Canada draws inspiration from We Believe support

Listen to coach Even Pellerud



When Canada’s women’s national team takes the pitch on Wednesday evening, it will be listening to only one chant: “Go Canada Go!” While Canada may be miles away from home and in enemy territory (opponent México is all that stands in the way of an Olympic berth), the Canadian team knows it has the support of an entire nation behind it.



After all, Canadian fans have been sending their support for close to two months with two words at the top of every letter: we believe.



Lining the walls of Canada’s team floor in Ciudad Juarez, México are those very letters of support. There is a letter from the Canadian Olympic Committee, another from the mayor of Vancouver Sam Sullivan, yet another from the premier of Newfoundland & Labrador Danny Williams. The letters spread from coast to coast. Many more came in that carried just the two words themselves, “we believe.”



So on Tuesday evening, the Canadian players sat down to watch an inspirational video that delivered that very message from back home. The video incorporated many of the images sent in by young teams across the country.



The all-important semi-final match between Canada and México will be played at the Estadio Oly­mpico Benito Juárez, starting at 19.30 (local time). The match will be webcast on cbcsports.ca and televised on GolTV (18.30 PT and 21.30 ET). The match will also be televised in México on PCTV.



Said Canada’s title sponsor Winners in one of the letters, “we would like to take this opportunity to wish you the best of luck as you pursue your Olympic dream. You are truly an inspiration to the youth soccer clubs in local communities nation wide.”



Said Tony Waiters, “to someone who has had the great priviledge of being involved with the Canadian men’s national team in winning our way to the Olympics in 1984 and the FIFA World Cup in 1986, I wish you all the best of luck in México. I’m sure that you will make us all proud.”



Fans can still send their support via the email address “believe@soccercan.ca”.



With Beijing the prize after 90-plus minutes of play on Wednesday, the Canadian women’s team has prepared for nothing less than a win over hosts México. Thanks to the thousands of fans back home, Canada also has the inspiration it needs to achieve its goal.