October 30th, 2006...Finally I get this story posted. I must have rewritten it three times as I lost the file a few times. The audio quality was not very good as the room echoed like a subway station in the old concrete room. I tried to translate it from my mini-recorder using a computer program called Dragon Naturally Speaking 8 to save me from typing sentence by sentence but it didn't work out to well because I didn't have much practise. I then had to wait until my other soccer season commitments were over from the USL and CSL before I had the time to work on it again. Certainly history has gone a long way in Women's Canadian soccer from this happy day in June 2006.
Sunday June 25, 2006 Canada vs Italy (women's friendly post game comments)
transcript by Rocket Robin
From the other stories filed, I figured the Girl reporter was played by Lori Ewing from Canada Press and the Guy reporter was played by Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun. The guy I named Oakville Reporter wrote for the Oakville Beaver community paper. All that talk and they used maybe one or two quotes for their articles.
Post game comments at women's national team game between Canada and Italy.
Christine Sinclair:... It's nice to get another international game and to win is very important because I think one thing this team needs to do is learn how to win when we have to.
Girl Reporter: ...and it feels like at this point, you guys are coming around at the right time. (I guess winning at this time) is really important to you?
Christine Sinclair:... Oh yeah. We've got World Cup qualifying in November. So that's what were aiming towards and our team, you can see where we're starting to come together, starting to play better as a team. And I think the experience they were gaining and were going to get through the summer will be huge.
Girl Reporter:... Do you still feel the sting of not making the Olympics?
Christine Sinclair:... Yeah, I guess you think of it every now and again. I think are the most part we're over it and focusing on November and determined to not let that happen again.
Girl Reporter:... More motivating then?
Christine Sinclair:.. Ah yes. We'll never take the Mexicans lightly again.
Rocket Robin:... Do you remember playing at the under 19 in Vaughan against Italy? Do you remember anything about that game and windy it was?
Christine Sinclair:... Yeah, not that but I just remember that we've played the Italian under 19 team. I think we played them like three times, back in '02, but that's all I remember.
Girl Reporter: (I couldn't understand her question)
Christine Sinclair:... While I think we came out, you know very well when the first ten minutes got two goals. And I think it sort of made us lighten up a little bit, I don't think we played as well the rest of the game as we did in the first ten minutes, but it's hard when you score two goals at the beginning of the game. But you sort of step back a bit, and they got a goal on a questionable call but that's soccer.
Girl Reporter:...You were all over them in the last twenty minutes--half an hour.
Christine Sinclair:...Yeah and I think that goes to show how much work we've put in since March in our fitness, and we are able to play for ninety minutes easily.
Girl Reporter: Thank you. ..................................................................
missed a question...
Even Pellerud: We knew that was coming and no doubt about it and it's always disappointing when the referee doesn't really see through that that is always disappointing and they got a majority of the calls for no reason. But...not important. It's a good experience that's why we wanted to play them because it will be a good experience in CONCACAF. To check out some more players, and how we learn those things.
Girl Reporter:... There is a little bit of lull near the end of the first-half when they came on.
Even Pellerud: The last part of first-half; first part of second half was not the level I think we should play on. But the team is strong. We started very strong and finished very strong. Some players complained about heavy legs (?) that's been happening a lot lately especially the Whitecaps players. And the way we played, we need some intense players. That was lacking at times today.
Girl Reporter:... Do you feel very good to get your first win against Italy with this team?
Even Pellerud: First game and first win. We've never played them in Canada before.
Rocket Robin:... And you let hometown Amanda Cicchini game in the last ten minutes. She had a good freekick near the end. Do you think it's important? Playing in front of her hometown?
Evelyn Pellerud:... Well, it was a great opportunity to fully involve her, and Robyn Gayle as local players we have in the whole horizon. It was a good chance to see them at this level, and they did well!
Rocket Robin:...She'll be in the under 19's. I think she's the only one currently on the roster...
Even Pellerud:...Yeah, her priority this season is on the under 19's.
Rocket Robin:... Only a month or month and a half to go in Russia.
Even Pellerud: So this trip is to combine everything plus school, so her priority is on the short-term camp. She has a good opportunity to fit in.
Guy reporter: This is a good start looking to head up to World Cup qualifying at the end of the fall and get the ball rolling. Now, I guess.
Even Pellerud:... Yeah for sure it's a start and the international summer season and we are heading towards many camps and many games. This was also are a fifth game this year, and we are still undefeated, which is a big positive
Girl Reporter:... You're heading back out west the whole team?
