCCER 21
BY Armen Bedakian
Benito Floro CanadIAN Soccer’s New Hope Photographs Courtesy of the Canadian Soccer Association/By Paul Giamou
Canada’s search for a head coach has finally come to an end. After Stephen Hart was sacked after coaching Canada to an 8-1 loss to Honduras, the Canadian Soccer Association buckled down and made a commitment to hire a new, experienced head coach. It took the CSA nine months to finally find their man: Benito Floro.
22 August/September 2013
He’s not Canadian, nor does he have now officially stepped into after interim builds team chemistry and allows for much experience coaching in CONCACAF. manager Colin Miller guided the team a stronger coach/player relationship He speaks English, thankfully, but has through the Gold Cup. between national team players who never been involved with soccer in North Floro’s appointment is more than the have largely been isolated from each America, outside of a one-year gig in filling of an empty role, however; it is also other before the MLS Canadian trio of Mexico with Monterrey. Why, then, is a signal of intent for the Canadian national Toronto FC, the Montreal Impact and the Benito Floro the man to lead Canada from team, a country that last qualified for a Vancouver Whitecaps. their poorest form in recent years to a World Cup spot in 1986. Will Benito Floro Mixing the coaching responsibilities of potential powerhouse in the region? be the man to guide Canada to a World the senior and junior teams isn’t new to Well, one wouldn’t have to look too far Cup berth? He’ll have to wait a few years Floro, either – he performed in a similar to find that Floro has one of the most well before he gets his chance. role with Real Madrid, keeping a close rounded résumés in the game of football. Canada has taken a decidedly younger eye on the youth team when he was team Having coached the majority of his career approach to the national team in recent director. With three decades worth of in Spain, Floro is certainly an experienced months, with players like Dwayne De coaching experience from which to draw, option. At 61, Floro has coached some of Rosario dropped in favour of younger Floro is an interesting coach, indeed. He the biggest outfits in Spanish football, talent, mostly from Major League Soccer; has shown that he is knowledgeable including Sporting Gijon, Mallorca, players like Kyle Bekker, Jonathan Osorio, about soccer and has been described as a Villarreal and Real Madrid. Will Johnson, Doneil Henry, Ashtone student of the game. His time at Real Madrid was short, Morgan, Kevin Aleman and Russell Teibert However, it is his message of unity having taken charge of the club between have picked up international call ups and and club identity that gives Canadian 1992 and 1994, but soccer fans the most hope. having a coach of Floro was a huge advocate that calibre with the for a unified style of play Canadian national team at Real Madrid and if he is surely a fresh change can make that message a for a team that has reality with Canada, the historically employed national team will surely local managers. Floro’s benefit. There are doubts real claim to fame was about Floro’s commitment taking third division side to the country, since he is Albacete into La Liga. His a manager who has moved success with Albacete around quite a bit in his caught the attention career, but finding success of Madrid and he took at the international level up one of the highestis a whole other ball game pressure gigs in the than at the club level. world of football. This is Floro’s first foray In 2005, Floro in the international level, stepped into a different though it’s not for a lack Victor Montagliani (left) presents the Umbro Canada Soccer jacket to Benito Floro. role with Real Madrid, of quality – during his becoming the club director – his job? will form the core of Canada’s team in the introductory press conference, Floro Mop up the mess created when Madrid’s coming years. noted that he was once in the running Galacticos project failed to make them Floro will make sure this progression for the job of Spanish head coach. With the best team in the world. What was from the youth ranks into the senior Canada, he’ll finally have his chance to once a team compiled of superstars like national team role goes as smoothly as take on the world. David Beckham, Ronaldo, Luis Figo and possible; and in doing that, he’ll be taking From Real Madrid to the Canadian Zinedine Zidane was now a mix of players over as the head coach of the Men’s U-23 National Team, Benito Floro is certainly an like Robinho, Jose Antonio Reyes and an side as well as the senior team. This means interesting hire for the Canadian Soccer aging Roberto Carlos. Floro will not only lead the country in Association. His first attempt at making A five-year absence from coaching World Cup Qualifying and in senior team the World Cup won’t come until qualifiers saw Floro take up a rather peculiar role competitions, but also manage a similar for the 2018 World Cup begin. Should as a football commentator for Spanish group of players in the Olympic qualifiers he succeed, Canada could be packing its news outlet Telecinco, but he returned to and other U-23 tournaments. bags for Qatar - a trip Canadian soccer a managerial role in 2009 with Barcelona This allows for an element of fans have been waiting decades to take. – no, not that Barcelona – in Ecuador, consistency that, mixed with his Let’s hope Floro gives Canadian soccer before switching to Moroccan outfit experience managing in Spain, allows a reason to pack those bags early! Wydad Casablanca. The natural next step young players to improve at the right age from Ecuador to Morocco was surely the and keep them confident and comfortable Canadian National Team, a role he has in the senior team environment; it also InsideSOCCER 23
FIT FACTS
USING TREADMILLS to improve sprinting: A Pilot Study by Soccer Fitness BY RICHARD BUCCIARELLI High Speed/High Incline Running Treadmills for Repeated Sprint Training: In Canadian youth soccer, the pre-season period prior to the outdoor season typically lasts six to eight weeks, beginning in mid- to late-March and ending in midto late-May. Repeated sprint training, consisting of 10 or more repetitions of high/maximal intensity runs/sprints, is a commonly used training method during soccer pre-season. This type of training is especially useful during pre-season because it has been shown to improve both speed, as well as high intensity running ability. Studies 10m Sprint p=0.0008
0.0 -0.1 -0.2 -0.3
Treadmill
-0.2
-0.1 -0.2 -0.3
Second Difference
Second Difference
0.0
On-field
Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test p=0.9645
0
10m Sprint Treadmill: p=0.0003 yes On-Field: p=0.507 no 20m Sprint Treadmill: p<0.0001 yes On-Field: p=0.0508 no 35m Sprint Treadmill: p=0.0031 yes On-Field: p=0.0016 yes
500
Treadmill On-field Student’s T-test (Treadmill vs. On-field) Applied Welch’s correction for unusual variances
24 August/September 2013
Treadmill
Student’s T-test (Treadmill vs. On-field)
1000
Q: Is there a change in test performance over time? Compare differences in each group to a hypothetical value of ‘0’ – indicating training had no impact on performance.
-0.1
35m Sprint p=0.0275
p=0.0013
0.0
-0.3
On-field
Student’s T-test (Treadmill vs. On-field)
0.1
done on soccer players, as well as athletes in other sports, have demonstrated the effectiveness of a “ground-based” (running sprints on the ground) repeated sprint training protocol on improving speed and high intensity running ability. High speed/ high incline treadmill training (using specialized high speed running treadmills) is an alternative method of performing repeated sprint training. At Soccer Fitness, we decided three years ago to make repeated sprint training using high speed/high incline treadmill running the focus of our strength and conditioning programs at our new facility - the Soccer Fitness Training Centre. We reasoned that when compared to “ground based” training, high speed/
20m Sprint 0.1 Second Difference
Second Difference
0.1
Statistical Analysis by Justin Cresser
Treadmill
On-field
Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Treadmill: p=0.0028 yes On-Field: p=0.0011 yes
high incline treadmill training was more advantageous in that the workloads (speed, and % incline) could be more closely controlled. Treadmill training also holds other advantages over groundbased training, including the addition of a spotter, who can help the athlete perform higher speed runs than could normally be completed, by spotting/pushing on the athlete’s lower pelvis. We believe so much in our training protocols that, during the spring 2013 pre-season, we decided to put our training to the test, by conducting a six-week training-based study, comparing two different kinds of repeated sprint training (our incline treadmill protocols, versus a more conventional and previously used ground-based running protocol). To date, there have not been any studies comparing a ground-based versus a treadmill-based protocol for repeated sprint training on youth soccer players. The aim of this study was to examine the differences in speed and high intensity running ability following a six-week, twodays-per-week repeated sprint protocol of ground-based versus treadmill based repeated sprint training. Subjects participating in this study were female members of a local Toronto area youth soccer club, aged 14-17, who were randomly assigned to Treadmill Training (“TT”) vs. Ground-Based Training (“GBT”) using simple computer-generated randomization. Nine players in total
S
e s e o a m e e
g 3 g k o g s y . s a d . e y l d
y o o l g d l
participated in the Treadmill Training Group, and eight players in total participated in the Ground-Based Training group. Both groups performed a six-week, two-sessions-perweek repeated sprint training protocol, comprising 15 repetitions of a six-second maximal effort, with 60 seconds of passive recovery in between. At baseline, the TT vs. GBT groups were comparable with similar times in 10m, 20m and 35m sprint tests. Improvement in sprint performance was assessed following six weeks of training by comparing the differences in sprint times pre- and post- training. Following six weeks of training, girls randomly assigned to TT had significant improvements in 10m, 20m and 35m sprint performance. There was no difference in distance covered preand post- test between TT and GBT in the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test. When evaluating program effectiveness, there was a significant improvement in player performance in the TT group for all tests post-training (10m, 20m, 35m sprint and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test). The GBT group showed improved performance in 35m sprints and the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test, but not in the shorter sprint distances (see Figure 1 for a further
explanation of these results). Results of the study indicated that Treadmill Training produced a significantly greater increase in running speed, with a small – but also greater – increase in high intensity running ability, than OnField Training. When considering the results of this study, as well as the other aforementioned benefits of Treadmill Training, it appears that Treadmill Training is at least as effective, if not more effective, as a method of pre-season repeated sprint training, than On-Field Training. More research, involving larger sample sizes, is required before definitive conclusions can be made. At Soccer Fitness, these results impressed us so much they prompted us to make similar changes to our own Treadmill and Plyometric Training Protocols. Beginning in August, 2013, training sessions at the Soccer Fitness Training Centre will be more intense than ever. In order to maximize training volume every hour, each training session will include incline treadmill sprints, harnessed/over-speed treadmill sprints, and plyometric exercises. Work-to-rest ratios will be kept to a maximum of 1:4, so as to ensure that the intensity of training
stays high. All athletes training with Soccer Fitness will now be able to get even more out of every training session. We are very excited for the fall 2013 offseason, and we are sure our athletes will be as well. • Justin Cresser, Technical Director, SC Toronto • Frank Iaizzo and Peppe Raso, Technical Directors, International FC • Matija Vugrinicek, Senior Strength and Conditioning Coach, Soccer Fitness • Julia Burgess, Head Coach, SC Toronto 1998 Girls • Mario Consiglio, Head Coach, SC Toronto 1995 Girls • And all the players from the SC Toronto 1998 and 1995 Girls! Richard Bucciarelli is President of Soccer Fitness Inc., a company that provides soccer-specific strength and conditioning to individuals, teams, and clubs in the Greater Toronto Area. Beginning in August, 2013, the Soccer Fitness Training Centre will be offering brand-new Treadmill and Plyometric Training Programs. For more information about Soccer Fitness Inc., visit www.soccerfitness.ca
Science-Based, Soccer-Specific Fitness Training
Soccer Fitness Training Centre Trio Sportsplex, 2nd Floor 601 Cityview Blvd. Vaughan, ON, L4H 0T1 (905) 417-4110 richard@soccerfitness.ca
SPEED COMPETITION 1
RICHARD BUCCIARELLI President BKINE, CSEP-CEP, CSCS, CK OSA “B” Licence USSF “A” License
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING High-speed treadmill training Plyometric training Soccer-specific running and kicking cords Soccer-specific fitness assessment
ON-FIELD TRAINING
Soccer-specific movement and coordination training Speed, power and aerobic endurance training wth the ball Coach clinics and seminars Periodized, year-round training programs for clubs Sports science monitoring and testing using the latest equipemnt, including video analysis, heart rate, and GPS
InsideSOCCER 25
BRAZIL: 2013 CONFEDERATIONS CUP
CHAMPI PhotoS by Les Jones – COVERSHOTS INC.
