Both the Montreal Impact and FC Edmonton will have full sanctions to participate in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship, said Impact owner Joey Saputo in an NASL conference call Wednesday. He said the indications he has from the CSA is that the format for the four-team NCC will be released in the next couple of weeks, and that the Impact and FCE would be seen as Div. 2 clubs. But, he is confident that all eight NASL teams will have Div. 2 status after Saturday’s United States Soccer Federation vote in Las Vegas. The NASL expects the USSF board to approve its re-application for Div. 2 status on Friday, and then have the membership ratify that vote on Saturday.

The kid they call the Greek Messi got a gift. Ioannis Fetfatzidis placed a shot underneath the crossbar after a miscue from Canadian defender Ada Straith — and his goal was enough to give Greece a 1-0 win Wednesday in Larissa.

What is disturbing to average Canadian soccer fan (and taxpayer) is that, if the matter is taken to the lawyers, that Morace would be the second women’s coach in a row brought in front of arbitrator.

FC Edmonton is looking more and more like the farm club of JEF United. On Monday, the club announced that local product Matt Lam will leave on loan to the Japanese second-division side, following former FC Edmonton coach Dwight Lodeweges and Dutch veteran midfielder Sander Van Gessel.

As preseason games go, Toronto FC’s 1-0 win over Red Star Belgrade Sunday in Turkey was significant. Usually, when facing European opposition in friendlies or preseason games, MLS teams are used to seeing squads filled with “B” team players and prospects. But Red Star Belgrade fielded what was close to a full-strength squad — and only used three subs, as if the Toronto FC match was a regular Serbian league game. The club resumes its Serbian league schedule Feb. 27 after the end of the winter break.

Paul Stalteri, Canada’s all-time leader in national-team appearances, will have the chance to add another cap. Stalteri was called up Sunday by national-team coach Stephen Hart.

The Boys from Brazil are propping up the Carolina RailHawks franchise. Traffic USA, which already owns Miami FC and is a “strategic partner” in the Atlanta Silverbacks franchise, announced Friday that it was taking the lead financial position in a new partnership in the struggling RailHawks franchise.

Adrian Cann has been added to the Canadian roster for the Feb. 9 friendly against Greece. Toronto FC is training in Turkey, which neighbours Greece, so bringing reigning team MVP Cann over was the easiest solution available to coach Stephen Hart, who learned yesterday that FC Koln central defender Kevin McKenna would not be available due to a back problem.

Canadian coach Stephen Hart is still waiting on an answer from Junior Hoilett. The Blackburn Rover from Brampton, Ont. has once again asked the Canadian Soccer Association to be patient, and declined to join the national team for its Feb. 9 friendly against Greece.

On a day designed for new Toronto FC head coach and technical director Aron Winter to look at fresh faces, a couple of veterans were the talking point of Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Serbian powerhouse Partizan Belgrade in Turkey. TFC defender Nana Attakora scored just six minutes in and Dwayne De Rosario, TFC’s all-time leading scorer, missed a penalty in the Reds’ first preseason friendly of 2011. Partizan fans, eager to see the team’s new striker pairing of Prince Tagoe and Dominic Aidiyah — both nabbed in the transfer window, and both played for the first 45 minutes —had to settle for a penalty goal from Nemanja Tomic.