Even Pellerud:...We have a camp in the West in early July and then we head into Minnesota to play Sweden, July 18.
Girl Reporter:... We understand that Kara Lang is injured. Is it serious?
Even Pellerud:...Yup it's an ACL. She is out for a while.
Guy reporter: How long? Do you know?
Even Pellerud:...Everything from eight to twelve months.
Guy reporter: Is that something that happened recently?
Even Pellerud:...Yep At the last session; last camp in BC.
Guy Porter: So just in the last week or so?
Even Pellerud: Ten days ago
Lady Reporter: On a tackle?
Even Pellerud: No. A typical ACL injury, no challenge just by a bio-mechanical how that happens.
Guy reporter, what does that mean to your team?
Even Pellerud:... Well, of course, she has worked well to become a more a tactical smart target striker. She's worked on the part of her game. So she had a strong camp so it was disappointing for her and for us. The good thing for us is we have strong options up front. So we can for sure, we have these are options soon. Like I said, she's an exciting player. We'd like to have back as fast as possible.
All reporters: Thank you.
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Charmaine Hooper
Reporters introduce themselves, including me.
Girl Reporter: So can I get your thoughts on your first away in all Italy.
Charmaine Hooper: We didn't really know what to expect going into the game. It's been a while since we've played against Italy. But what we really do is go out there early, and just pressure them, you know, just catch them by surprise hopefully, and I think we did
Rocket Robin: Two goals! Two minutes! Yeah!
Charmaine Hooper: Yeah. The first goal was an own-goal. Unfortunate from them. But the second goal, it was obvious that they weren't ready, because I was all alone in the box and Christine Sinclair was able to play a great ball across, and it was a turnover before that before Christine got that ball. So, Diane Matheson was able to play a great ball through Christine and Christine was able to play that ball across the goal and you know. It just made it an easy goal. I mean, they did all the work. All I had to do was play the ball right in the goal. As the game went on we had some chances which we didn't capitalize on unfortunately. But I think we were able to keep them under pressure the entire game. I thought it was a really good result and a good performance for us. Obviously we could do better. I wish we could have obviously finished the chances that we had or I could have finished, the chances that I had.
Girl reporter: The second half especially, you were all over them.
Charmaine Hooper: Yes, of course, the result was the most important thing.
Girl reporter: So what does this mean when you guys start kicking off a really busy schedule, so it's really important to spend the next few months...
Charmaine Hooper: Yeah, I think with all these games we have scheduled for the summer. Of course, we want to play well and play our tactics and everything else well. That's what these games you for, and it's also great for confidence. If we can win these games then it is going to be a positive thing for confidence, whether it's for an individual or team confidence. So it's really important that we win these games, because confidence really goes a long way. You know, even if you don't have the talent to match a better team, it's good to have the confidence going into qualifying and hopefully the World Cup.
Rocket Robin:... You'll not injured at all even being knocked around all afternoon. You can take that in a normal day? Just shrug it off? or sort of hurt...
Charmaine Hooper:... sort of hurt?
Rocket Rocket: Well it seemed to me...
Charmaine Hooper:... You're never hurt!
Rocket Robin: Like it was sort of like "Knock Down Charmaine" Day or something. Like people...it seemed to get a bit rough out there.
Charmaine Hooper: Well... first of all I don't think I go down very easily, and all the times that I went down. I was obviously fouled
Rocket Rocket: Yeah!
Charmaine Hooper: But I wasn't lucky enough to get the calls, because it looked like I dove I guess. So, it's part of the game. I'm used to it as a forward. You're used to being knocked down. Get up and get going.
Girl Reporter: What did you think of the crowd out there today?
Charmaine Hooper: Yes been eight years, I think it is being ninety?...ninety?
Rocket Robin: Well you've played Norway. I think. A tie.
Girl Reporter: 2002.
Charmaine Hooper: Was it Nortway here? My gosh I've played too long. What did I think about what the crowd?
Reporter: Yeah it was sold out.
Charmaine Hooper: It was a great crowd. It's always nice to play in Canada. We don't have enough games in Canada. I think there were lots of girls, lots of boys, men, women. So it's great to see everyone to come out and support the team. And it also helps when we win too. But the crowd was great. Pretty noisy the entire time. It was nice.
Rocket Robin: And pro-Canadian. Unlike the men's teams. When you get...
