Canadian NT - How about scolari to coach our team?

[Frank Cunha]

a few players in England and Germany

[Frank Cunha]

"I would like to have taken this job no matter what happened. I
wasn't like, 'Great, we won. Now I can go. ' This was the right
decision for the long term."
-- Frank Yallop, now Canada's national team coach (San Francisco
Chronicle)

[Frank Cunha]

TORONTO LYNX MEDIA RELEASE



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



TORONTO LYNX ANNOUNCE ONLINE SHOPPING CART!



Tuesday, January 27, 2004 (TORONTO, ON) – The Toronto Lynx are pleased to announce their Online Shopping Cart in partnership with their Equipment Sponsor, Inaria and C3 Online Marketing Solutions, a premier online promotions company.



Inaria committed to sponsoring the Toronto Lynx in 2003 as part of a 3-year agreement with the club. Saverio Michielli, the Director of Sales and Marketing for Inaria, is excited to be able to support Toronto’s First team along with the Toronto Lynx Premier Soccer Academy and the Toronto Lynx Junior teams. Inaria was able to grow their establishment through the sponsorships of many youth soccer clubs throughout Ontario.



C3 Online Marketing Solutions partnered with the Toronto Lynx in 2003 to provide online ticket promotions, camp promotions and contests for Lynx fans which has been expanded this season to include newsletters and the online shopping cart. Terry Ham, the president and founder of C3, looks forward to growing their partnership with the Toronto Lynx. C3 already has large presence in pro sports with partnerships such as the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Raptors and the Vancouver Canucks and have plans for expanding their services to other sports franchises throughout North America. The Lynx partnership is an excellent prototype of their dynamic sports team manager portals which they make available to mid size sports organizations.



For the first time, Lynx fans may be able to purchase a greater array of Lynx merchandise items online, manufactured by Inaria, which includes: 2004 official Lynx jersey, golf shirt, training top, bucket hat, twill cap, hooded sweatshirt, zip sweat top, fleece pullover, t-shirt and rain jacket at very reasonable prices.



Nicole Hartrell, the Chief Operating Officer for the club, states that, “This service has been a long time coming for Lynx fans. We are thrilled to be able to provide a variety of high quality Inaria merchandise in a cost effective manner for fans”. Fans can access the online shopping cart by visiting www.lynxsoccer.com.

[Frank Cunha]

Whitecaps Sign Gregor 18/02/04

Whitecaps FC Director of Soccer Operations Bob Lenarduzzi, announced today that the club has signed free-agent midfielder Andrew Gregor, formerly of the rival Seattle Sounders and re-signed two of the team's core players, forward Carlo Corazzin and defender Nick Dasovic. Each player has agreed to a multi-year deal, signifying the first time in club history that multi-year contracts have been used.

Gregor, 28, has played the last three seasons with Vancouver's rival club, the Seattle Sounders. "He's the type of skill player you don't want to have to play against - but love having on your team," says Bob Lenarduzzi. "Andrew is a creative playmaker and we expect his presence on the field to have a very positive impact." An established A-League star, Gregor also brings international and Major League Soccer experience to the Whitecaps organization. He played two seasons in MLS, and is a former international with the US U-20 team.

Gregor began his professional career in 1998 in MLS with the Columbus Crew after being taken in the second round of the MLS draft. He joined Seattle in 2000, and scored two goals against Vancouver in his A-League debut on May 6, in a 4-2 Sounders win at Swangard Stadium. Gregor returned to MLS in 2001 to play for the Kansas City Wizards, before rejoining the Sounders for the last two seasons, and establishing himself as one of the A-League's marquee players. He was named to the First Team All A-League in 2002 and again in 2003, and led the Sounders in scoring last season with seven goals and seven assists. The talented midfielder joins two other members of the Whitecaps (Jason Jordan, Oliver Heald) among last years' top 20 league points leaders.

Gregor has agreed to a three-year contract with the Whitecaps.

Corazzin, 32, joined the Whitecaps at the halfway mark of the 2003 season from Oldham Athletic of the English Second Division, and was a key factor in Vancouver's 13-game undefeated streak in the charge for the playoffs. His seven goals included five game-winners, and with Corazzin on the field the Caps boasted a record of 9-1-5. In post-season awards, he shared Whitecaps Player of the Year honours with Oliver Heald.

A current member of the Canadian National team, Corazzin has made 58 appearances for his country and ranks tied for fourth in all-time scoring with 11 goals on the international stage. He played 10 seasons in England, with Northampton Town, Plymouth Argyle, Cambridge United and Oldham Athletic, scoring a total of 121 goals in 421 games. Corazzin has signed to a three-year deal.

