With a stern 3-1 dismissal in Honduras last night, the Canadian World Cup dream has been expunged. We have about 44 months until it comes up again.
There is a lot of work to do.
Between now and June, 2012, the entire governing structure of soccer in Canada needs to be torn down and rebuilt. New people, new structures, new sources of funding, new ideas – all will be essential, and none will come from the ancient, creaking, existing bureaucratic mess.
Dear CSA: You tried. I know. I'm fully prepared to believe everyone on Metcalfe Street is concerned about the situation, and wishes things could be better. What you completely fail to understand – always – is that the mess cannot be fixed by the structure that created it, and that all of you are part of that structure.
If you were a government, you would have fallen. If you were running a business, the shareholders would have voted in a new slate of directors. However much you talk about reform, you fail to grasp that the first and most important reform is removing all of you from power.
So – how are the rest of us going to accomplish that?
The first thing we need is a united front. It is time for the players to speak up. In the past week, both Toronto FC captain Jim Brennan and perennial MLS all-star Dwayne de Rosario have taken loud and public shots at Canada head coach Dale Mitchell, which is extraordinary in the middle of a cup qualifying run. Critics have ripped the two players for their timing, but I don't personally think these mini revolts hurt the team at all last night. If anything, it must be a relief to know the word is getting out.
So, to all the players: get the word out. Everyone who has covered this team has a memory filled with off-the-record player grumbling about CSA incompetence. It's time for the players to put it all on the record.
How did it feel, gents, to do so well in the Gold Cup under interim bench boss Stephen Hart, and then see Mitchell step in after one of the worst coaching performances in the history of international youth soccer?
How great was that “warm-up” match in Tallinn, Estonia, played in a cruel November blizzard at a latitude north of Moose Factory, Ontario?
How cool was is to have to take a long boat ride to that silly match in Martinique?
And how special did you feel, when the CSA board went through a year of convulsive turmoil before picking Mitchell to coach you?
I'm asking you, Jim Brennan – and you, Dwayne de Rosario. Paul Stalteri, Iain Hume, Tomasz Radzinksi have all had long and colourful dealings with the mess in Ottawa. Let's hear from you, gentlemen. Do you really want the next generation of Canadian World Cup hopefuls to have to go through this, too?
What is it really like to play for Canada? How many of the obstacles are unavoidable (travel), and how many are simple CSA incompetence?
Before we go any further, we need some leadership from you guys. This whole reform battle is going to be about pressure. The more, the merrier.
As many players as possible need to light up the sky with their anger and frustration – now.
Much more on this to follow.