Charmaine Hooper: I know. I was wondering if we were going to have a pro-Canadian group of people because the last time we played in Toronto, I think it was? Against Mexico. There were more people there for Mexico then there were for Canada. So I didn't know what to expect..
All reporters: OK, thank you!
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Kara Lang: (I missed the first question).
Girl reporter: Did you know something was serious?
Kara Lang: Umm...when it happened. Yeah. Because me and about everyone else on the field, heard the pop, and so it was kind of definitely a bit scary, But because there was so much swelling, they couldn't really tell that it was my ACL, and so they told me I was kind of you know out of danger, and I got an MRI and a few days later found out I actually torn and my ACL.
Guy reporter: How long are you out for?
Kara Lang: They say six to eight months.
Girl reporter: Do you have your surgery booked?
Kara Lang: Yeah I have the middle of July.
Girl reporter: In Toronto?
Kara Lang: No, in Vancouver, actually.
Girl reporter: As you're there with the Whitecaps?
Kara Lang: And the trainers are out there with the National Team so I'll still be around the people who'll be taking care of me.
Girl reporter: So have you ever had any kind of injury that required surgery?
Kara Lang: I've had surgery on both my knees already, but through just very, very minor cartilage tears so this is definitely the longest break I've taken in soccer since I started. When I was five.
Girl reporter: Timing kind of sucks too!
Kara Lang: Well it does. because I'll be missing qualifying, but I'll be back in time for a World Cup with plenty of time for the World Cup so that's all that matters.
Guy Reporter: How did it happen?
Kara Lang: Just in a training session. We were in a training camp in Nanaimo. It was the last session of the camp and I was just going for a 50-50 ball in the air. And I jumped and then landed funny on it and it just snapped.
Girl reporter: The right one?
Kara Lang: Yeah.
Rocket Robin: Would you have still be young enough to be in the Under 20's?
Kara Lang: Yeah.
Rocket Robin: I mean obviously, you would be a choice for that if this hadn't happened. Will you go to Russia from moral support?
Kara Lang: No I probably won't.
Girl reporter: (as Even Pellerud walked back into the room) Oh you left your book here.
Rocket Robin: Yeah but I walked it down to the room. I could have sold all the secrets to the world.
[Hey Pellerud's playbook...It just reads: Punt and chase. Owwww. Just kidding].
Guy Reporter: This is demoralizing for you and everybody?
Kara Lang: Probably the most disappointing thing that's ever happened to me, so far, but again... It's something that happens to almost every athlete at this level at some point, or something like this you know, we've had numerous girls on this team who have already gone through this. Katie Thorlaksson's going through the exact same thing. It's just...It's not a career ending injury it's just a long process of rehabilitation and so, you know it almost always works out as long as I do my rehab probably. And I'm serious about it, which obviously I am. I'm sure I'll be fine. It's just disappointing that I have to be out for so long. And also I've worked really hard to get fit for this summer. I've probably done more fitness than I've ever done before, and I was really working hard at school and stuff and it's just really disappointing because it was going to be a great Whitecaps season. I mean, it still will be. I mean our team is going to be awesome. I was really looking forward to this summer so it is very, very disappointing.
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Amanda Cicchini
Oakville reporter: Well big cheer when you went out there. That had to be pretty exciting?
Amanda Cicchini: Yeah, it was nice to have that support I guess.
Rocket Robin: Yeah, you got in on in the last ten minutes of the game and you don't get a kick freekick away there. But in front of your hometown you and the Toronto Lady Lynx. As we've seen you as undefeated. (when I notice another player come in that I think plays for Laval). So is Laval ready?
Mel Booth: No, Central Florida
Rocket Robin: Wrong person. Sorry!
Oakville reporter: I guess you guys don't get much of chance to play at home?
Amanda Cicchini: Well I do for the Lynx. But for the National team, no.
Oakville reporter: Does it feel different playing for your country at home, as opposed to playing for the Lynx?
Amanda Cicchini: Well you have more of your friends and family watching so that's always nice. To have that. But other then that. No not really. Because you're always going to have support wherever you go, pretty much. Women's soccer is getting to be pretty big right? So...
Oakville reporter: Your game against Finland. They were in Finland right? You just got back from there?
Amanda Cicchini: Yeah, we just got back. We won both our games two-nothing. So it was a good camp.
Rocket Robin: You're the only player in today's game in the Under 19s in Russia?
Amanda Cicchini: Under 20s. There's another one actually but she's in school and stuff but her name is Sophie Schmit. And she's also on this team and she'll be going to Russia as well.