Dasovic, 35, was named Vancouver's Defender of the Year in 2003, while also serving as Assistant Coach for both the Whitecaps and Dale Mitchell's Canadian U-20 Men's team. A current member of the Canadian National side, Dasovic has made 62 international appearances, ranking fifth in games played for Canada. He played for Vancouver in 1995 and 1996, but the midfielder-turned-defender spent most of his career in Europe with stops in Croatia, France, Sweden and most recently Scotland, where he spent six seasons with St. Johnstone of the Scottish Premier League before signing with the Whitecaps.

[Jager]

I remember, when Corrazin came back, we put an impressive win streak together.... :mrgreen:

Side note...its still look like we might get a new pitch soon.... :danc:

[Frank Cunha]

Impact Sign Dahha as GK Coach 19/02/04

Montreal Impact head coach Nick DeSantis added a new member to his coaching personnel as Youssef Dahha joins the team as a goalkeeper coach.

Dahha, 36, who was a professional goalkeeper in Morocco, is the goalkeeper coach for the U-14, U-16 and U-18 Quebec Select boy’s teams, head of the women’s goalkeeping program at Montreal’s High-Performance National Centre, as well as head of the goalkeeping program for the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) soccer teams.

"He has a solid background and he knows the local scene extremely well," said DeSantis. "He’s also an excellent motivator and he works both the physical and mental aspects of the game. We’re thrilled to have him on board."

Before becoming a coach, Dahha played for Hassania Agadir, a first-division club in Morocco, from 1988 to 1990, after a stint with his native country’s COD Meknes, from 1984 to 1988. He has also played for the Moroccan junior and olympic national teams. Once he moved to Montreal, Dahha became one of the premier goalkeepers in the Quebec province in the Quebec Elite Soccer League (LSEQ), where he has been proclaimed Goalkeeper of the Year in the senior division, as well as in the Quebec Calcetto Soccer League (indoor soccer with boards).

Dahha will be working closely with the Impact’s two goalkeepers, Greg Sutton and Andrew Olivieri.

Sutton crowned the best season of his pro career in 2003. He led the A-League in goals-against average (0.73), minutes played (2,463), shutouts (11) and wins (15). His 11 shutouts are also a personal best. The 26-year-old Canadian’s performances earned him the 2003 A-League Goalkeeper of the Year award, a spot on the league’s first all-star team, as well as the Giuseppe-Saputo Trophy, awarded to the Impact’s Most Valuable Player.

Olivieri, a 22-year-old Montrealer, was the first-string goalkeeper with the Under-23 Canadian national team that recently played in the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament in Mexico.

[Frank Cunha]

Canada To Play Wales Friendly 11/03/04

The Canadian Soccer Association today announced its Men’s World Cup Team will play an international friendly against Wales in Wrexham, Wales on Sunday, May 30, 2004. Canadian Men’s World Cup Team head coach Frank Yallop will also hold a training camp for European-based players in Manchester, England from March 28 – April 1 during the international break.

The Wales friendly will be part of Canada’s final preparations for the World Cup Qualifying series against Belize which begins in Kingston on June 13 in the first of two games. Canada is also scheduled to play Yallop’s former club San Jose Earthquakes in San Jose on Saturday, June 5. On June 6, the team will travel to Ottawa for a 4-day training camp before arriving in Kingston on June 11.

“The training camp will give me a better idea of where we stand with some players while the game against Wales will be a very good test for us and will help us prepare for our series against Belize,” said Yallop. “I am delighted with these two projects and am very much looking forward to both events.”

[Frank Cunha]

I hope he call's on Fernando Aguiar the Benfica player

[pirate]

I might go that game Wales v Canada. :danc:

[Frank Cunha]

TORONTO LYNX MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EIGHTH SEASON A REAL ROLLER COASTER!

Tuesday, August 31, 2004 (TORONTO, ON) - With a new head coach and an overhauled roster, the Toronto Lynx battled through a roller coaster 2004 A-League season. The Lynx concluded their eighth season with a 10-16-2 record, placing them 7th in the Eastern Conference. Under head coach, Duncan Wilde, the team adopted a more wide open, entertaining style of play that saw an improvement in their offense. The major contributor to the offense was star Canadian striker, Ali Gerba, who set new Lynx single season records with 15 goals and 34 points, finishing fourth in the A-League. Gerba became the club's first ever A-League Top 10 scorer and earned 3 A-League Team of the Week Selections as well as being selected the 2004 Toronto Lynx Most Valuable Player.

Lynx veteran, Adrian Serioux, also enjoyed a breakout year after his move from defense into the midfield. His outstanding play earned him an invitation to the Canadian National Team developmental camp in July where he caught the eye of Millwall F.C. in a friendly match and earned a 2-year contract with the English 1st Division Club. After a Millwall debut that awarded him "Man of the Match" honours, Serioux also made his first appearance for the Canadian Men's National Team in a World Cup Qualifying loss to Guatemala in late August.

