Most everyone agrees that the Canadian women’s field hockey team has blossomed under coach Giles Bonnet.
If it doesn’t, the Canadian women could be facing the most important matches of their career without their coach – with a possible Olympic qualifying playoff later this year. The women have sat out the last six Olympics, last competing in 1992 when they finished seventh in Barcelona. “It’s quite crazy to us that we would come this close to qualifying and not have a coach to take us there,” she added.
“It’s a big ask … We’re 21 in the world. The top 11 teams are going to Tokyo, normally,” he said. “It’s sport, there’s always a possibility. But it’s unlikely if you’re a betting man.”“It’s a fantastic group,” he added. “I think the potential of this team is quite remarkable.” The Canadian women lost their Own The Podium funding for 2019-20 after receiving $200,000 in 2017-2018 and $75,000 in 2018-2019.The 10th-ranked men have gone the other way. After collecting just $300,000 in the Rio quadrennial, they have received $1,470,000 ahead of Tokyo .
“We are effectively outsourcing our cost to be in Europe, to the clubs in Belgium,” Bonnet said, noting it would cost $50,000 to hold a one-week camp in Ireland, for example. But while electing to stay away from the issue of governance in an interview, Bonnet was far more candid in a conversation earlier this year with the Belgian podcast Studio Hockey, saying Canada had “followed a very poor strategy in terms of their field hockey over a decade.”
It’s a bizarre situation. Field Hockey Canada says it can’t afford the coach, But in letting him go, it appears to be closing the door on much-needed funding. “The reality of our organization is we do need to build now and build our system to be able to support these top players in the future in a far better way and a far more sustainable way so we are not relying on Own The Podium and government funding,” she added.
“We’re busy. I get it that it doesn’t necessarily help this year when it’s really needed. But we’re truly busy building the strategic plan, the community engagement to get a system that will be sustainable in the future. And we’re doing everything we can to support both teams this year.”
Globe_Sports Curious...how is the men’s team funded? Step up Canada and support our women’s team!
Globe_Sports Is there a crowdfund?