26 August/September 2013
ONS InsideSOCCER 27
Finagle’s Law is simple. “Anything that can go wrong, will — at the worst possible moment.” And that serves as a decent one-sentence wrap of Canada’s roster woes at the Gold Cup. By STEVEN SANDOR
BAD LUCK
rains down on
Gold Cup squad Photos Courtesy of the Canadian Soccer Association/Anthony Vasser/Uwe Welz
Between his players’ contract issues, injuries and illness, national-team coach Colin Miller was forced to cobble together lineups seemingly with Band Aids and duct tape — and, let’s face it, Canada isn’t the first country you think about when it comes to depth. Heck, it’s not the 50th. Even before the team gathered for the pre-tourney training camp in Oxnard, Calif., there was no denying the bad omens that had made themselves evident. A roster announcement was delayed because two veteran players — midfielder Atiba Hutchinson and defender André Hainault — had to turn down their invites because of their unsettled club situations. They couldn’t risk the chances of getting injured at the Gold Cup, which could torpedo their hunts for new clubs. Hutchinson’s PSV Eindhoven contract had expired. “Atiba is a big loss to the team,” said Miller. “He’s in a tough situation… But it’s not an easy time for the European-based players, not if you’re out of contract at this time.” Hainault, who was out of contract after spending half a season with Scottish Premier League side Ross County, was 28 August/September 2013
also on the job search. He eventually found work with VfR Aalen in the 2. Bundesliga (German second division). In his last duties as interim coach of the Canadian national team before the arrival of new boss Benito Floro, Miller must have felt like he’d smashed 13 mirrors or seen 13 black cats. When you spend time with Miller, you get to know the vernacular that he inherited from the years he spent in Scotland. Whenever bad things happen, he’ll tell you that he’s been “kicked in the goolies.” Well, as a parting gift for the interim Canadian manager, fate put on an especially mean pair of Doc Martens. After weeks of back and forth with national-team general manager Morgan Quarry, striker Lucas Cavallini decided to remain in Uruguay, committed to his club career, rather than join Canada for the Gold Cup. Another kick to the groin. After readjusting for the losses of Hutchinson and Hainault — and forced to cope with Cavallini’s refusal — it didn’t take long for Miller to get more bad news. Randy Edwini-Bonsu, the speedster who was the brightest spot of Canada’s May friendly loss to Costa Rica, hurt his knee and, eventually, had to leave Canada’s pre-Gold Cup camp. His tournament was over before it began. And, after playing as a sub in the tournament opening loss to Martinique, forward Simeon Jackson asked to leave the Canadian team, and was granted his wish — as the then-unattached striker had found a new job opportunity with Bundesliga side Eintracht Braunschweig — and his new employers wanted him in their camp immediately. If that wasn’t bad enough, Miller had to send captain Will Johnson home after the opening loss. Johnson had to leave André Hainault, was with the team in Edmonton for an International Friendly against Costa Rica on May 28th. Hainault, who was out of contract after spending half a season with Scottish Premier League side Ross County, couldn’t risk injury at the Gold Cup.
Between his players’ contract issues, injuries and illness, national-team coach Colin Miller was forced to cobble together lineups with Band Aids and duct tape.
the Martinique game due to illness, and he didn’t get better. Miller had been counting on Johnson, who is having a career year with the Portland Timbers, scoring six times and playing every minute of the team’s first 17 games of the MLS season. “He has a winning mentality, a fierce competitor,” Miller said of Johnson when he announced the team’s Gold Cup roster. “If I would have worked with him before, from day one he would have been my captain.” But the Canadian coach’s script went out the window before the Martinique
game. Yes, Johnson played a half in that opening-game loss, but he was far from healthy, and was a mere shadow of the player he’s been in MLS this year. Pulling Johnson from the match, and then sending him back to Portland, was a mercy hook for a player who was simply too sick to compete. But the flu bug wasn’t done with the Canadian team. After the Martinique game, Russell Teibert was bedridden with “fever and the shakes.” (Miller’s words.) Teibert missed the team’s second round robin match, a 2-0 loss to Mexico, and the game that eliminated Canada from the Gold Cup, the 0-0 draw with Panama. A month before the tournament, and you might have picked Teibert, Johnson, Jackson, Edwini-Bonsu, Hainault and Hutchinson as likely members of Canada’s Gold Cup starting XI. “(Goalkeeping coach) Paul Dolan and I are getting warmed up and getting ready to go,” Miller joked in the midst of his roster crisis. Now, while the absences, injuries and sicknesses were cruel twists of fate, there is some criticism that can be levelled at Miller and technical director Tony Fonseca. It was Fonseca who compiled the 35-player long list. From that, Miller had the power to choose his 23-man roster. Miller could pick the paint, as long as they came from the palette that was provided to him by Fonseca.
But it was Miller who made the curious decision to add Nana Attakora, who was recovering from a concussion, to the roster. Attakora hadn’t recovered sufficiently to even leave the San Jose Earthquakes, so that gamble ended up being a wasted spot. But Fonseca didn’t help Miller. With a 35-man list, two or three of the picks should have been saved for depth players who could have readily answered the calls as injury replacements. With all of the roster upheaval, Miller was able to make only made one emergency call-up, D.C. United’s Kyle Porter. If Miller had a couple of FC Edmonton players or other NASL bodies at his disposal, they could have at least provided cover. In hindsight, we see that some of the spots on the long list should have been used for contingency players. Canada needed youthful replacement players who were just direct flights away from the Gold Cup. NASL was on its July break during the CONCACAF tournament, and the NASL players were all oh so close, flight-wise, to the games in the United States. They would have been there to at least provide cover. It’s a lesson learned. But, when Floro takes over, he needs to take all of those shiny jerseys and burn them. Or maybe a shaman has to be called down to the Canadian Soccer Association headquarters to give the place a decent spiritual cleanse. Or, maybe he needs to find an Italian grandmother who can rid the program of the evil eye.
Canada’s starting XI vs Panama – From front to back - Marcus Haber, Doneil Henry, Ashtone Morgan, Marcel de Jong, Pedro Pacheco, Kyle Bekker, Jonathan Osorio, David Edgar, Nik Ledgerwood, Milan Borjan, and Julian de Guzman
InsideSOCCER 29
Recently, the Quebec Soccer Federation (QSF) opened Pandora’s Box when it unilaterally banned kids wearing turbans from playing organized soccer in the province. While its intention of separating religion from soccer might be admirable, the approach was completely wrong.
