Latest news with #Canadian
Otago Daily Times
a minute ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Phoenix hire former Canada coach who spied on Football Ferns
Bev Priestman, the former head coach of Canada's women's football team who was banned for her role in drone spying scandal at the Paris Olympics, has been named as head coach of the Phoenix women's team. Priestman, who also guided Canada to Olympic glory in Tokyo, has signed a two-year deal. She replaces Paul Temple who left following the conclusion of the last A-League season. Priestman recently finished serving a one-year ban from any football-related activity for her role in the Canadian team's misuse of drones at last year's Paris Olympics. Football's world governing FIFA suspended Priestman after an investigation revealed that she along with other coaching staff used a drone to spy on New Zealand's training session at the Olympics. Following an independent review of the incident by Canada Soccer, Priestman was permanently stood down from the head coaching role. Phoenix Chairman Rob Morrison said the club was thrilled to have made a signing of Priestman's calibre. "We're really pleased to be able to welcome Bev back to football," Morrison said. "We all know she's had a period of time away from the game, but we understand the circumstances and we're really comfortable with this appointment. "Bev can't wait to get started and we're really happy that she's going to be coaching the Phoenix." Priestman had previously worked as head of football with New Zealand Football and mentored current Football Ferns coach Michael Mayne. In total Priestman has coached at four FIFA Women's World Cups, three Olympic Games and three FIFA youth world cups. She's twice been shortlisted for the Best FIFA women's coach award and holds the world's most prestigious coaching qualification, the UEFA pro licence. "Bev is a world-class coach and a top person, and I have no doubt she will bring her winning mentality to the Wellington Phoenix," Morrison said. Priestman said she was grateful for the opportunity. "Huge thanks to Rob, Shaun Gill (director of football) and David Dome (general manager) for giving me this chance to come back to the game I love and hopefully bring some special moments to not only this city, but this country," Priestman said. "Coming back to New Zealand and seeing the Phoenix week in week out as the only professional women's team has been amazing. We have a responsibility now to fly the flag for this country and try to do something special. "On the pitch I want to see players express themselves and be brave. I want players to take risks, play forward, excite the fans and get them out of their seats." Morrison said the signing of Priestman was a big move for the club. "Securing Bev as head coach speaks to the ambition we have for this team. "Signing one of the world's best coaches is a statement for the club, but it is also a statement for the Ninja A-League, reflecting the ambition and investment from APL for the development of the women's game in Australasia." It is a full circle moment for Priestman, who 16 years ago headed up coach development in Wellington. She then went on to be New Zealand Football's director of football development and played a pivotal role in the award-winning Whole of Football Plan.
Perth Now
2 minutes ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Popyrin powers ahead in quest for Canadian double
Reigning champion Alexei Popyrin got his title defence off to a flying start on a mixed day for Australia's men at the Canadian Open. After an opening-round bye, the 18th-seeded Popyrin was made to work harder than expected but still beat Canadian Nicolas Arseneault, ranked No.636 in the world, 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 in their round-of-64 clash in Toronto on Tuesday (local time). Both players were nearly impenetrable on serve, each pounding down nine aces and having similar first-serve percentages (57 per cent for Popyrin, 60 per cent for Arseneault). Break points proved almost as elusive as the Sasquatch, with Popyrin managing the only break of the encounter in the second set. It was one of just three break opportunities the Australian generated for the match. However, Popyrin was even more miserly on his own serve, fending off the only break point Arseneault could manufacture. The Australian is hoping to secure back-to-back titles in Toronto, having won last year's final 6-2 6-4 against Russia's Andrey Rublev. Victory in Canada would be a perfect tune-up to next month's final grand slam of the year, the US Open in New York. While Popyrin safely advanced to the third round in Toronto, compatriot James Duckworth proved no match for third-seeded Italian Lorenzo Musetti. Duckworth put up a good fight in the first set, before Musetti cantered away with the second, clinching a 7-5 6-1 victory. The Italian was virtually invulnerable on serve, winning 90 per cent of his first deliveries compared with 63 per cent by Duckworth. Musetti was also much more effective on return, converting three of the nine break points he set up, while not allowing Duckworth to win either of the two chances he had. Other winners on Tuesday included No.5 seed Holger Rune, of Denmark, No.8 Casper Ruud, of Norway, and 11th-seeded Russian Karen Khachanov. Australia will be looking for more success on Wednesday, when three men will be in action in the second round. Alex de Minaur, hot off clinching his 10th career title with a three-set win in the final of the Washington Open on Sunday, takes on Argentina's Francisco Comesana. Christopher O'Connell faces flamboyant Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, the 23rd seeed, and Aleksandar Vuckic takes on 31st-seeded Brit Cameron Norrie.
CBC
29 minutes ago
- Business
- CBC
Will Canada face higher U.S. tariffs if no trade deal by Friday?
As U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to increase tariffs on non-CUSMA-compliant Canadian goods on Aug. 1 looms, the Power Panel discusses how important it is for Canada to get a new deal by Friday.
CBC
29 minutes ago
- Business
- CBC
What does the looming trade deadline mean for Ontario?
U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening to impose new tariffs on Canadian goods if a deal is not reached before a self-imposed Aug. 1 deadline. Ontario's Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Vic Fedeli speaks with Power & Politics about his trip to Washington, and what a fresh wave of tariffs would mean for the province's economy.
Skift
30 minutes ago
- Business
- Skift
Booking Holdings Builds on European and Asian Strength, While U.S. Lags
Booking Holdings sees many Americans remaining cautious about travel. The good news: It has less U.S. exposure than rivals Expedia and Airbnb. Booking Holdings' gross bookings and revenue in the second quarter exceeded management's earlier forecasts, but the performance highlighted a tale of two markets: strong international demand versus continued weakness in U.S. leisure travel. CEO Glenn Fogel said that the U.S. proved to be the company's slowest-growing region, though executives said conditions improved slightly from the first quarter. "We see generally the top end of the U.S. consumer market will be a little stronger, spending more in the 5-star hotel category, spending more on international travel, including Europe," CFO Ewout Steenbergen said. Meanwhile, "at the lower end, more careful behavior of U.S. consumers" persisted. Overall room nights for hotels and alternative accommodations grew 8%, year-over-year. The works out well for Booking Holdings, which has less exposure to the U.S. market than competitors like Expedia and Airbnb. While inbound travel to the U.S. declined year-over-year, particularly from Canadian and European visitors, strong growth for routes like Canada to Mexico and Europe to Asia offset those declines. "Europe is holding up quite well," Steenbergen said. "We see Europeans booking earlier and booking at higher prices than a
