District Referee Coordinator

Board Approves FieldTurf At NTC-Ontario and CSA Open Cup

Canadian Soccer Association

Monday, April 14, 2003

Ottawa, Ontario – The Canadian Soccer Association today announced its Board of Directors has approved the installation of FieldTurf at the National Training Centre (The Soccer Centre) in Vaughan, Ontario and the establishment of a CSA Open Cup in 2004.

In partnership with the Ontario Soccer Association and the Ontario Soccer Centre, the CSA will install FieldTurf in the facility in September 2003. The new surface will ensure provide Ontario players with the ability to train outdoors from March until December, thus extending the outdoor training and game schedule by two months.

“I am delighted the CSA and OSA have been able to work cooperatively on this project over the past several months. The result will be a state of the art surface for the development of our players,” said CSA President Andy Sharpe.

The Board also approved the establishment of a CSA Open Cup which will eventually be open to amateur and professional clubs across Canada. The CSA will begin to look at hosting bids for the 2004 competition this summer.

United Soccer League President and CEO Dave Askinas addressed the Board during their meetings in Ottawa and discussed several issues. In accordance with the priorities for pro soccer outlined by President in his statement issued in February, Askinas spoke about the expansion of the A-League and W-League in Canada in the coming years as well as strengthening the bonds between the two organizations.

The Board was also updated in regards to its ongoing national soccer stadium project in Toronto and the bid to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2007.