THE
RELIGION SOCCER BY Tokunbo Ojo
OF
Photographs by Les Jones - Covershots Inc./ Uwe Welz
Without any prejudice, the process underpinning the QSF’s turban ban was another reaffirmation that Canada’s notion of multiculturalism is lost in the province of Quebec. But that’s a topic for another time. For now, I am interested in the interwoven relationship between sports and religion, and the challenges of separating the two. Without playing to the gallery, let’s admit that sports and religion are like Siamese twins. And as far as organized soccer is concerned, it emerged as an appendage of religious institutions in many parts of the world. For instance, in England, several of the current teams in the English premier and championship league were either started by churches or established in partnership with them. These teams include Manchester City, Aston Villa, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, Queens Park Rangers and Liverpool, to name a few. The same could also be said about the evolutionary trend of organized soccer in Italy, Scotland, and many other nations. From the outset, there have been close ties with faith groups. In particular, religious establishments were very influential in the global diffusion of the ‘beautiful game’ to the innermost parts of the world in the late 18th and 19th century. Specifically, Christian missionaries introduced the game to many colonies of the British Empire in Africa and 30 August/September 2013
TFC’s Luis Silva
Canadian Men’s National team member Julian de Guzman
South Asia where they used it as a tool of discipline, teaching and empowerment. While missionaries’ use of soccer in this context was problematic, given the adverse effects of colonial rule on the indigenous people in these regions, it was also one of the non-violence tools that the colonized people re-appropriated and used in the anti-colonial movement, especially in North Africa. As a result of its historical connection to the game, religion continues to manifest itself in the contemporary era in the form of ritual, sacred belief, iconic symbols, and verbal gestures on the field of play and around the stadiums. Brazilian Kaka’s iconic undershirt’s message, “I belong to Jesus,” remains one of the major highlights of the 2007 UEFA Champion League Cup final between his team, AC Milan, and Liverpool. It was his way of saying ‘thank you’ to Jesus Christ for the gift of life as well as to propagate the gospel of the Lord to the world that has come to idolize soccer as a religion. Whenever Chelsea’ Demba Ba scores, he goes down and gives thanks to Allah. Franck Ribery of Bayern Munich has a ‘trademark’ gesture of raising his hands to Allah whenever he steps on the field. Provided they are cognizant of others’ sensibility, there is little that can be done to deny them the right to exercise their faiths. Granted FIFA might frown at the display of religious message and symbol. It is an act that has become an engraved element of the modern game, and transcends any one faith. At the Camp Nou (FC Barcelona’s home field), there is a chapel in the players’ tunnel. It is part of the club’s historical heritage and the
Catalan identity. For the standpoint of Swiss-born French philosopher, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, all these are elements of “civil religion.” That is a moral and spiritual foundation upon which the game is anchored. It encompasses all religious faith, and identities. For what it’s worth; all races, faith, gender, colour and people are part of the wonderful world of soccer. That’s one of the reasons that it is called the beautiful game. Individually or collectively, we have all fashioned our level of acceptance and developed diverse belief systems to suit our own worldviews of the game. Be it in understanding why the sprinkling of holy water on the pitch is a must-do ritual for Giovanni Trapattoni, former Italian player and coach, or in embracing the Iranian women playing with their Hijabs at international competitions. This is where common-sense and self-regulation prevail. We all understand the limitation of our boundaries of expression, and have ensured so far that the beauty of the game is not violated in the process.
Toronto FC’s Torsten Frings InsideSOCCER 31
Colm Muldoon - Director of Soccer Operations and Head Coach
Kingston FC is the most surprising team in the Canadian Soccer League. Kingston is home to just 160,000 people and best known as Canada’s first capital, as well as for the maximum security Kingston Penitentiary.
KFC
SO GOOD!
Words and Photographs by Les Jones – COVERSHOTS INC.
It has never before had a professional soccer team, although various consortiums have explored the possibility over the past 10 or so years without being able to make a financially viable case. Kingston did boast one of the earliest organized association football teams, the Kingston Rifles Foot Ball Club. Queen’s University regularly played the University of Toronto as far back as the 1880s, winning the Central Ontario Football League championship several times in that period. They also supplied Harry Pirie, a half back, to the rep teams that played the American Association in 1886 and 1887 and to the historic Canadian team that successfully toured Great Britain in 1888. It also regularly hosts the Canadian national soccer and rugby teams, usually in sold-out Richardson Stadium, and has a thriving youth soccer scene led by the Cataraqui Clippers. Kingston is also one of the nicest cities in Canada with waterfront and charming countryside, history and a Junior‘A’hockey team, attractive limestone buildings and respected hospital facilities, and good restaurants and a lively entertainment scene. Its residents span the range from retired politicians and professors to university students and creative artists. Kingston also has both a soccer 32 August/September 2013
pedigree and a soccer-supportive population. But top of the CSL?! Midway through the season, the team is ahead of defending champions Toronto Croatia having scored an average of four goals at each home game. It also boasts the league’s leading scorer of 2013, Frenchman Guillaume Surot who joined from the University of Quebec. Even without him, when he was out injured, Kingston FC began the second half of the season by beating Serbian White Eagles 6-0, coasting through the second half after taking a 5-0 interval lead. In the equivalent fixture in 2012, its inaugural Division One season, Kingston lost 7-3. The team has come a long way since the opening home game in Kingston, when it played under the name Prospect FC and was embarrassed 9-1 in a second division match at Tindall Field by TFC Academy – a team whose players were all aged under 16! That season, Prospect won just four games out of 22 finishing in the bottom three. What turned a no-hoper into a championship contender? Everything. The original owner, Jimmy Hamrouni ran into financial problems resulting in his lawyer Lorne Abugov talking over the franchise, much to his own surprise. The
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Register Now! 1 866 898.8141 www.brystinternational.com key move was recruiting Colm Muldoon, an A-level coach, as Director of Soccer Operations and Head Coach although the credit for his coming to Canada can be attributed to the twinkle in the eye of Belleville school teacher Allison Ross whom he met in New York. Muldoon, a native of Athlone in the Republic of Ireland, had worked in various capacities, on and off, with US college teams and soccer academies since 2005, including the New York Red Bulls. 2013 is his first full season with Kingston. A strength and conditioning specialist, he attributes the team’s success to comprehensive pre-season training and improved fitness - “Soccer is fitness.” He also almost completely reworked the roster, retaining half-a-dozen squad members and signing a United Nations of players. The players hail from 13 countries, from Brazil to Romania and Kenya to the Czech Republic, and even include a current Guyanese international. Many approached the club looking for a job and Muldoon obviously has an eye for talent. Kingston’s 2012 top-scorer Mademba Ba (no relation to his Chelsea and Senegalese namesake, although both are lethal strikers) - now rarely makes the team. Muldoon’s teams are fluid. They are composed, move the ball quickly, create opportunities and are not afraid to shoot. They are thinking teams; they anticipate well, are rarely offside and don’t lose possession. Kingston FC plays smart, perhaps not surprising when half a dozen of the squad are students or
graduates of Queen’s University, and a total of 14 current or former Canadian Interuniversity Sport players from eight universities make up the squad. Abugov, a successful communications lawyer from Ottawa and a Chelsea fan, has been involved in soccer for many years with the Ottawa International Club. A Director of Women’s Recreational programs, he also coaches a women’s recreational team and plays old-timer soccer. He knew the Kingston team had to be dramatically improved and to be more locally based (just 6 of the 40 players last year were from the surrounding area). “We had to put the drama and mediocrity behind us and lay down some roots,” he says. The upturn in the team’s fortunes has certainly improved the life prospects of one octogenarian - Abugov’s former Carleton University journalism mentor, Joseph Scanlon, minority owner in the previous organization, and current partner and president. “The 2012 team took 10 years off my life, and the 2013 team added 10 years,” he says. Abugov agrees that success has come from aggressive recruiting and a change in recruitment policy: “The average age of the players is up from 22 to 24.” “They’re also extremely fit,” he adds. He’s learned a lot about management in the past 12 months and has had his share of surprises. He is puzzled and disappointed by the CSA’s decision to de-sanction the league (subsequently deferred to 2014), likely on the verge of
its most successful season ever, to pursue its own regional development league. “I can see the benefits of a league for 18-23 year olds, but where do the players go from there?” he asks. He, along with other franchise owners, believes the solution is to retain the CSL first division and to run another division as the Ontario Super League for 18-23 year olds. Whatever the outcome, Stan Adamson at the CSL, insists the league will still be functioning next year. However successful it is on the pitch, the Kingston team is struggling at the gate. Tickets for the Queen’s West Campus are just $10 and although Croatia attracted a claimed record crowd of 650, average attendance is under 100. That’s a little surprising given the team’s performance; and with annual expenditures in the $200,000 range, it’s not a good business proposition. However, as the team enhances its profile, it won’t be surprising if it starts drawing capacity crowds. And having tasted success, it may be hard to displace. After all, it has borrowed the motto of the local regiment - the Princess of Wales’ Own - NUNQUAM CEDE (Never Surrender!). This team is not in the mood to take prisoners. Don’t be surprised if it locks up the championship!
InsideSOCCER 33
COACH DAVE: MY CORNER
PUTTING A
FRUSTRATING BEHIND ME SEASON BY DAVE KENNY
For those of us who play outdoor soccer in the spring and summer, the season is at least half over. For some of us, it’s more over than we’d like. By the time you read this, my season will be over, or at best I will be preparing for the team’s end of season party. It seems far too early to be talking about the end of the season and it is frustrating. In fact, this has been probably the most frustrating season of my coaching career. I have been frustrated with the players, frustrated with the schedule, our level of play and even the refereeing. At times I have wondered if it’s all worth it. But then, fortunately, I remember why I do this thing called coaching. I remember why I give up summer vacations, family time, winter breaks and why I spend hours on the road to and from training and games. I remember the players who did something today they could not do yesterday. I remember the joy when 34 August/September 2013
a player scores with a foot he used to use just to stand on. Most importantly, I remember my parents who gave up so much time for me, my teammates and our community. I remember that I am giving back for all the years my parents and coaches dedicated to me. Those are the things that keep me going in times of frustration. My frustration started before the snow melted this year and has progressed since that time. I am frustrated, but I am not a quitter! So how do I, as a coach, deal with the frustration itself before it drives me crazy? The answer is simple. What I CANNOT control, I have to put out of my mind. What I CAN control requires a new plan. As a result, I have
adjusted my pre-season goals and altered the development plan for my players. Playing in the Western Ontario Youth Soccer League (WOYSL) L3 division, there are only 7 teams registered. The league administrators decided playing home and away games with each team in the league would make for an acceptable schedule. That tops out at a measly twelve game schedule. (Incidentally, last year, we also had a seven team league. We played each team three times, for a total of eighteen games). Twelve games are NOT acceptable for the U14 age group and calibre of play and it is the fewest number of games I have ever played in a season, as a player or as a coach. Twelve games are fewer games than house league programs in most clubs. When this year’s schedule was originally released, I contacted my club representative and asked that a complaint be filed with the league, which it was. I also contacted other coaches in the league for support in expanding the schedule. I received just two responses.
