Archive for December 21st, 2012

1

Islanders won’t play in NASL spring session

By
Steven Sandor
– 12/21/2012

The Puerto Rico Islanders will not play in the NASL’s spring session — but have pledged to rejoin the league in the fall.

A confirmation on the news first reported by IndyWeek (CLICK HERE) was confirmed by NASL Friday afternoon.

“The NASL continues to grow and improve and as such our teams must also continue to grow and develop,” said NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson. “This reorganization will give the Islanders an opportunity to rejoin the NASL and contribute to its growth while proudly representing Puerto Rico around the world. It is our intention to have the Islanders back on the field as soon as they have completed the process and we will provide whatever assistance is necessary to help them.”
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1

CMISL to take one-year hiatus: Plans to return for 2013-14

By
Steven Sandor
– 12/21/2012

The Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League will not have a 2012-13 season. But league president Mel Kowalchuk is hopeful the circuit will return for 2013-14.

Kowalchuk said he was working on bringing new teams into the indoor soccer league, when he ran into health problems. While he is now almost back to 100 per cent, his health issue forced him to put the league on the back burner.

“We are looking at coming back next season,” he said. “But nothing is going to happen this year. It’s far too late to put anything together.”

Last year, the league was reduced to just two teams, Calgary United FC and the Edmonton Drillers, after the Winnipeg Alliance informed Kowalchuk it would not field a team for the season.
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3

FC Edmonton made move for Barbara, but releases him from pre-contract

By
Steven Sandor
– 12/21/2012

Etienne Barbara

FC Edmonton was extremely close to signing 2011 NASL MVP Etienne Barbara, but that deal has been aborted.

FCE Director of Soccer Operations Joe Petrone confirmed Friday that Barbara had previously signed a letter of intent to come to the Eddies. The letter of intent is a form that comes before an official contract offer, which indicates a player is set on negotiating terms with a specific team.

But, due to undisclosed personal and family issues, Barbara was forced to change his mind. And FC Edmonton said it has allowed him to be released from any obligation to the club.

“Due to certain personal issues, we have decided to allow Etienne Barbara to pursue other options,” said Petrone.
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Are the losses of Canadian W-League teams the unintended consequences of CSA’s NWSL subsidy?

By
Steven Sandor
– 12/21/2012

Sometimes, ideas that begin with the best intentions have unintended negative consequences.

As the United States Soccer Federation announced the formation of the NWSL, the new tier-one pro league for that country, the Canadian Soccer Association chimed in with the news that it would fund the salaries of 16 players. Coach John Herdman would select the players from the women’s national program who would get their golden tickets to get paying jobs playing pro soccer in America.

No doubt, the intentions were just: Help develop Canadian women and boost the women’s pro game, which has been plagued by false starts and financial failures.

But, since that announcement, both the Vancouver Whitecaps and Victoria Highlanders have confirmed that they are withdrawing their women’s programs from the W-League, which had been the top tier of soccer available to women in Canada. And there is the very real connection that the establishment of the NWSL has made it less feasible to run a W-League program.
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