Oakville reporter: I guess right now for you guys are concentrating on qualifying for World Cup and with you, you've got the dual with the Under 20s as well. How much preparation is there going to be in terms of getting ready for that?
Amanda Cicchini: You might want to ask her (Mel Booth) that. She's more of an actual player. I get called up every now then. She's more on the team.
Rocket Robin: Do you know who you're drawn against in this Under 20? Like the other teams?
CSA guy: I just don't have it on me.
Amanda Cicchini: You know what? I can't think of it off the top of my head. I'm sorry.
Rocket Robin: I don't think they've drawn it?
CSA guy: I just don't have it on me.
Oakville reporter: What was it like going in to the last ten minutes into a 2-1 game? It's got to be a little nerve wracking?
Amanda Cicchini: I was really nervous. I'm not lying I was really nervous, but once you get into the game and settle down a little; it's OK. But I was nervous. It was also like...energising too some times...
Mel Booth: An adrenaline rush!
Amanda Ciccini: Yeah that's the word I'm looking for. It was a good adrenaline rush.
Oakville reporter: OK congratulations!
Amanda Cicchini: Thank you.
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Mel Booth:
Oakville reporter: For you. First national game in three years?
Mel Booth: Yeah, it's been awhile.
Oakville reporter: What was it like getting back out with, I imagine, you've played with a lot of these girls over the years?
Mel Booth. It's really nice to be back with the team. It seems like it a lot different than when I was here earlier.
Oakville reporter: How so?
Mel Booth: The team's really close right now, and just me personally, I feel more comfortable. Just playing with them.
Oakville reporter: Just a little more experience under your belt?
Mel Booth: Older, more experienced. I have the opportunity.
Oakville reporter: Now for you, a pretty good year in college too. Team MVP!
Mel Booth: Yup.
Oakville reporter: How much difference is there between the college game and a national team (game)?
Mel Booth: Well international level is always going to be a step higher but, I'd say if you played anywhere else, like for competition. The college game is where you should be playing. It's been my experience that the past three years it's been what got me back here. So I'd say it's definitely done its job.
Rocket Robin: You used to play, what is it now two or more years ago for Toronto Inferno? That was you right?
Mel Booth: Yup.
Rocket Robin: And I remember they were short of players that you had to play and you could just limp down the sideline?
Mel Booth: (laughs)...No that was, I had sprained my ankle I think like two days earlier and my ankle was big. It was black and blue, and I think we had one player, who was coming late and we had they have 11 people on the field to start the game in order to not forfeit and my coach said: Kick the ball to start off and just walk over to the sidelines, and just then on the sidelines and talk with me. I just stood there, and it was their opening game, so they are so many fans. Now my greatest opportunity.
Rocket Robin: Well Toronto's got a better ladies team now and they're better organized than that.
Mel Booth: Yeah, and they've really evolved.
Rocket Robin: Look who's on it (points to Amanda Cicchini).
Mel Booth: Yep, I played with them last year, actually but I've stayed at school this year.
Oakville Reporter: There's obviously a lot of excitement with soccer with the (Men's) World Cup going on. Do you guys feel that playing the game?
Mel Booth: Definately! I feel that right now soccer is really popular, because of the World Cup, and so to have the World Cup being played right now and then to have the opportunity to bring this to Canada and have (although) the (Canadian) men's team isn't in the World Cup, to have something for them to cheer for Canada. It is good right now.
Rocket Robin: I've got the Canadian flag on my car . (all laugh). I can honk all the way home. Like the other gays that everyone from all the world. But it's my night.
Mel Booth: Exactly!
Oakville reporter: Now I was mentioning to Amanda about not getting the chance to play at home. I guess with you, not playing in Toronto any more and that opportunity is gone for you so, you had a lot of family here?
Mel Booth: I had a lot of my family and friends here, so it was definitely nice, because they haven't seen them for a while. So just to be able to play in front of them because they don't get a chance to come down a Florida to see me play. So they haven't really seen me play soccer in a long time. So just to get the chance to play in front of them was really quite nice!
Oakville reporter: Now you're staying down in Florida through the summer?
Mel Booth: Yes, I am taking classes and am on a team down there so...
Oakville reporter: Who are you playing for?
Mel Booth: Central Florida Krush.
Oakville reporter: Is that W-League as well?
Mel Booth: Yes, they went to the final four last year. The actually played Vancouver in the consolation final.
CSA official gives us the signal to wrap up. We thank the players and head for the exit.
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