One coach agreed that a twelve game schedule was too short but eighteen was too long with “all the travelling we have to do.” (The WOYSL L3 league contains teams from Windsor to Guelph, resulting in a travel time of up to 31/2 hours each way). The other coach who responded indicated that the LTPD was to blame. His thoughts were that the league was cutting back on the number of games in order to fall under the 3 to 1 practice to game ratio. I countered that argument by stating the league has no idea how many training sessions each team has per week
and the LTDP really does NOT apply to anyone over the age of twelve anyway. (I have written previously of how players born before 2001 are the “forgotten ones” under the new program). The bottom line is it is easier to operate a twelve game schedule over a sixteen week season than it is to operate an eighteen game schedule in the same time frame. League fees charged are still the same amount (approx. $500) whether you play 12 or 18 games. Same money, less work. I am always conscious of the amount of money parents pay out over the course of a season and I always want to make sure a parent feels they get good value for their money. This year, parents in our club paid out $800 for winter training and summer registration fees before the season even started. Add to that gasoline bills, hotels and meals- it can add up in a hurry. Part of my pre-season preparation is the selection of tournaments. Generally I try to participate in one tournament a month. Tournaments not only create a great opportunity for teams to bond, but they also create an opportunity to play against teams you have not seen before (not to mention establishing and building life long memories). For instance, when I was 15, we won a tournament in Chatham, New Jersey by one corner kick to nil in overtime. I have no idea how we did in the league that year but I fondly remember the tournament and the quirky way we won. That memory will surely be with me for life. One of my favourite
tournaments, (and NOT just because the manager receives a free sample of Niagara’s finest upon registration), has been the Grape and Wine Cup in St. Catharines, Ontario. It is a well run tournament that has been my “yearend” tourney for a number of seasons. My teams, for some reason, have also had reasonably good success in St. Catharines. Since it is scheduled for the second weekend in September, it is often the last chance to have the team together before hockey and other winter commitments take over. This year I was expecting to finish as usual. That was until the league schedule was produced. My 12 game league schedule ends the second week of August. This would be great if my players were heading to university, but unfortunately most are just entering high school. I cannot see keeping the players together for a month after the season ends just to play in a tournament; so unfortunately, we will be passing on the Grape and Wine this year. Frustrating, but not something I can control, so I have put it behind me. Due to the new player development plan introduced at my club, any players looking to play travel team soccer this summer were required to participate in the winter development program. I have no problem with that and I am pleased with the development strides made by numerous players in the program. What was disappointing, however, was the number of players who dropped out of the rep program because they could not commit to the winter training. Traditionally, as players get older, participants in winter programs drop off dramatically. (This is something that will need to be addressed by the club in the very near future). As a result, only nine players returned from last year’s team. Frustrating, but not something I can control, so I have put it behind me. To make matters worse, and as a result, adding to the frustrating level, as the new season approached, one of the returning players decided he could not make the commitment necessary to play L3 and dropped out. Suddenly, we entered the League Kick Off Cup with just 8 returning players. Still feeling confident with the talent we had, I anticipated a good start to the season. Just ten minutes into the first game, InsideSOCCER 35
Changing attitudes can be a difficult task, especially when dealing with teenagers.
our centre back twisted awkwardly going into a tackle and jammed his leg. The result was a torn ACL and our first season ending injury. A month later we lost another player with a broken leg. Frustrating for the coach but equally frustrating for two of the most dedicated players I have ever coached. Frustrating, but not something I can control, so I have put it behind me. Even the referees have frustrated me this year with some of the most mysterious calls I have ever seen. Frustrating, but not something I can control, so I have put it behind me. The frustrations for me have continued on the field. I have never seen a team give up so many weak goals from corner kicks, (where the smallest man on the field heads home the winner in the last minute) dropped saves or breakaways from a failed offside trap. If you have been unfortunate enough to watch TFC late game collapses, you could easily be watching my team. Now would be a great time to use a lot of excuses and “throw in the towel.” However, I am still loving what I do and my commitment to the fourteen players I have left continues. This is an opportunity for me, the coach, to challenge myself and get the most out of the players. It has been frustrating, but it is something I CAN control! Inconsistencies on the field have provided me with a lot of topics for training sessions but it has started to frustrate some players and less importantly (in my humble opinion), the parents. I have heard parents’ comments from the other 36 August/September 2013
side of the field. (As much as I ask the parents not to discuss their child’s play with them, I know it happens. This can have a long lasting negative effect on the player). As a coach, it is MY responsibility to make sure the team stays positive as a whole. It is MY job to make sure the mistakes on the field do not linger long enough to alter the confidence of the individual players. So how will I do this? I will draw on my experiences as a coach as well as my experience as a player and most importantly listen to the advice of others. One of the biggest mistakes a coach can make is to assume he knows everything already. I have been fortunate enough to work in the soccer business all of my adult life. I have attended many tradeshows and coaching sessions that I never would have been able to attend otherwise. No matter how basic or complex each session I have attended may have been, I have always come out learning something. As long as a coach realizes he can continue to learn, he can pick up tips or knowledge from others. With this in mind, I have realized I need to change a few priorities in my development plan. Plan of Attack My new player and team development strategy calls for the reduction to the frustration level of the players. First, I need to eliminate the biggest source of the frustration, weak goals conceded. We have been working in training on better defensive coverage. Suggestions for improvements came from a couple of trusted fellow coaches, my father and
brother, who happened to witness one of our worst performances of the season. In addition to reducing the goals against, I must also change the attitude of some of the players. Changing attitudes can be a difficult task, especially when dealing with teenagers. I have chosen to use peer pressure to try to accomplish this. Following a team discussion and some probing by the coaching staff, the players decided amongst themselves to ban negative statements. With a relatively inexperienced team, player ego and confidence has been shaken and is very fragile. Our team has now committed to “positive reinforcement” only. The players have re-committed themselves to an “All For One” mentality. It is important for me, as the coach, to also build on the new positive atmosphere. I am currently in the process of mid season reviews with the players. Players need feedback as to where they are in their development and therefore all coaches should consider this for their teams. Before the season started, I had discussions with all players regarding their strengths and areas needing attention and development. Now is the time to let the players know how they are succeeding and to establish new development targets. Each player set his own personal goals and collectively the players set team goals. In keeping with the “positive reinforcement” team rule, it is important that my player reviews be supportive in nature. I am using very little “negative” language and emphasizing areas where each player has improved. It is also important to leave each player
with a NEW personal target. This will help keep the player focused on personal development as part of the teams overall development. As he realizes his progression, his self-confidence will also grow. In terms of MY pre-season goals, I had some of the same objectives that the players set themselves, including a league championship and a tournament victory. I also set a personal goal to make sure every player improved over the course of the season. After the first half of the season, some goals have needed to be adjusted as they are now unattainable. Winning the league is not going to happen, or at least is highly unlikely. We have drawn three of our first
seven games and only have one victory. (Remember those last minute goals conceded)? With only a twelve game schedule, we are running out of time. Our team play has improved of late so now I am looking for a top three finish. Unfortunately, we have no more games against the top two teams so we will need help if we are going to close the gap between us and them. In terms of my personal goal to help every player improve, I believe I am succeeding. The individual ball skills have improved, player positioning has improved and our team play and results...well we are still working on that. What I have noticed is that the players are less frustrated which means they
see the improvement. A benefit of less frustration is less whining. Less whining means fewer players yapping at the referee, which means fewer yellow cards. What about that goal of a tournament victory? So far we have had two semi final appearances but no success. Two more tournaments are in the plans including the Brossard Challenge in Quebec. Hopefully we will achieve our goal. Unfortunately the Grape and Wine is not on the schedule for this year. Our league schedule makers took care of that. Frustrating!
DRILL OF THE MONTH: INVADERS SET UP • 40 x 20 yard grid with 10x20 end zones • Two even teams of players (5 or 6 players per team works best), one team in each end zone
• Players need good quality passes to maintain possession
Why This Works • Players learn to make quick decisions on where to pass
• One ball per team
• Players should use a mixture of short and long passes to keep the ball away from the “invader”
START
Variations
• Players learn to control the ball with minimal touches
• Number the players on each team 1 and up
• Limit the number of touches for each player
• Communication is improved as players must call for passes
• Players begin to pass the ball to teammates in numerical order using all the space in the end zone
• Change the number of invaders by calling two numbers at a time
• I.e. If 5 players per team, #1 passes to #2. 2 passes to 3...4 passes to 5, 5 passes to 1 and the cycle repeats
• Players learn to move to “space” to avoid the invader
40 YARDS
20 YARDS
• Coach yells out a number and that player from each team “invades” the other end zone trying to intercept a pass and kick the ball out of the endzone.the first player to do so, earns a point for his team. First team to score 10 points wins the game
Coaching Points • Encourage players to call for the ball. (players must pass in numerical order) • Encourage the players to switch the play to keep possession
10 YARDS
• Players must know where next pass will go before receiving ball 6 February/March 2012
InsideSOCCER 37
Two of Brazil’s favourite sons with similar names and contrasting lifestyles have both made names for themselves, several generations apart.
THE
ARCHITECTS
OF BRAZIL’S SUCCESS BY Les Jones, Covershots Inc.
