Canada needs MLS selon Frank Yallop

[Montreal_FC_Fan]

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/EdmontonS ... 77302.html

Frank Yallop has a plan. It's nothing new really, but the skipper of the Canadian men's soccer team feels the time is right for a huge boost in profile for the sport and its players in this country.

International events in Edmonton, along with yesterday's announcement of the FIFA 2007 World Youth championship coming to Canada, are great steps. As well, professional soccer has made some inroads, with A-League success stories brewing in Vancouver and Montreal.

Sadly, there have been some fumbles along the way as well, most notable of late being the failure of the Edmonton Aviators.

But Yallop, who will bring his national side here Sept. 4 for a World Cup qualifier against Honduras, is convinced the time is right for another huge move. He is holding strong a belief that, provided some big-money folks get behind an effort, at least a few hotbeds in Canada could easily attract a Major League Soccer franchise.

"We need some place for these young Canadians to play. The A-League is a good league, but it's part-time, really, and we need a full-time place for these players to play," said Yallop, who was guiding a number of top local players through a camp yesterday at the Edmonton Soccer Association Complex.

"Canada is very good at the under-17s and under-20s and it would be nice to be able to continue that with the men's program."

Yallop is convinced the fans and the interest is out there to back pro soccer in Canada. And since becoming the national team bench boss after his success with the MLS's San Jose Earthquakes, Yallop has found out first-hand the depth of upcoming talent in the youth ranks.

The next step is keeping those young players at home instead of watching them depart for lower levels in Europe, just as local products like Waldemar Dutra and Tam Nsaliwa have done in recent years.

"What they don't have (here) is the dream, the big picture - which is not the A-League.

"If you're a young professional that's not what you want to aspire to," explained Yallop. "You want to get to where you can earn some money and notoriety ... and playing in front of 20,000 fans. That's what we need to show the young players so they can look forward to doing that.

"The States has done a good job of that. We need a young Landon Donovan to play well in his own country and all of a sudden every kid who's interested in soccer can't wait to play in the MLS.

"It's very important we get into that league - each team with 15 Canadians on it. We keep our best players here and (are) competing in a very good league."

Yallop's predecessors and CSA officials have long hoped for such a situation to get Canada out of its doldrums in international play.

"We're kind of spinning our wheels at the moment," said Yallop. "But I can now see light at the end of the tunnel.

"I've spoken to MLS people and they want us in the league. Now we've got to step up and do it."