Future look - The news of Oct. 9, 2013

I managed to somehow get a hold of the Oct. 9, 2013 edition of the Globe & Mail Star-Post. You might find this story of interest:

October 9, 2013

CP-TORONTO—Thousands of Canadian soccer fans took to the streets around Toronto’s BMO Field tonight, following a dramatic 2-1 win by the Canadian national soccer team over Honduras. The victory booked Canada’s passage to the World Cup finals, to be held next summer in Brazil.

It is the second time that Canada has qualified for the World Cup and the first time in 27 years.

The game was tied with less than five minutes remaining before veteran Canadian forward Dwayne DeRosario scored off a beautiful left-footed volley from 20-yards out. The Scarborough native and Toronto FC star said it was the highlight of his career.

“I’ve been playing a long time,” he said. “I’ve played a lot of games for Canada and it hasn’t always been easy. But to be here on this day, to do this for all the fans that have stayed with us through the years, I can’t express how blessed I feel.”

Canada needed to win the game. A draw would have sent Honduras to the World Cup and dashed Canadian hopes for another four years.

Canadian striker Simeon Jackson, who had 11 goals for Canada in the campaign, credited the Canadian Soccer Association for making required changes following the failed 2010 World Cup effort.

“The guys that were on the team prior to this cycle talk about how much of a difference it has been,” he said. “In the past, the CSA just got in the way. Now, they are actively doing what is needed to make sure we are successful.”

Following the failed attempt to qualify in 2010, Canadian soccer underwent some radical changes. Elite national team programs were centralized, with more resources provided to the development of Canadian talent. Provincial bodies were removed from the elite system and directed to focus on grassroots soccer, while the country’s pro clubs formed an alliance with the top 40 community clubs and academies with the shared goal of developing and identifying Canadian talent.

Officials say the results of those changes have been dramatic. No longer are players slipping through the cracks and Canada’s performance at youth levels has improved across the board.

But, the big payoff was always a World Cup berth. Now, that it’s a reality, those close to the domestic game say that there are no limits to how successful Canada can be on the world stage

“This is just the first step,” an emotional Bob Lenarduzzi said. “We’re a little ahead of schedule – we all thought 2018 was the more realistic target – but we’re not happy with just being there. We want to compete in the World Cup. I’m not prepared to put limits on how far we can go.”

Lenarduzzi, the president of the 2012 MLS Cup champion Vancouver Whitecaps and member of the 1986 Canadian team that played in the World Cup, praised soccer officials for “doing the right thing” and stepping aside to allow new faces and new ideas into the sport during the last four years.

“We all had to change,” he said. “And I’m including myself in that. Clearly what we were doing prior to 2010 wasn’t working. We had to ask ourselves what was more important. Winning, or holding on to our small little bases of power.

“Clearly we made the right choice,” he said while pointing to the mob of Canadian fans celebrating outside the stadium.

Police said that there were about 25,000 fans on the streets following the win. Many came from inside the stadium, however, several thousand stood outside of BMO Field to watch the game on video screens that had been set up.

For some the celebration was 27-years in the waiting.

“I always imagined what it would be like,” a member of the Canadian supporter’s group the Voyageurs said. “But it was hard sometimes to believe that it would ever happen.

“Isn’t it amazing?”