One is a renowned architect, Oscar Niemeyer, his buildings known for their abstract forms & curves. The other, Neymar de Silva Santos Jr., shows his best form on the soccer pitch with his curving runs. Both are revered. Niemeyer born in Rio, died in 2012 aged 104. Neymar, from Sao Paulo, is just 21. Both are short in height - Neymar being just 5-foot-9 - but both are linked with high aspirations. Niemeyer was the foremost Latin American architect of the 20th century. Neymar is in line to be the next Messi. Niemeyer’s first marriage lasted 76 years. He married for the second time at
the age of 98. Neymar is single and has an illegitimate son, David Lucca. Niemeyer has 10 significant buildings in his inimitable style in the Rio de Janeiro metropolis. Most are unconventionally round edifices constructed of concrete and glass, often compared to spacecraft. Neymar now wears #10 for Brazil – the same as soccer legend Pele – and runs rings round opponents. He destroys otherwise solid defences with out-of-this-world skill. Niemeyer was a socialist and one-time President of the Brazilian Communist Party. He designed the Communist Party Headquarters in Paris and his first Niemeyer’s Museum of Contemporary Art in Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro
38 August/September 2013
major commission, a Church in Pampulha, Belo Horizonte was rejected by the local archbishop as “unfit for religious purposes.” Neymar, transferred this year for a reported $73 million (half to the player) is more of a capitalist. He is described as “the most marketable athlete on the planet.” Neimeyer’s buildings are better known than the man himself. Neymar is a showman, both on and off the pitch, and loves being the centre of attention. Even his hairstyle is famous. Niemeyer designed over 500 buildings but only one project in Spain, the $60million Niemeyer Centre in Aviles. It closed in 2012 a mere nine months after its inauguration because of financial issues. In May 2013, Neymar left Brazil to join Barcelona on a five-year contract and is thought to earn an annual income, with sponsorship fees, of well over $16 million. Niemeyer was one of the 20th century’s most inspired and innovative designers and was responsible for Brasilia, the nation’s new capital at an elevation of almost 4000 feet. Neymar hopes to inspire the Brazilian national team to new heights. Luiz Felipe Scolari, Brazil’s coach, has a blueprint for the country’s 2014 World Cup success. It centres on the artistry of Neymar, playmaker and lethal finisher and voted MVP at the recent Confederations Cup tournament. Both coach and player have designs on the World Cup trophy. Niemeyer, a sportsminded artist and architect, would have been delighted.
Neymar is in line to be the next Messi.
Neymar vs. Spain
4 February/March 2012
InsideSOCCER 39
TORONTO FC
ROTATING DOOR KEEPS TURNING AT TORONTO FC BY ARMEN BEDAKIAN
Photographs by Les Jones – Covershots Inc.
It’s the dog days of summer, and for Toronto FC, there is plenty of change in the air, now so very much hotter than the cool spring breeze that tickled the grass of the training fields in Orlando back in February. With half a season under his belt, Ryan Nelsen has completely changed the Toronto FC side and for good reason; plenty of players have come and gone and a club that needed a kick in the salary cap is finally getting down to the business of righting the ship. How to right a ship that, over seven seasons, has not performed up to the expected level of quality? Club President Kevin Payne recently said that the salary cap situation at Toronto FC was a concern, and in an effort to fix that, many familiar faces have left the club. Canadian midfielder Terry Dunfield was the first major casualty, released soon after recovering from a knee injury he 40 August/September 2013
picked up early in the season. Luis Silva was traded to D.C. United, with the black-and-red club claiming he would be the player that they will build around in the future. In their stead enters Matias Laba, the first major long-term signing this new regime has made. The Argentine recovering midfielder has shown very quickly that he is a quality option for the club and has the skills and the work ethic to thrive at Toronto FC. His partner in midfield, Jeremy Hall, has looked a player completely transformed. Last year, Hall was an average right fullback; this season, he is a model of efficiency and has earned his spot in central midfield.
Michael Thomas, a midfielder from Kansas, was signed to help round out the centre of midfield, too. Danny Califf, who came to Toronto FC and was heralded as the veteran presence so sorely lacking in Toronto FC’s backline, was instead quietly released from the roster. Califf retired from play and took up a role as a club scout, instead. The role of veteran fell, instead, on the shoulders of Toronto’s latest British signing, Steven Caldwell. Then came the sale of Darren O’Dea. The club captain and Ireland international suddenly missed an away game against
Sporting Kansas City, and after suffering a 3-0 loss, Toronto FC released a statement saying O’Dea had an offer from Ukraine and the club sent him back to Toronto to negotiate terms. The sale of O’Dea came partly because he is the single most expensive defender in the league and the most expensive non-Designated Player, too. Atlanta Silverbacks fullback Mark Bloom was picked up quickly after. These signings and departures are all part of a bigger plan. The official line at the club takes on the theme of “wait and see.” This is a team that is being overhauled from top to bottom, and the departures of fan favourites like Luis Silva, Terry Dunfield and Darren O’Dea speaks to the team’s new intentions, of balancing the books, creating a foundation for future success, and not overspending on players who are seen as excess to requirements. However, fan apathy has made the somewhat outrageous (if not undervalued) trade of Luis Silva into an insignificant blip in the Toronto FC timeline. Should not the discourse at least examine why Luis Silva was traded for so little? Is his value not worth that of another player? D.C. United came out and said almost immediately that Silva was a player that they would build their team
Terry Dunfield was the first major casualty, released soon after recovering from a knee injury he picked up early in the season
around. This is not a light statement for a team to make. It’s clear D.C. values Luis Silva, much like San Jose values Sam Cronin to this day, and yet, for some reason, that talent, quality, and, yes, that price point, is just not good enough for Toronto FC. If D.C. United can see the value in Luis Silva, why does Toronto FC not? Is it simply a difference of opinion in terms of style of play? It’s true that Ryan Nelsen does not utilize an attacking midfielder in his line up, preferring a flat 4-4-2. Yet, promises of a major attacking player would include a central attacking midfielder as part of the criteria – if not, the promised player(s) would be wingers or strikers. In terms of forwards, Toronto FC has plenty of players to call upon, including Danny Koevermans and Robert Earnshaw. As for wingers, Toronto FC is desperately short in the position and has been for years. Fair enough, then – Luis Silva, traded to D.C., to clear up cap space for Player X in Position X, and potentially for players to fill slots Y and Z, too. Good move, right? So why does it feel like Silva’s trade was premature or undersold? The fact that Silva was traded to Payne’s old team seems like D.C. was doing Toronto FC a favour by taking him off his hands rather than making a move of its own to improve the team; certainly, Toronto FC did not benefit as much as D.C. did, unless
the amount of allocation money the club picked up for him was significant enough to really help – and if it was, shouldn’t Darren O’Dea still be with the club? These are some of the tough questions Toronto FC has to face as they transition from last year’s side to this year’s foundation. Heavy contracts and players in excess positions are being sacrificed so that Nelsen can lay down the foundation for what will eventually be his Toronto FC team. As always, it will come down to consistency and unfortunately, Toronto has been consistent in one regard – their ability to consistently overhaul a team. The hope is, this time around will be the last, and the Toronto FC side that forms under Nelsen is one that can be playing together for years to come. Whatever the final product looks like, as of halfway through the 2013 season, Toronto FC is nowhere near finished – It’s time to get to work!
Matias Laba was the first major longterm signing by Club President Kevin Payne and company.
Luis Silva outruns Felipe Martins (left) and Alessandro Nesta (right) of the Montreal Impact. Silva was recently traded to D.C. United. InsideSOCCER 41
FC EDMONTON
Eddies Gear Up For NASL Fall Season BY STEVEN SANDOR
Photographs by Uwe Welz/FC Edmonton
In North America, the idea of having not one, but two training camps in a soccer season is unusual. But, FC Edmonton’s coaches and players found little trouble getting used to the idea of kicking off a training camp just a couple weeks after finishing their last game of the season.
Welcome to the world of the new NASL, where the season is divided into spring and fall sessions. The Eddies finished seven points behind the Atlanta Silverbacks in the spring season table; the Silverbacks’ reward for taking the crown is the right to host the Soccer Bowl in November. But, come the first weekend of August, the standings are set back to zero, and eight teams will fight to be the one who will get the chance to beat the Silverbacks on their own turf. But, before the season starts in August, the Eddies went back to training camp through July; included on the, ahem, preseason schedule were two friendlies against Minnesota United FC. But, the July camp wasn’t a lot like the one held in February. Really, the players had only about 10 days off before reconvening; so they came into camp in pretty close to game shape. The camp was more about refinement than a boot camp. Still, the Eddies came into camp knowing changes would be made. Just minutes after the Eddies triumphed 3-1 over Minnesota in their final game of the spring season, coach Colin Miller unveiled that two players — defender Adrian LeRoy and striker Elvir Gigolaj — had been cut from the team. And, the decision was made to demote Ajeej Sarkaria back to the reserve program. The moves opened up three roster spots, which all have to be used on domestic players; that is, under NASL rules, players who qualify as American or Canadian. What to do with those open slots? Miller and the Eddies have to address the team’s offensive woes; in the spring season, FCE scored just 13 times in 12 games, the lowest total in the league. Wes Knight broke his ankle in April but is expected to be back for the August fall season.
