It’s time to unite our country in the new Canadian Soccer Association Cup ~ La Coupe de l’association canadienne de soccer.

While attending the information session presented by PRO Soccer in Canada earlier this month at the Ontario Soccer Centre, chair person Bruce Henderson read from the package that contained the CSA’s guidelines on becoming a PRO franchise in this country. There was NO mention of what the most prestigious, coveted award in this country would be? Should it be time now for all of us to form a Club tournament format such as the FA CUP from the UK?  This would make a great competition in which some of the ground work has already been laid; now it’s time to put the pieces together and create the next phase in Canadian soccer history at a club level.

To compete in the Canadian Soccer Association Cup ~ La Coupe de l’association canadienne de soccer would be an honor and to win it would be a big achievement for any team. The reward of winning it = Priceless. 

The winning team will have the chance to compete in the prestigious CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, which means lucrative prize money, sponsorship, TV rights, and event sponsorships.

According to CONCACAF, the 2010-11 (aka twelfth) edition of the CONCACAF Champions League will kick off this summer with the following USA Teams:

Los Angeles Galaxy (Supporters’ Shield winners)

Seattle Sounders (US Open Cup winners)

Colorado Rapids (MLS Cup finalists)

FC Dallas (MLS Cup finalists)

MLS has the possibility for a fifth spot as well, depending on the outcome of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship this summer, which is contested by Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and USSF D-2 side, Montreal Impact and the new team Edmonton FC. The Nutrilife winner receives Canada's lone berth in the Champions League.

The CSL has appealed to the CSA for its league champion to be added as the 4th team to the CONCACAF Champions League tournament as qualification is restricted to the winners of the three-team Canadian Championship, which they have not been permitted to enter – question is why?

Our American cousins to the south have a valid and reliable format which gives every amateur and pro team an equal opportunity to participate in their U.S. Open Cup. Why?

The 2012 Canadian Soccer Association Cup ~ La Coupe de l’association canadienne de soccer could start off in the first week of May 2012, with the beginning of small Tournaments among the PDL Teams.

The west coast has a campaign with the inaugural Coast Capital Cup series which features the three Canadian clubs – Victoria Highlanders, Abbotsford Mariners and the Whitecaps Residency.

The Other PDL Competition on the east side of the country and is called The Victoria Challenge Cup, which is a pre-season competition between the now six USL Premier Development League clubs from Ontario and one from Manitoba. The inaugural event takes place on Victoria Day weekend.

The six teams here would include: new teams from WS Winnipeg, and Hamilton Rage, plus the four existing teams FC London, Thunder Bay Chill, Toronto Lynx’s and Ottawa Fury.  There will be two groups of three teams.

The winners from the two PDL competitions, East & West, would then play the winner of the CSL single game elimination tournament and the Canadian Amateur Club champion from the past year, in a round robin Tournament format, making this another four team tournament over the second week in June weekend.

The fourteen CSL Teams would compete over a four-week schedule, playing one game a week.

The four-team round robin tournament would be played in middle of June and the winner would compete in a home-and-away against FC Edmonton of the NASL. The winner of this match then advances into the final group stage of the Canadian Soccer Association Cup ~ La Coupe de l’association canadienne de soccer. 

The above projections are accurate when considering this year’s standings; however next year may look very different with the possibility of more expansion into the NASL and USL.  Additional teams may include Ottawa Pro, Calgary and Quebec City. We all anticipate more teams to make this competition even more fun and exciting.

All other details such as prize money, sponsors and media rights can be discussed at a later date.

The time is NOW!  Let’s get the ball rolling!