 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
         | |
|
RHIAN'S JOURNAL: Italy Camp in Toronto, ON
June 2006 Day Three (Game Day) Morning wake-up call was at 9:00 am, the usual time for game days, and then we headed out for a team walk. We didn’t go far, just up around the boardwalk next to the hotel, just far enough to get our legs moving. After our short walk, we went straight into a team meeting to go over some plays and formations. We also talked a little about how the Italian side may play tonight.
 Breakfast was very good. I always have the same thing though, bread and peanut butter. For me to dine in this hotel’s first-class restaurant is almost a waste!!! After eating, we have time on our own to sleep, see the physio/ massage therapist or to watch soccer. I decided to watch England in their World Cup match, but almost regretted the decision: What a boring game. My roommate, Diana, went to sleep and I wish i had done the same. At least Robyn is up in my room watching the game with me. I am not sure I could have handled watching it on my own. At around 2:00 pm we have another pre-game meeting, our last before the game. Then we have our meal. Everyone is slowly getting excited about playing, and now we have to try to stay relaxed. If you get too worked up, you can get tired. There is a thin line to walk in preparing yourself for a game, because if you aren’t excited enough, you can come out flat!!! After Game Well, no need to worry about coming out flat, seeing as we scored twice in the first five minutes. We were ready for the game, excited for it, and really wanted to play well. However, the first goal was an odd one. I received a cross down the left hand side of the field and ran down the flank with it. I faked the cross, pulled it back on my right foot and sent a whipped serve across the face of goal. Charmaine was there, but didn’t need to touch it, seeing that an Italian defender made a diving header and coolly slotted the ball into the lower right hand corner of the net!!!! I’ll take that. The second goal followed just a few minutes later. Diana got the ball in the middle and served it to Sincy along the right hand side of the field. Sincy took the ball down, crossed to Charmaine and voila: Goal number two. Going up two goals so early in the game maybe made us sit back on our heels a little bit as the rest of the first half was not great. We did enough to compete, but not enough to dominate and that is not our style. The got a goal back late in the first when an Italian went down in the box and this resulted in a penalty. The second half was a much better Canada performance. We picked our game back up and started playing our style again, quick and aggressive. I felt we dominated completely, although they did have a few calls go their way; no comment, but looking back, I think the theatrics were fairly impressive. We should have maybe put a few more goals into the net in the second half, but as a positive we didn’t let them score either. I thought our defense was great. Sharolta ended up getting player of the game, which was much deserved. Often the defense get overlooked, so we were all pleased to see Sharolta’s great game get recognized. I would also like to congratulate Robyn Gayle for winning her first CAP, always an exciting event. As a player you are never too happy when you are subbed out of a game, but I had absolutely no problem giving way to Robyn; from her first touch of the ball, what a future she is going to have with Canada. We head home early tomorrow morning, and back to Ottawa I go.
Day 2 - 24th June, 2006 The morning wake- up call was a little later than usual, thanks to the late night last night at the Italian gala: it was after 10:00 pm when we returned to the hotel. My general impression upon seeing everyone at breakfast this morning was that the beds had lived up to their name: " Heaven." Everyone looked well rested. I definitely slept well, even though my bathroom light randomly turned itself on at 2:00 am???
We headed off to training at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke, where we were met by a great bunch of kids who had formed a screaming tunnel for us. We spent a bit of time chatting to them and signing autographs, before putting on our gear and hitting the field. Training was fairly light, and we went over formations, patterns and a few set pieces - just enough to get our heads into the game and to give our legs a little run and stretch.
 After eating lunch back at the hotel we were given a few hours free time so we all dispersed to do our own things. Many of the girls have family in Toronto, so used this opportunity to go see them. I went out to Mississauga to see my father, his wife Jill and my sister Sara, and had a great time getting to relax and watch the Argentina/Mexico game. I also got to eat some more great food as Jill cooked some amazing pork tenderloin and roasted vegetables - delicious. And, it was good to have a chance to eat away from the hotel. We had a report time back at the hotel, one that I only just made as we battled traffic and the tourists from the Gay Pride marches . Then we headed upstairs for the team supper. Having to eat has never been an issue for me, but two major sit down meals was just TOO much on this occasion. I did eat the dessert though! We had a brief team meeting after the meal, so we all know who will be in the starting line-up tomorrow and then headed to our rooms. It is now up to us how we want to spend our evening. I have chosen television and an early night. Till tomorrow... 'Night
Day 1 23rd June Diana, Robyn and I had a GREAT deal today, because our travel only involved us having to fly to Toronto from Ottawa! While most of the team were forced to leave their homes some time in the wee hours of the morning, the three of us dragged ourselves out of bed at about 10:00 am - lovely. Our flight was a quick one hour up and down, although the trip felt a little longer than that for me longer for me as we hit some turbulence and I am far from being a good flyer. Thank goodness I had Diana next to me, who distracted me by hitting me with her juice bottle, but her good influence was offset by Robyn who was talking about one time when she nearly died in a plane. At Pearson airport, the three little Ottawa girls just hung out near the baggage claim area, remembering an e-mail that had mentioned something about "baggage claim" but nothing much more. Fifteen minutes latter Amy Walsh arrived, just as our phones rang to let us know that not only were we in the wrong baggage area, but we were in completely the wrong terminal. I wonder how long we might have sat there had none of us had a cell phone? The bus took us to the Vaughn soccer center where we headed out to our first training session. The fields we were meant to train on weren’t all that great so Even made a call and organized for us to move to some better fields at the back of the complex. As a team, we decided to cut across an empty lot, but this turned out not to be the greatest of ideas, seeing that we then had to jump a fence. All seemed reasonable though as we hurdled the 6 foot obstacle, as the field on the other side looked great. Unfortunately a man ran out (with impeccable timing) to let us know that all the playing fields were booked. The field we wanted was actually being used by a Men's team from Italy, the farm team of a Serie A squad, so we didn’t feel to terrible giving up the perfect grass to them. Eventually, some deal was worked out, and and we moved to another field just across the way. Someone asked Even how he felt about the Italian men playing against us - but, thank goodness nothing panned out in that respect. The we started warm-up. The practice went well, and nothing too tough. It was just enough to get our legs moving and our minds sharp again. We played an inter-squad game for a bit, and the team made up of our defenders and midfielders killed the rest of us. We shall speak of this no more! We also worked on a few set pieces.
 It was a rush after practice to get showered and dolled up, as we then had a banquet to attend. This game against Italy is funded by the Italian community here in Toronto, and they had set up a great Gala in order to raise funds for their charity of choice. It was a fun evening and interesting seeing my teammates in clothing other than soccer shorts and shirts. Everyone looked great and we totally outshone the Italian team. However, this was not so difficult, as they wore their tracksuits to the event!!!! I felt the evening was a success not only as a money-making venture for the Italian community, but also for me personally: I managed not to injure myself walking on my high heels. There were a few scary moments when I almost wiped out crossing the dance floor for an introduction in the middle of the Gala, but other than this, the evening went very well. It is now past midnight, and the the banquet went on a little longer than expected. I am going to have to call it a night. The good news is that we get to sleep in till 10am!!! Glorious Click on thumbnails for larger pictures:
All rights reserved. All content copyrighted by their respective sources. |
We are being very well looked after on this trip, and are accommodated at the Westin Harbourfront hotel, right on the waterfront of Lake Ontario. Meals are excellent, and the view from my bedroom window takes in the Air Canada Centre and the CN Tower. However, one disadvantage of being in a prestigious, premier hotel is that we have to pay for internet service - hence the delay in getting this report to Press!