42 August/September 2013
Chris Nurse
Of its 12 matches, five ended in draws. Had the Eddies been able to find three or four more goals, to turn three or four of those draws into wins, and they are battling for first in the NASL right to the end. “Being more clinical in front of goal is the key to our success,” said veteran midfielder Chris Nurse. “When you look at the teams in the top of the league, they are the teams that can score the goals. Atlanta is a free-flowing offensive team. And San Antonio came up the standings when (Hans) Denissen started scoring for them (the Scorpions finished the season on a five-game win streak, and ended up tied with Carolina for second, a point behind Atlanta). “Everybody is disappointed how we finished the first half of the season. For the talent we have on this team, not contending for the title is a very disappointing thing.” The Eddies will also get two players back into the lineup; and they’ve been gone for so long that they’ll feel like new signings. Veteran North American pro and ex-Whitecap Wes Knight was a high-profile signing for FC Edmonton in the off-season. But, he broke his foot in an April match on the road in Minnesota and was mothballed for the remainder of the spring campaign. He’s expected to be back for the August fall-season curtain-raiser. “This has to be the most frustrating
season I’ve had,” admitted Knight. “But, as frustrating as it has been for me, it has been a great learning process. I think I have learned to become a better teammate, to be able to help the players with the mental part of the game, because that’s pretty well all I could do.” And, the Eddies will welcome Trinidad and Tobago centre back Carlyle Mitchell back to the fold. Before the kickoff of the NASL campaign, Mitchell was sent to Edmonton on what was supposed to be a season-long loan. But his parent club, the Vancouver Whitecaps, facing an injury crisis, recalled Mitchell in June. Mitchell actually hasn’t played for FC Edmonton since May 26, when he turned his ankle on the Clarke Stadium turf in a 1-0 loss to Fort Lauderdale. But, Mitchell is expected to begin the fall season in Edmonton, back in the NASL where he will get some needed minutes. Up until the May 26 injury, Mitchell had played every minute of every NASL match for the Eddies in 2013. Mitchell would have felt at home on the first day of the July “preseason.” Despite the Eddies’ trouble putting balls in the net, the focus in the first days of July camp was on defence. We can go on and on and on about how the Eddies’ struggled to score; but, despite the lack of punch up top, the club finished the spring season with a +1 goal difference. And that’s because the defensive line,
marshalled by Northern Irish import Albert Watson, was the best in the league. The defence was breached only 12 times in 12 spring matches. Maintaining that level of excellence was a key part of the early days of camp. “I think we are the best defensive team in NASL, and I think the numbers support that,” said FC Edmonton assistant coach Jeff Paulus. “And our first priority is that we have to continue with that.” But the coaches and players are hopeful that their final game of the spring season - that 3-1 win over Minnesota serves as an epiphany for a franchise that has been offensively challenged for the last one and a half years. In that game, the Eddies took a quick 2-0 lead, and had periods of sustained pressure against a Minnesota side that traditionally has given them fits. “I think we can build from our last game, we created a lot of chances, we were finding players in the box. We put in a bit of a system change, we had personnel going forward,” said Paulus. Still, working on training-camp routines in the space of a few weeks between seasons, it’s a little bit strange, right? “It’s unusual,” Paulus said with a wry smile. “It’s really not that bad,” said Nurse. “We were only gone for 20 days; if you get an injury, you can be off for 10 days, so it’s not that much different.”
Adrian LeRoy was cut from the team after the Eddies final game of the spring season.
InsideSOCCER 43
CAN-SO-REF
Common sense rules equipment guidelines By Don Wiles Safety on the soccer field should be of paramount concern to soccer referees. In a previous article, I reviewed field inspection. Today I want to visit Player’s Equipment. Law #4 in the FIFA law book covers Players Equipment. It is only two pages long and the only law shorter is Law #11 – Offside. Yet this law can cause considerable controversy at the field and most of the problems revolve around referees having different opinions about the safety of a player’s equipment. A goal of this article is to narrow the range of opinion so that referees in general are making the same or very similar decisions. Law #4 requires a player to wear a jersey, shorts, stockings, shin guards and footwear. Basically, a player cannot play naked and must wear shoes. That is not much help! The referee needs a bit more. The jersey must have a unique number. Shin guards are prescribed to protect the player from inadvertent kicks in the shins. There is no quality requirement. Look at what the pros wear and you wonder why they bother. If a parent asks my opinion, I always recommend a complete pullon shin guard with an Achilles protector at the ankle. In the kids’ game, there is always a great deal of inadvertent kicking from the front and from behind. Stockings are an important piece of safety equipment. They are not just for looks. Today’s shin guards are made of polycarbonate plastic. The edges although blunt can bruise or cut. To make the plastic 44 August/September 2013
stronger the parts are molded with ridges and ripples. These areas can also bruise or cut. That is the safety reason for the stocking. A shin guard covered with a stocking tends to slide past on contact and not dig into tissue. A coach may want the socks up so the team looks good. The referee demands them up for safety. Some players have trouble keeping their socks up and use tape to hold the stocking in place. The Law Book states that if tape is used it must be of the same colour as the stocking. This guideline is great for professional games but is not required for the vast majority of the games in the province. The goal is to have kids playing the game and having fun. A bit of black tape over a red sock is not a concern. (The same thing applies to black compression shorts under yellow shorts. This involves Law #18.) Footwear is required. However, very little is provided as to what is safe footwear. Now the statement, “in the opinion of the referee” becomes very important. Over the years I have heard many claims. For example, some people claim a player cannot play with metal cleats. That is not true. As long as the cleat is of a reasonable diameter it should not cut another player. A metal cleat is basically the same as a plastic cleat. Are golf shoes
acceptable? No! Are track shoes with the long thin metal spikes acceptable? No! My recommendation to parents is to purchase a general-purpose soccer boot with multiple cleats on the bottom. I do not recommend the six-cleat boot worn by most pros because by August our fields are baked solid and the six-cleat shoe is almost useless. Keep it simple! If the cleats are of a reasonable diameter and not broken or sharp, the boot is acceptable. Law #4 requires a player to wear shorts. Here the average referee is required to be sensitive to various cultures. Some young ladies will not wear shorts. There are alternatives! The player can wear leggings underneath the shorts or the player may wear a long training pant instead of the shorts. As long as the player is wearing shin guards, get on with the game. Sticking with the culture theme, some cultures require young ladies to wear a head covering. This situation is a challenge for a referee when a player’s safety is a concern. I have worked a number of games with young ladies wearing hijabs. There were no problems. By working with the player, we made sure the hijab was tight to the head and tucked into the jersey. When asked, I recommend a sports hijab. They are far superior and are not unlike a helmet. Helmets are becoming more common in soccer. I believe they are a good addition and provide excellent protection, particularly for younger players. The helmet must be soft and pliable. Hockey, lacrosse and bike helmets
es
ines
h ? o t o n s s s t
. e g e s y e g
, o a s a s . e d d d
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are not acceptable. There was a time when players were not permitted on the field wearing eyeglasses. Times change! Eyeglasses are permitted. Try to get the player to have a retaining strap that holds the glasses in place. My recommendation to parents is to get a pair of sports glasses with a swept back design. My son the optician indicates that these frames are readily available, reasonably priced and will fit most prescriptions. With this item, the referee can be very helpful to the parent of a child wearing glasses. The goal is to prevent a player from being cut by the frame of the glasses not stopping the child from playing the game. Jewelry continues to be a problem on the amateur soccer field. Some players forget. Others just ignore the requirement of no jewelry. Some of the players look like Mr. T arriving at the field. Earrings, nose rings and bracelets must be removed. The exception is the medic alert bracelet (necklace). I carry a roll of clear adhesive tape in my bag. The bracelet is taped so it cannot cut or trap a finger. Please note that there is no such thing as a religious necklace or bracelet. If the referee can see it, it must be removed! Rings are a huge hazard. Rule of thumb (rule of finger) if you are wearing a ring, be prepared to lose the finger. Get them off! The plastic fund raising bracelet is an ingenious moneymaking device. They cost three cents to produce and can be sold for $5 to $20 a piece. They are dangerous on the field. It is very possible for another player to get a finger caught in the bracelet. The finger will likely be ripped backwards with considerable damage being the result. Have them removed! There are some religious concerns. Some male groups do not cut their hair.
The hair is wound up into a top notch on the top of the hair. Every time I have asked how this is accomplished, I have found it is done with an elastic type band. There is no safety hazard. If you see a stickpin or other pins holding the hair in place, they have to
come out. The same applies to anyone wearing bobby pins or barrettes. They must be removed. Skullcaps may not be held
in place with bobby pins. My recommendation is to remove it or use double sided tape. To me, the tape is a common sense solution. Hard casts are always a concern. Hard is the wrong word. Massive is a better description. An arm with a fibreglass or plaster cast has three times the mass of a naked arm. When an arm with a cast strikes a player, the energy is three times the energy of an arm without a cast. It amounts to three times the damage. CSA and OSA are very definitive. Casts are not permitted no matter how much bubble wrap surrounds the cast. The only items permitted are supports that are made of soft pliable materials. The same reasoning applies to face masks. The ones made from solid polycarbonate plastic are not permitted. The soft nylon types pose no threat. Knee braces are becoming more popular. They can be problematic. Check them! Are there any protruding rivets or screws? The player is banned if this is the case. The newer braces have excellent designs. They tend to be all fabric on the outside and totally padded. If there is no hard plastic and they are totally padded, they do not even require a sock over them. Older braces often have areas of hard plastics with exposed rivets and screws. These ones require close scrutiny and they need a padded sock over top. This requirement is the same as for shin guards. If the plastic can bruise or cut, it must be covered with a protecting sock. See the pictures for the difference between older and newer braces. When you are dealing with playersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; equipment, Law #18 is your best choice for guidance. A little common sense goes a long way!
InsideSOCCER 45
BEHIND THE WHISTLE
RETAINING REFS In the last edition of Inside Soccer Magazine, there was a piece called Refereeing And Respect, which stated that we lose between 40 and 50% of referees every year in Ontario: “they walk away because of the constant yelling and criticism... from coaches and parents.” In my opinion, this is only partially right. There are other issues as well.
