London Free Press: City in Line for Canada Cup
September 6, 2002
City in line for Canada Cup
By Kathy Rumleski, Free Press
Sports Reporter
London City likely will be the host of the Canadian
Professional Soccer League's Canada Cup after a controversial decision last
weekend saw it awarded to Ottawa.
The league executive board voted to hold
it in the capital but there was an outcry from the teams, who did not want to
incur the expense of travelling there.
"It's one of the ugliest situations
of all time," City manager Harry Gauss said.
Teams were expected to vote
late last night on which team they would like to see as host.
St.
Catharines, Brampton, Vaughan and London put in bids to hold the Cup after
league officials pulled it from Hamilton because they felt "it was too much for
them," explained league administrator Stan Adamson. Hamilton is in its first
year in the CPSL.
An insider said the league would not award the Canada Cup
to Brampton or Vaughan because they are part of the GTA and North York already
is holding the championship tournament.
That leaves London and St.
Catharines and the latter was host of last year's championship, so it is
doubtful it would get the Canada Cup.
"There's not much doubt, London has a
big chance," the insider said.
It wasn't clear late yesterday which teams
would vote on the bids. Adamson said it could be all of the teams, only the ones
playing in the Cup or the teams not playing in the event, as they wouldn't have
a conflict of interest.
"Things are changing hourly. The last thing we want
is to do it again and get a reaction as we had," Adamson said. "The positive
thing is . . . the amount of conviction and spirit . . . to (be) host."
He
said the league wanted to get the situation settled as soon as possible as plans
have to be made for the Cup, which will be played Sept. 27-29.
London held a
successful championship tournament two years ago.
Adamson said that is in
London's favour. "They put new lighting in. They put a scoreboard in. They have
shown that willingness to improve the grounds."
.
.