The next generation of Canadian stars such as Tyler Hughes, Jamie Dodds and Andres Arango all made significant contributions this season establishing solid foundations for future success. The departure of goalkeeper Theo Zagar to the Rochester Raging Rhinos during the off-season left a void which was filled by former Atlanta Silverbacks' 'keeper, Bryheem Hancock, whose athleticism and experience kept the Lynx in many games over the course of the season and earned him the 2004 Best Defensive Player Award.

English midfielder, Darren Baxter, was also outstanding in his first year in the A-League earning the 2004 Best Offensive Player Award as well as two A-League Team of the Week selections. With the off-season departure of many of the Lynx veterans, midfielder, Shawn Faria stepped into a leadership role as the new club captain. Unfortunately for the Lynx, Faria missed much of the first half of the season due to injury but became a dominating defensive midfielder once he returned to playing form. His tenacity and determination on the field were not lost on Lynx fans as they voted him the winner of the 2004 Fan Favourite Award.

Off the field the Lynx total attendance was 34,217 averaging 2444 fans at the home matches. Once again, the Lynx School Day was a resounding success with 4,950 students/educators witnessing the highest level of pro soccer in Canada as part of the Lynx school program which included hundreds of school clinics and educational presentations to GTA schools. This season, the Lynx partnered with OFSAA to showcase the Girls Soccer Championships as a double header on the School Day. The Lynx' popularity with youth was once again underscored by the enthusiastic attendance of 3,660 youngsters from various youth organizations at their annual Youth Day in July. The total 864,966 fans passed through the turnstiles during the regular playing season, excluding playoffs,in the A-League showing a growth of 16.2%.

Financially, the Lynx continued their steady progress through the support of fine corporate sponsors such as Tim Hortons, Pizza Pizza, Oakville Nissan, the Canadian Auto Workers and the Ontario Lottery Corporation. Answering to the big demand for more training for the growing number of soccer coaches, Tim Hortons partnered with Toronto Lynx Coaching staff to provide a very successful and complimentary soccer coaches camp in the early spring which is certain to be repeated in the new year.

Although season ticket sales were flat in 2004, the Lynx continued to grow their ticket revenue through increased group sales from various community groups such as Soccer Clubs, Big Brothers, Ontario Special Olympics etc. Many groups enjoyed taking part in the off the field activities and fan interactives that included hundreds of young soccer players taking part in the human tunnel formation to receive the starting line up; mini soccer matches at half time; great musical performances by such community groups as the Caribbean Dance Theatre, Coro Folcloristico Italia di Toronto and Grupo Chile. The athleticism of the Lynx Flygirls and the frivolities of the Official Toronto Lynx Fan Club fired up the fans at the stadium with their terrific spirit.

The Lynx event team was kept busy at many community events where many soccer fans took part in entertaining soccer skills activities, Lynx Player "greet & meet", dance team and mascot appearances at events such as the Etobicoke Ribfest, the CHIN Picnic, the CNE and the Toronto Street Festival. Toronto native, Rumba Munthali, earned the 2004 Public Relations Award for his tireless dedication in promoting the Lynx at various community events across the GTA.

Parents and young soccer players responded in a big way to the Toronto Lynx Premier Soccer Academy which kicked off in the fall of 2003 under the directorship of Duncan Wilde and his strong team of soccer professionals at the Oakville Sports Dome and the Downsview Hangar. Providing programs for both boys and girls of all ages and skills, the Academy also delivers elite training providing a foundation for the Toronto Lynx Junior teams which play in the Super Y League. The Toronto Lynx Junior teams performed exceptionally well in the SYL this season, underscoring the growing soccer talent in Southern Ontario and the quality programs delivered by Wilde and the Academy. The U17 and U19 Toronto Lynx Juniors are the big success story this season with the U19 having gone all the way to the semi-finals and the U17 continue to make headlines in grassroots soccer and are set to go all the way as they compete in the finals in Florida later this fall.

Delivered every summer entirely by the Toronto Lynx players and coaching staff, the Soccer Fantasy Camps were totally sold out this season compelling the club to extend the sessions to accommodate the increased numbers. Parents and coaches are already booking their teams for next season to ensure that their young players are mentored and inspired by the top players in the country.

The Toronto Lynx management and staff wishes to thank all the Lynx players, coaching staff, partners, sponsors and fans for their support this season. The preparations for our ninth season have already begun. Plan on being a part of our Lynx family! Just for kicks!

-30-

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
DAVID NUTT, MEDIA RELATIONS
416-251-4625 ext. 30

[Ajax]

are the canadian team good at football at all?

lol, I havnt heard much about canadian football.

*makes a note to talk to jager about it when he comes online next*

[Jager]

Our program was stagnant, for the better part of a decade, after qaulifying for WC 86. Things are picking up, but we need some teams in the north american soccer league...not just the A league.

[Frank Cunha]

Canada needs to starter there home league, and not depending on the USA to do it

[Ajax]

dont canadians prefer ice hockey though?