BY MIKE KENNY
Firstly, most young referees start at the club level. They take their Entry Level Course and are then thrown to the lions. The majority of clubs in Ontario put very little resources into referee development. They have structures in place to support coaches through paid Technical Directors and players through extra clinics, camps and training sessions, but very little is done to support referees. Most club Head Referees are paid very little and therefore only have time to handle game assignments and cover off games when referees cancel games. The OSA needs to encourage the clubs to put more emphasis on referee support. Secondly, this year, a club for which I do games adopted a computer system (at a cost of approximately $3000) to assign games. That money would have been better spent on a part time assistant referee who could go out and support/ mentor those young referees. This person should be a senior or retired referee, not an administrator. Computers cannot analyse if a referee can handle a certain game. A grass roots senior official could, because he has viewed their abilities. My 15 year old son is in his 3rd year of refereeing. Why? Because he has me there to support him and answer questions he may have. 46 August/September 2013
Thirdly, if a referee perseveres and starts to do games at a higher level, the Districts have a decent structure in place; but more could be done. Currently, referees can request assessments if they would like to progress. More assessments should be done on a regular basis to support these referees. Once a referee reaches this level, his/her financial and administrative commitment becomes greater. For example, they need to attend a fitness session. One day running around a track does not prove a referee’s fitness. When I was in Northern Ireland, we did not do fitness tests. We were assessed three times a year and the first thing the assessor looked at was ‘Match Fitness Level.’ As for the administrative side, referees get frustrated with the bureaucracy that occurs once they reach this level: computers, emails, caution reports, etc. Finally, the cost of refereeing is a deterrent. Going back to the young referee, he or she pays $85 for an Entry Level Clinic, approximately $100 for equipment and there is now a rumour that they will have to get a professional vulnerability check, which could cost up to $100. Vulnerability checks should not be required for referees as we are NOT in charge of children. Our job is to
uphold the Laws of the game. When you add up these numbers, referees could be out of pocket $285 before they even start refereeing. As a new referee, most of them do House League games which pay about $20 a game. In a 15 week season, refereeing one game a week earns the referee about $300, for a net profit of $15. If you were an 18 year old, would you go this route or just get a part time job? In conclusion, there are many more things the OSA could do to help support, develop and retain referees. Recently, the OSA created the Referee Development Committee, which it probably didn’t need to do. There is already the Ontario Soccer Referees Association (OSRA), which has always been there to support referee development. I encourage the OSA to utilize the OSRA expertise and experience. If there is any news regarding referee information that you would like to see published, please contact me at cansoref@gmail.com Views expressed are strictly those of the author and do not in any way represent those of InsideSOCCER Magazine. Mike Kenny is in charge of gathering and formulating content for CAN-SO-REF.
The ANB Academy traveled with two teams to England for 10 days at the end of July, 2013. The teams (U-12 & U-13) traveled to the Midlands area taking part in exhibition games, taking in the English football culture and competing in The Keele Cup.
ANB Academy Futbol
triumphs AT The 2013 Keele Cup The group of 27 players and 4 ANB Staff members visited the nearby town, Newcastle-under-lyme, toured Old Trafford (Manchester Utd. home stadium) and experienced the new National Football Museum located in the heart of Manchester. On the soccer field, the teams played two exhibition games, traveling to Fleetwood Town and Oswestry, Wales to play their games. Both teams won handily and the local teams provided good competition in preparation for the tournament. The U-12 team (2001 born; playing in the U-11 age group due to English age cut-offs) started the tournament with a convincing win against Airbus FC (Wales), but were ran into some questionable officiating in close losses to Stoke
City and Blackpool FC. They finished the tournament with a tie against an American team from NYC: ANB 4 - Airbus 0 ANB 3 - Stoke City (England) 4 ANB 3 - Blackpool FC (England) 4 ANB 2 - JIGS Academy (USA) 2 The U-13 team (2000 born; playing in the U-12 age group due to English age cut-offs) started the tournament slowly, squeaking out a last minute goal in their first game to tie Airbus. Then, the team worked hard to find close wins against Port Vale FC, The New Saints, Walsall FC, and a tie against Tranmere Rovers to put them through to the semi-finals. The semi-finals was a tense game,
ending in a draw and needing 7 players taking penalty kicks to decide the match against Blackpool FC.The final match, played with only 30 min. rest after the semi-final game, was dominated by ANB over Tranmere Rovers. ANB 2 - Airbus (Wales) 2 ANB 1 - Port Vale FC (England) 0 ANB 1 - The New Saints (Wales) 0 ANB 2 - Walsall FC (England) 0 ANB 1 - Tranmere Rovers (England) 1
Semi-final: ANB 2 - Blackpool FC 2 (ANB won on pks 7 - 6) Final: ANB 3 - Tranmere Rovers 1
The team’s achievement was highly regarded and their style of play was praised by all who saw the games. The player’s technical ability showed that, through proper training, Canadian players can be on par with their English counterparts. The group was congratulated for their efforts and their results, and most importantly, their conduct on and off the field. Several professional scouts were in attendance at the games and they indicated they are interested in following the development of the players in the coming years. “This is the third year participating in The Keele Cup. I am proud of the boys since we were so close in other age groups in previous years. The staff is also to be congratulated for training the team prior to the trip, and even during the trip. Overall, we are extremely proud to bring the trophy to this side of the Atlantic, to their achievements and their commitment to the Academy’s vision,” said Academy Director, Bassam Naim. ANB Academy’s vision is to become Canada’s leading futbol development organization. Its mission is to identify Canadian futbol talent, and to maximize the potential of players at any level, through professional coaching and training. For more information on the programs offered by ANB academy, check out our website site at www.anbfutbol. com or by telephone at 905-313-8661 or via e-mail at info@anbfutbol.com InsideSOCCER 47
CLUB NEWS After coaching a very successful team for four years, I knew it was time to find new challenging tournaments. A “travel” tournament was something I had been thinking of for the past couple of years and I knew that the time was right to do something special.
ICELAND’s REY CUP a growing experience
SUBMITTED BY Clive Spurgeon - Coach, Barrie Spirit U15 Girls and proud dad! I looked at Vancouver or Calgary but after working the costs associated with bussing and travel logistics it just didn’t seem the right fit. The success of the Women’s Olympic team started me searching for an International venue. I looked at the obvious Göteborg and Oslo Cups but the thought of nine days and the possibility of being done after five meant plans were going to be in limbo up until the team gets eliminated, making the travel experience uncertain. I found what turned out to be a diamond in the rough in the Rey Cup in Reykjavik, Iceland (www. reycup.is ). It is a four-day International tournament that is getting increased attention from other European countries. The sales pitch to my Barrie Spirit U15 Girls parents was simple. Would you rather pay for 2 hotel tournaments in Ontario ($500 per weekend once you factor in hotels food and travel gas) or give me airfare money for a once-in-a-lifetime trip? The parents, thankfully, choose the latter. Fortunately we had a total of 12 parents 48 August/September 2013
who join the group and they helped with chaperone and curfew duties. The Rey Cup charges a player/parent fee of 130 Euros ($200 Canadian) and 100 Euros per team. In return you get
a bus to pick you and return you to airport for arrival and departure. You also get accommodation for five nights, five breakfasts, three lunches and three suppers. The accommodation was in a public school classroom, with each participant receiving a foldaway bed with mattress, sheet and pillow. It wasn’t the Ritz Carleton but no one complained and other than late night chatter, it worked out to be the best bonding experience a team could hope to enjoy. The organizers
divided us into 2 rooms, males and females. We were lucky enough to stay across the hall from 2 teams from Norway and the girls got the cultural exchange I was hoping for. Our rooms were locked up upon our departure from the school and someone was always there to re-open them when we came back. We never had the need for transportation as the public city bus ($3.50 adults and $2 for students) stopped practically outside the school and took us to the City Centre. The organizers are looking to promote their tournament internationally and they were nothing short of exceptional in the way they treated all the International teams. We were provided with a local husband/wife couple who were our contacts throughout our stay. They were great people to see every day when they checked in with us at the school. They provided us with maps, schedules, ideas and logistics to get us around the city. The tournament starts with a parade of teams and finishes with a closing ceremony complete with medal
presentation. Over 3,000 were in the stands for both events. The tournament also puts on a pool party for the players in the thermal pool attached to the National stadium - over 1,400 15-year olds in one pool! Additionally, a disco or concert is put on for the teams. This year, it was a disco in a hotel ballroom. There were two suppers provided at the Hilton Hotel Conference Centre where teams had a 3 hour timeslot in which to fit in a buffet supper. The third supper was a BBQ in a local park, also adjacent to the National Stadium, where burgers, lamb and pork roasts were served with salads and drinks. Lunches and breakfasts were at the schools and were very good with good variety. All fields are within walking distance of the host schools and the longest we walked was about 750 metres. All the facilities were first class, with two stadium venues side by side. If you were lucky enough, as we were, to make it to the Gold medal match, you play in the National Stadium. Our referees for the finals were an all Danish crew. We fundraised through generous local businesses for the $200 entry fee
and all I asked the parents for was the airfare. Icelandair flies direct to Reykjavik four times a week from Toronto Pearson International Airport at a cost of $850 per person, depending how far in advance you book the tickets. I held the 15-year old girls accountable for $300 of earned money through babysitting, jobs, birthday money etc. to pay for a two-day sightseeing trip, which we did immediately prior to the tournament. This provided us with a private coach, guide, accommodation and meals for two days and one night, whitewater rafting and Glacier climbing, as well as the most breathtaking and diverse scenery you are likely to ever see. (www.arcticadventures.com ) Iceland is a country fluent in English (donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect to try to speak its language). Food prices and other essentials are expensive but given the all-inclusive price of the event, we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exceed our budgets.
While I am a firm believer that we should promote our own local tournaments, I also believe that if you have a team good enough and if you believe the Canadian game needs to be taken internationally, then this is an event you should consider. This truly was a life changing experience for many of our girls, both from a cultural and maturity growth standpoint. For several, this was their first time on an airplane and for others it was the first time away from parents for more than a couple of days. If you wish further information on this event please feel free to contact me at c.spurgeon@sympatico.ca
InsideSOCCER 49
Power FC hosted another successful visit by Academy Coaches and Scouts from Sunderland AFC and Fulham FC of the English Premier League.
Power FC WRAP-UP CAMPS
with Premier League Clubs Both clubs sent over their Academy Staff to run camps for the players of Power FC and other identified talent in Toronto. This year’s camps were held at Crescent School from June 24-July 12. Power FC has had an affiliation with SAFC for several years. Visiting Power FC this year was Academy Team Leader Carlton Fairweather, International Development Manager Gordon Chisolm, and Academy of Light Staff Coaches Fin Lynch, Ian Dipper, Stuart Brightwell, Lewis Dickman. The coaches were certainly impressed with the level of play on display and took note of the progression made by the players over the year. “The football this week was bright. The lads were enthusiastic, eager to learn, and hungry to do well,” commented Fairweather.
