Page 3 – Mike on Soccer

Priestman To Join English Women Team

Bev Priestman decides to leave Canada Soccer as she is all set to join the English women’s team as an assistant coach. He played a significant role to help from soccer talent of young women in Canada. As per Football Association of England, Priestman who is a native of England has been working with John Herdman, the Canadian men’s coach with head coach Phil Neville. The multiple roles of Priestman in Canada Soccer also include being the director of the EXCEL development program for people from 15 to 23 of age groups., the head coach under-20 women’s team and assistant coach for senior women.

In recent times, she assisted as a coach to a berth in the Canadian FIFA under-17 World Cup for Women through a 3^rd place finish at CONCACAF Under-17 Women’s Championship. She would be leaving Canada after 5 and half years and will certainly go with special memories. She said that this is right time that she moves on and wished the staff and players’ great success. Priestman also said that she would be grateful for life for her involvement. She was working with Everton as well as FA prior to her movement in New Zealand. There she was with Herdman and now the English women are in 4^th place which one place ahead of Canada. She is overjoyed as she moves to her new post to assist her teammates. Priestman is hopeful that they will soon be in the top position considering the caliber of women. She looks forward to support Phil as well as the team to help assist them as a better coach through her experiences.
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CANADA SOCCER OFFICIAL MAKES FINAL TOUR STOP

Canada soccer official Peter Montopoli has just one more visit to make as he promotes the joint North America World Cup bid. Montopoli is headed to Gibraltar to continue garnering support for the combined Canadian, Mexican and US joint bid for the FIFA 2026 World Cup.

The joint effort is leaving no stone unturned in its bid to outdo Morocco, its rival in the process. Both sides have the capacity to ensure a hitch free World Cup after Qatar 2022. Both sides make an equally convincing argument as to why they should get the nod. However, the FIFA Congress will decide the winner next week, ahead of the start of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
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Malouda: Drogba Was Always Lippy

Florent Malouda says Didier Drogba was just a lippy unknown when he first shared a dressing room with him. Drogba, despite a recent loan spell, has become one of the most feared strikers in the world. But winger Malouda reveals that, when they first met in French football, he upset their team-mates with his bossy attitude.

“Didier arrived at Guingamp during the winter transfer market,” said Malouda. “We had a bit of a crisis and had to sign a player to save the club. The manager gambled on Didier. No one knew who he was. They asked, ‘Didier Drogba, who’s he? Where does he play? Continue reading

HERDMAN TAKES OVER CANADA’S MEN’S SOCCER TEAM

Former coach of the Canadian women program John Herdman is set to take over the men’s program. He was named the replacement following the sack of Octavio Zambrano last March. His formal title is national team head coach and men’s excel director.

The shock announcement came on Monday, with the Canadian Soccer Association chief Steve Reed claiming it was “an organizational decision.” Fans reacted as expected, wishing Herdman well but expressing their shock and disappointment in such a move.
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CANADA FRIENDLY AGAINST EL SALVADOR

Canada soccer team will be playing a friendly game against El Salvador that will be hosted in Houston later this month. The Canadian Soccer Federation has stated that a part of the proceeds of the match will be donated to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.

At the same time, this will allow the Canada team to get some practice and evaluate themselves. Canada has won their last competitive game 2-0 against Jamaica and will want to test themselves against another quarter-finalist of the last Gold Cup.

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SALAH COMPARED TO DROGBA

Liverpool’s summer addition Mohammed Salah has been on blistering form since moving to Anfield. The Egypt international has scored ten times in 13 starts for the Reds, equalling the club record held by Daniel Sturridge since 2013 for fastest player to reach double figures goals in the Premier League era – beating even Didier Drogba in the process.

The 25-year-old’s 15 goals in all competitions have been monumental for Liverpool, particularly as their other goalscorers’ seem to be on break. His goals so far are the highest for the club since the exit of prolific striker Luis Suarez in 2014. With age on his side, there are already calls that he could match or exceed Didier Drogba’s record in the league. Continue reading “SALAH COMPARED TO DROGBA”

DOES THE MLS HARM INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTS?

As usual, with the failure to make the 2018 World Cup Finals, analysts have been trying to point out the issues that hampered the team. Most of them agree that the schedule of the Major League Soccer (MLS) affected the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) in a way, whilst it obviously also impacts on Canadian soccer too – which have around a quarter of th funding that USA have.

The former manager of the USMNT Jurgen Klinsmann allowed the tension between the team and the league to reach record heights. As a business, the MLS adopts models or processes that do not favour the national team as much. Notably in 2014, Klinsmann blasted the MLS for hurting the national team. Continue reading

Octavio Zambrano´s debut has been an impressive one

On March of 2017, the Ecuadorian born manager Octavio Zambrano was officially unveiled as the new manager of the Canadian national Soccer team as he replaced the interim coach of that time Michael Findlay.

¨I would like to thank Canada Soccer for this incredible opportunity to lead the Men’s National Team Program and align the strong and deep talent pool that exists from coast to coast¨

¨My passion is the development of young athletes and I view football as part sport, part art, and part entertainment. I will look to portray all three through the tactics and player development within the Men’s National Team program¨ Octavio Zambrano said as he voiced his appreciation for being proposed with this new managerial position.

Octavio Zambrano has over 25 years of experience involving managing clubs as his 1^st job was way back on 1990 when he was the assistant coach of California Kickers, a team that later went on to become an amateur club as they opted to leave the American Professional Soccer League. Continue reading “Octavio Zambrano´s debut has been an impressive one”

JAMAICA DEFEAT CANADA IN GOLD CUP CLASH

Jamaica defeated Canada in a Gold Cup clash quarter final in Phoenix with Andre Blake enjoying an excellent game.

The thrilling encounter ended 2-1 with the Jamaicans through to the last four of the tournament.

The Reggae Boyz started the game on a good note when Shaun Francis latched onto a cross from Darren Mattocks to score in the opening minutes of the clash. The Canadian soccer side could have equalized in the tenth minute through a set piece but CyleLarin sent his effort wide. The Orlando City striker Larin was drafted into the team for the knockout stage as the CONCACAF biennial competition permits.

Mattocks had his own opportunity in the 17th minute but his shot failed to beat Canada keeper Milan Borjan. As play resumed after the break, Romario Williams received a pass from Mattocks before sending his shot past Borjan. Continue reading “JAMAICA DEFEAT CANADA IN GOLD CUP CLASH”