From CBC

Former Canadian women's team player Kara Lang attended Saturday's Canadian Soccer Association's Special General Meeting in Ottawa, where the membership of the CSA voted on governance renewal.

Kara issued the following statement  on behalf of the women's national team, which she was to read before the delegates of today's Canadian Soccer Association Special General Meeting in Ottawa. She was unable to present the paper as only the motions on the agenda were open for discussion. This is what she would have said, if given the chance:

Hello everyone and thank you for giving me the opportunity to say a few words on behalf of the players.

The players of our national women's team whole-heartedly support the change in governance that has been proposed. We feel that it is an important, and necessary, step for the growth of soccer in Canada.

Voting in favour of reform would mean a greater level of soccer and business expertise at the disposal of this association. It would add a level of experience that is currently not there. It would allow for new ideas and new voices to influence Canadian soccer.

It is also important to us that a change in governance will see more women on the CSA Board. While a minimum of three women on the board is far from perfect, it is a start, and one that the players fully endorse.

Most importantly is that the CSA does not continue as it is. We need more than the status quo. It is simply not good enough. If soccer in this country is going to take the next step, then the CSA needs to change. Carolina Morace has brought the women's program to a whole new level, but unless the Association starts making changes that allow it to grow and progress, the team won't ever reach its full potential and achieve the goals that have been set for the program.

You have the power to end the inertia of this Association that is stifling the growth of soccer in this country. It's time that you all recognized the opportunity that is right in front of you. The women's program is the most successful program in Canada, and has the potential to change the face of soccer in this country. We've heard many times that the CSA supports the women's game, but actions speak louder than words. So far the actions of the Association have proven otherwise.

If you truly believe in this team, then invest in them and give them the resources they need to succeed. You have what could potentially be one of the best teams in the world - just imagine what could happen if the Women's National team came home with a World Cup Championship or an Olympic medal. Imagine what it could do for soccer in this country.

Lastly, I would like to address the situation with the women's national team coach, Carolina Morace.

The players are aware of her decision to resign after the FIFA 2011 World Cup, and want to express their support of her 100 per cent. Her resignation is not an acceptable outcome, and the players would like to urge the CSA to act quickly to resolve this situation.

Carolina has brought a new mindset to the women's team, and the players feel she is the key to achieving a medal in the World Cup and beyond. By allowing her to leave, the CSA would be doing a grave disservice to the team and to soccer in Canada.

For those of you who think that the issue of Carolina's resignation is separate from that of governance reform - you are mistaken. Carolina Morace is the best thing that has happened to the women's program, and if not for the current governance structure, she would be able to do her job to the best of her ability.

The Canadian national women's team feels that it is in the best interests of the game in Canada to do whatever it takes to ensure she remains a part of the program. Thank you,
 

From the Province newspaper

The CSA moved close to $150,000 out of the women's national soccer team budget after a planned October 2010 friendly match fell through.

It's one of a number of gripes that led to Friday's statement from head coach Carolina Morace that she and her staff intend to quit following this summer's FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany. In the run up to November's CONCACAF Gold Cup, which served as the World Cup qualifier, Morace had funding in place for two home friendlies, sources said.

Canada tied China 1-1 on Sept. 30 in Toronto, but when South Africa withdrew from a second friendly, Morace wasn't able to schedule another game, or use the money elsewhere. The funds were redistributed by the CSA. Control over the women's budget is at the heart of the matter for Morace, a former Italian international hired to lead the Canadian women in Feb., 2009. But there's also concern over how the women's program is funded in general.

Sources say that Own the Podium funding — listed as $1.425 million for 2010-11 on the OTP website — currently makes up around 75% of the Canadian women's national soccer team budget, and that CSA funding for the women's team was shifted after OTP money came in. A CSA representative denied the latter claim Friday and the association plans to respond fully to the situation following Saturday's special general meeting in Ottawa.

Sources also say the women's team didn't retain any of the bonus money for winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup — that the money went back into the CSA's general budget. The CSA released a brief statement Friday saying it "has and will continue to support the Women's National Team Program to ensure its best possible opportunity for success at the FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011 and beyond."

Morace's statement comes at a time when her team is on a roll and her popularity among players and fans is extremely high. No. 9 in the FIFA world rankings, Canada had their record 11-game unbeaten streak snapped by the top-ranked U.S. at a Four Nations tournament in China two weeks ago.

In 2010, Canada won the CONCACAF Gold Cup and also claimed the Cyprus Cup and a Four Nations tournament in Brazil. More than that, her players are enjoying their soccer — a more possession-oriented, skilled game.

The disagreements are about more than money, though. "The Canadian Soccer Association has a strategy to achieve their goals that differs from my strategy," she said in the statement. "I am staying to execute my plan over the next few months because my players have worked hard and deserve to be prepared in the best way possible for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Germany."

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