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Pellerud demands improvement
By JIM MORRIS
CARSON, Calif. (CP) - Ask players on the national women's soccer team to describe coach Even Pellerud and one word is repeated.
"He's very demanding," veteran midfielder Andrea Neil said Friday, after Canada practised in preparation for Sunday's Gold Cup championship game against the United States. "He wants a certain thing from his players." "He's demanding," said defender Kristina Kiss. "He knows exactly how he wants us to play and he gets that across to us very well."
"He demands a lot from the players," said captain Christine Sinclair, who sat out the practice to rest a sore hamstring. "I think all the players respect him. He demands that respect."
A 4-0 win over Jamaica in Wednesday's Gold Cup semifinal game qualified Canada to play in the FIFA women's World Cup next September in China. It's the second time Canada has qualified for the World Cup since Pellerud took over as national team coach in 1999.
"I would have really not reached my personal goals if we had not qualified," Pellerud said as he sipped from a cup of water as his team practised on a hazy afternoon.
"When I took the job I didn't really know what to expect. There was a lot of ground to work to be done."
With a 123 international games to her credit, Neal has more caps than any other player on the current team.
She said there has been bumps on the road but Pellerud has the team travelling in the right direction.
"There were a lot of dry years for the Canadian women's soccer program prior to Even coming here," said Neal, a team leader along with Sinclair and midfielder Amy Walsh.
"Sure there has been peaks and valleys under him, but it's been nothing but a constant wave forward."
Pellerud, 53, played professional soccer in his native Norway and made one international appearances with the national team.
He coached the Norwegian women's team for six years, winning a silver medal at the 1991 World Cup and a bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.
Pellerud was hired after the Canadian team failed to qualify for the playoffs at the 1999 World Cup. His first task was to change the culture of the team.
"The first thing we had to address was the overall professionalism, in terms of fitness, in terms of commitment, in terms of spending time playing soccer," he said.
"Slowly but surely, the players have taken on the challenges, have adopted soccer as a lifestyle priority. There was a lot of skills to work on, a lot of talent to work on.
"It has been a big job and the job hasn't finished."
Sinclair said Pellerud has had a ripple affect on the entire program.
He's encouraged the development of youth leagues and under-20 teams to increase the talent pool.
"It's more than just this team," said the Burnaby, B.C., native, who expects to play in Sunday's Gold Cup final. "He's demanded a lot from the CSA (Canadian Soccer Association) to focus on women's soccer."
Pellerud also pushed for the current residency program where national team players are paid to live and train in Vancouver.
"Before we would see each other twice a year," said defender Isabelle Morneau of Longueuil, Que.
Neal said Pellerud sets high standards.
"He wants a certain thing from his players," said the Vancouver native. "There's been a lot of players cycling in and out over the years that are no longer here.
"Yes he is demanding but he simplifies things. He doesn't try to stamp the creatively out of players."
Pellerud is a compact man with grey hair and piercing eyes who speaks his mind.
After Wednesday's win, he accused the Jamaican team of delaying the game by "cheating, lying down and crying."
Jamaican coach Vin Blaine retorted by calling Pellerud rude.
"He's pretty intense next to most coaches I have had," said Kiss, an Ottawa native who has played in the W-League, NCAA and with a couple of t
By JIM MORRIS
CARSON, Calif. (CP) - Ask players on the national women's soccer team to describe coach Even Pellerud and one word is repeated.
"He's very demanding," veteran midfielder Andrea Neil said Friday, after Canada practised in preparation for Sunday's Gold Cup championship game against the United States. "He wants a certain thing from his players." "He's demanding," said defender Kristina Kiss. "He knows exactly how he wants us to play and he gets that across to us very well."
"He demands a lot from the players," said captain Christine Sinclair, who sat out the practice to rest a sore hamstring. "I think all the players respect him. He demands that respect."
A 4-0 win over Jamaica in Wednesday's Gold Cup semifinal game qualified Canada to play in the FIFA women's World Cup next September in China. It's the second time Canada has qualified for the World Cup since Pellerud took over as national team coach in 1999.
"I would have really not reached my personal goals if we had not qualified," Pellerud said as he sipped from a cup of water as his team practised on a hazy afternoon.
"When I took the job I didn't really know what to expect. There was a lot of ground to work to be done."
With a 123 international games to her credit, Neal has more caps than any other player on the current team.
She said there has been bumps on the road but Pellerud has the team travelling in the right direction.
"There were a lot of dry years for the Canadian women's soccer program prior to Even coming here," said Neal, a team leader along with Sinclair and midfielder Amy Walsh.
"Sure there has been peaks and valleys under him, but it's been nothing but a constant wave forward."
Pellerud, 53, played professional soccer in his native Norway and made one international appearances with the national team.
He coached the Norwegian women's team for six years, winning a silver medal at the 1991 World Cup and a bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.
Pellerud was hired after the Canadian team failed to qualify for the playoffs at the 1999 World Cup. His first task was to change the culture of the team.
"The first thing we had to address was the overall professionalism, in terms of fitness, in terms of commitment, in terms of spending time playing soccer," he said.
"Slowly but surely, the players have taken on the challenges, have adopted soccer as a lifestyle priority. There was a lot of skills to work on, a lot of talent to work on.
"It has been a big job and the job hasn't finished."
Sinclair said Pellerud has had a ripple affect on the entire program.
He's encouraged the development of youth leagues and under-20 teams to increase the talent pool.
"It's more than just this team," said the Burnaby, B.C., native, who expects to play in Sunday's Gold Cup final. "He's demanded a lot from the CSA (Canadian Soccer Association) to focus on women's soccer."
Pellerud also pushed for the current residency program where national team players are paid to live and train in Vancouver.
"Before we would see each other twice a year," said defender Isabelle Morneau of Longueuil, Que.
Neal said Pellerud sets high standards.
"He wants a certain thing from his players," said the Vancouver native. "There's been a lot of players cycling in and out over the years that are no longer here.
"Yes he is demanding but he simplifies things. He doesn't try to stamp the creatively out of players."
Pellerud is a compact man with grey hair and piercing eyes who speaks his mind.
After Wednesday's win, he accused the Jamaican team of delaying the game by "cheating, lying down and crying."
Jamaican coach Vin Blaine retorted by calling Pellerud rude.
"He's pretty intense next to most coaches I have had," said Kiss, an Ottawa native who has played in the W-League, NCAA and with a couple of t
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