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EIYSA-EMSA Merger


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Soccer associations find compromise

John Korobanik, The Edmonton Journal

Published: 3:21 am

EDMONTON - The engagement rings are on the fingers and the two fueding Edmonton soccer associations are walking down the aisle towards what may finally be a marriage to end years of bickering.

The Edmonton Minor Soccer Association and the Edmonton Interdistrict Youth Soccer Association have reached an agreement in principle to form a united organization, Soccer Edmonton, to run all youth soccer programs in the city.

Like many wedding ceremonies, however, there are still details to be worked out.

We both really want this to happen and we're really close to what we all want, but this is not a done deal,' EMSA president Mario Charpentier said following a meeting of the board of directors Saturday.

"We looked at all the issues, made some suggestions and those will go back to EIYSA on Monday or Tuesday, then they'll get back to us."

Charpentier said the two groups have had plenty of meetings in the past "but never reached a final marriage. This time we're so close, now it's just some minor things."

One of those things will be trying to get parents to put aside their petty differences and their selfish demands for their own children for the betterment of soccer programs in the city.

"You have to remember we're dealing with parents here and feelings get involved, and common sense often doesn't mean much," said Charpentier. "But both groups want this to happen, having two organizations isn't working. But we have to take it step by step."

The two groups and the Alberta Soccer Association finally reached the tentative agreement late in the week, with the help of mediator Marguerite Trussler.

The directors of both EIYSA and EMSA still have to approve the merger and then the membership of both associations will have to do the same. The groups hope to have the new organization operating by the start of the 2008 outdoor season and Charpentier said there will likely be a lot more meetings between now the final merger.

"When you look at the title it looks beautiful but I'm telling you ... we're going to be have to be in meetings and getting people involved every day. The big things you can agree with then you go to the details and those are the things that make it tough

"The main thing is....this time we're so close This time we feel the EIYSA people are really trying to accommodate this thing and we are too. When two groups sit down and talk with the right attitude, I don't think there will be a problem we can't solve."

At the same time, he said it will likely take until the end of February, "if everything goes perfectly" before final approval is received.

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This is great news. It is really ironic that Mr. Charpentier sees parents as being the 'problem' with bringing sense to the Edmonton soccer scene. As a parent that has talked with many, many parents, this is what parents want. The only thing stopping this from happening has been the administrations!

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