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50 August/September 2013
This marked the second consecutive year that Fulham FC have sent over Coaches and Scouts from their Academy. Before becoming an Academy Development Coach and Scout at Fulham FC, Stuart Holloway worked with the Power FC Academy teams. He was joined in Toronto this year with Chris Hatton and Grant Woolger. Several players from the camps last year were identified and went on to enjoy trials at both the SAFC Academy of Light and the Academy at Fulham FC. Power FC is a youth soccer academy in Toronto, Ontario. You can follow the progress of the U21 team and find information on all programs at www. powersoccer.ca. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter @PlayPowerSoccer.
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In the 2013 June/July issue of Inside Soccer magazine, I spoke about the OSA’s role in leading the significant change we are undertaking regarding our work with Districts and Clubs to deliver soccer across the province.
REFLECTING ON A
BY RON SMALE
SUMMER OF CHANGE FOR ONTARIO SOCCER Photographs Courtesy of the Ontario Soccer Association I’d now like to look back on a summer soccer season that was a pivotal first step in what will be a long-term but critically significant process for the future of our great game. Change is never easy and not everything has been rosy as we try to lead this culture shift of focusing on individual player skills, rather than medals, at the early ages. But I like a lot of what I’m seeing in my travels across the province—travels that have taken me in recent months from Ottawa to Windsor and up to Thunder Bay, with many stops in between. I’ll share some of the things that resonated most strongly for me during my Club visits:
Mississauga SC - Development Program - Huron Park 56 August/September 2013
FIFA Grassroots Soccer Conference In early June, the Association hosted a major four-day FIFA Grassroots Coaching Conference. 30 coaches from all over Ontario were invited to attend this clinic and in turn, take what they learned back to their Districts and Clubs. While it will take time for the impact to be felt, the feedback we have received is that the event was a huge success and those on hand will indeed now be able to reach out and connect with other coaches to ensure our youngsters are receiving the best coaching and individual development possible.
The introduction of Festivals One of the highlights of the summer season of 2013 has been the introduction of “Festivals” at the younger (U11 and below) ages. While on occasion there have been glitches in scheduling (and parents being understandably frustrated), by and large the Festivals have run smoothly. I’ve attended many personally and have been very pleased with the play on the field (including the use of smaller fields), as well as the attitude of coaches and parents on the sidelines. The focus was, quite properly, on teaching ALL the players how to play confidently with the ball at their feet, without an undue pressure to “win” games. Concerns over LTPD “no tournament” recommendation – and lost revenues One of the important mandates coming from our implementation of LongTerm Player Development (LPTD) has been, at the younger ages, the removal of tournaments and implementation of Festivals (U12 and below). This initiative will be a requirement in 2014 but was strongly recommended for this year. Because Districts had the option, some adopted different approaches and as a result, things such as travel permits sometimes became an issue because coaches could not take their teams to tournaments as they had in the past.
There was at times, we learned, a financial impact for Clubs as well. When I visited Quinte West, for example, I discovered that a longstanding tournament they hosted that usually attracted more than 150 teams saw a major drop-off in attendance at the youngest age groups. The host Club lost valuable revenue and we at the OSA need to be aware of these types of impacts as we manage change. Going forward, while the “no tournament” policy will remain in effect at the younger ages, we will aim to communicate more with our Clubs to see if we can help them as they plan to implement a certain number of “memorable events” to replace the traditional tournament format. On a personal level, I well recognize that Clubs need revenue to operate and to re-invest in their programs, so I will be particularly focused in the coming months around how we can be true to our LTPD philosophy while still helping Clubs keep certain local traditions alive. We need to continue on our Festivals path at the young ages, and ensure that we find the right balance between revenue realities and age-appropriate competition as we quite rightly focus on individual player development. Some Special Events Recently I was invited to attend the Special Olympic Hometown Games, hosted by the Clarkson Sheridan Soccer Club. What a tremendous event that
Torontotime FC’s- Torsten Frings Break FIFA Grassroots Soccer Course 4 February/March 2012
was! Watching the pure joy exhibited by the players throughout the day—win or lose—was heartwarming and a gentle reminder about what really matters. I can’t really do the event justice. It was that inspiring. Earlier in July, the Fergus-Elora and District organization hosted a special needs soccer festival in Fergus. I came away from that wonderful event feeling this is exactly the kind of endeavor we need to hold on a more regular basis. Parent behaviour and Respect in Soccer While we have had a few lingering instances of unacceptable parent behaviour this past summer, what I have witnessed first-hand and the reports I have received from several Districts is that the temperature has been dialed down significantly on the sidelines, and attitudes have been much improved—
especially at the much younger ages. The Festival approach has helped, though we recognize it will take time to nudge all parents to understand that negative sideline behaviour creates a toxic atmosphere for everyone and hurts their own children. Over 10,000 of our coaches have completed the “Respect in Soccer” program, but we must now be diligent in ensuring that our parents are exposed to this important program as well. We hope to be working in partnership with the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) in developing a “Parent program” to make this happen. Coaching development With the introduction of LTPD, the planning around our Soccer for Life Leagues and the new Ontario Player Development League (OPDL), it has been a busy time for our OSA technical and coaching department staffs. Over 200 community coaching courses (Active Starts, FUNdamentals, Learning to Train, Soccer for Life) have been offered this year, along with 30 pre-B coaching certification programs, three National B courses and a goalkeeper course. Staff is working to support the Club system and enhance our coaching programs to give our developing players the best possible learning environment at the Club level. Referees I have seen countless games again this summer and have been impressed with our referees. One concern is that we still continue to lose our officials (especially youngsters who have just become referees) annually at a rate of between 40 and 50%. This means we still have a ways to go when it comes to coach and parent behaviour, as those are the issues young referees raise when they tell us why they leave the game. The Respect in Soccer program—and actually living the values of that program—will be vital as we move ahead to make our game We also realize it has been a challenging time for our Clubs to embrace and implement change. This is perhaps especially so in the more rural and outlying areas of the province. We have also heard a lot of chatter about a supposed “gap” in league structure when it comes to where kids will play within the new competition InsideSOCCER 57
model once LTPD is fully implemented. Let me assure you there is no “gap.” Our Soccer for Life leagues at the Club, District and Regional levels will in fact be both more robust and competitive than ever to allow our athletes the flexibility and opportunity to develop – and displa – their talents and skills. The truth is that the OPDL, while a key element of the talented player pathway, is but a small component of the overall picture of youth soccer in the province. Grassroots soccer has always been and will remain the backbone of what we – and our Clubs—do. But we also know that our competitive leagues (Soccer for Life) are an invaluable part of the playing experience for youngsters and adults. Our technical staff is working to finalize the details of the pathway to ensure that all youngsters and adults at all levels of play will be competing – and loving their soccer experience. Stay tuned as more details on the competition model will be released this fall.
Team of Volunteers Clarkson Special Olympics
Embracing Ontario Academies One of the most important things the OSA has done in recent years has been working to integrate previously nonsanctioned, independent Academies within the OSA structure. While there still may be a feeling of distrust toward Academies on the part of some within the traditional Club structure, we have taken important first steps (including seeing approved Academies participating in major events like the Umbro Showcase) in building a much healthier relationship with Academies. There is still more work to do, but we are much farther ahead than ever before.
recent years and to communicate much more regularly with all our stakeholders. Sometimes, for whatever reason, our ongoing updates on various issues don’t reach the intended audience. (Please visit our web site at http://www.ontariosoccer. net) When visiting Clubs, Leagues and Districts for various events, I often talk at length with parents, hand out pamphlets on LTPD and try to find out what parents like—and don’t like—about what we at the OSA are doing. What I almost always find is that once we are able to explain why we are doing certain things (e.g. LTPD, smaller fields, Festivals and the OPDL) parents are one hundred per cent supportive because they now understand the rationale for what we are aiming to do. They no longer feel they are in the dark. No one likes to have to guess what’s going on, and in the absence of communication, misinformation can easily spread. We will continue to do all we can to listen and respond to the concerns expressed to us. That does not mean we will always be able to do what people ask, because leading change successfully is often difficult, and the OSA can’t be all things to all people. We represent 21 Districts and well over 600 Clubs across this great Province. But coaches, referees, parents, players, Club/District administrators and Boards of Directors, along with our countless invaluable volunteers, deserve to hear from us about things that matter to them.
Parents want – and deserve – information Some of you will have noticed that the OSA has tried to be more responsive in
Final thoughts The summer season of 2013 was an exciting one. Our Provincial teams (U15 and 16, boys and girls) all came away as
The integration of the TFC Academy into the OYSL Rather than feeling a sense of resentment from our Clubs, we have been thrilled to see the Toronto FC youth teams fit seamlessly into our current elite league structure (OYSL). The presence of teams who are part of a professional soccer operation has only enhanced the level of play that has been experience by our OYSL teams, players and coaches this summer.
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National champions at events played in Laval, Quebec and Thunder Bay. This is yet again a great testament to the strong Club and Academy systems that we have in the Province of Ontario, and the talent they produce. (The provincial program is moving into 2014 but parents need not worry. Staff will be unveiling the new approach in the weeks ahead.) Also, major events like the longstanding Robbie Tournament continue with tremendous results. I realize I have not captured all the wonderful and positive things that have happened across the province—nor have I relayed all the issues brought to my attention that warrant action. But I am very optimistic about the future. At the end of the day, while we need to be consistent in applying our rules and regulations and in implementing change so it is fair for our athletes, coaches and referees, we must at the same time also use our common sense and be flexible. Ours is a huge province, geographically disparate. Change takes time. Our hope is that by displaying mutual respect between our Districts, Clubs, coaches and parents, we will be able to work together to truly do what’s best for youngsters in our system. I saw a lot of that respect and cooperation in the summer of 2013 as I met with soccer people in every corner of the province. We have more work to do, but we’ll get it done—together. Your thoughts, experiences and perspectives are always welcome. I may be reached at 289.314.5588 or e-mail address rsmale@soccer.on.ca
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