Those were 50 busy days for the Association. Reaching back to 20 March and running through 8 May, the Canadian Soccer Association made great strides en route to building a better future for the game in Canada.
\u200bWith the election by acclamation of new president Dr. Dominic Maestracci in May, the Association has set its sights on a better future for the beautiful game in this nation. At the root of the vision – which will lead the Association to its 100th anniversary in 2012 – is a new strategic plan. The plan’s framework was endorsed at the Association’s Annual General Meeting on 3 May. Plans have begun for a special strategic soccer summit which will be held in the fall.
\u200bThe strategic plan was one of three major priorities the Association set for itself in the leadup to the 3 May Annual General Meeting. The other two were the long-term development plan (Wellness to World Cup) and the hiring of two senior staff members. Those staff members were in fact announced on 20 March (technical director Stephen Hart) and 25 March (Peter Montopoli).
\u200bFrom Mr. Montopoli’s selection to Dr. Maestracci’s election, the Association has quickly:
\u200b– inaugurated a Canadian competition in partnership with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Toronto FC and Impact de Montreal
\u200b– signed a technical agreement with the Federation Francaise de Football (along with Canada’s Federation de soccer du Quebec)
\u200b– qualified its women’s team to the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament for the first time ever
\u200b– announced the first-ever FIFA World Cup\u0099 Qualifiers match to be played in Montréal at the new Stade Saputo
\u200b– honoured the 2008 class of Hall of Fame members
\u200b– won the Canadian Sports Tourism Alliance Event of the Year (budget over $250,000) for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007
\u200b– had a trio of Canadian officials control the last-ever CONCACAF Champions Cup
\u200b– announced friendly matches against number-one seeded United States (women’s senior), number-one seeded Argentina (men’s U-20 youth) and number-two seeded Brasil (men’s senior)
\u200bOn 3 May in St. John’s, NL, the Association announced new positions for two officers (Dr. Maestracci became president and Rob Newman was elected a vice-president) and welcomed two other officers (Francis Millien Director At Large and Greg Anderson Director Professional). The Association also congratulated its 2008 award winners.
\u200bIn a special webcast after the Annual General Meeting, Dr. Maestracci, Mr. Montopoli, men’s head coach Dale Mitchell and Newfoundland Labrador president Doug Redmond addressed the media and national membership.
\u200bOf note, Mr. Montopoli spoke of the resounding success that was the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 (for which he was the National Event Director). Along with the confirmation that the net revenue for the tournament equaled zero, Montopoli reminded the public that Canada 2007 set a FIFA U-20 World Cup attendance record of 1,195,268 cumulative spectators, generated an incredible $259-million in economic impact, and attracted some 469.5-million television viewers.
\u200bOf course, since the Annual General Meeting, things haven’t exactly slowed down for the Association. From St. John’s, NL, the president and general secretary flew all the way west to Vancouver, BC to congratulate the women’s national team on its Olympic qualification. The Association also welcomed its newest presenting partner to the women’s national team, Teck Cominco.
\u200bIt has been quite the ride from March to May for the Association’s new leaders. Soccer in Canada is quickly embarking on a new positive future.