In the late stages of 2012, the word that best characterised the Canadian Soccer Association would be momentum. A few months later that word has transformed into limbo. Canada’s program was rapidly moving towards the competitive position that they envisioned themselves on all levels of the organisation. In their centennial year Canada Soccer had plenty of celebrate. The Women’s program had recently won a Bronze medal at the London Olympics and had won the nation over in the process, representing the greatest moment in the history of Canadian soccer.

At the same time the Men’s team were making headlines for their own reasons. Not only were the boys in red filling stadiums for the first time in recent memory, they were having success on the pitch as well. With one game left in Round 4 of CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers Canada needed only a tie to advance to the final stage for the first time in multiple years. However, a now infamous 8-1 loss to Honduras momentarily derailed the entire program and has left it in a stage of shock and disarray. That is why the term limbo currently describes the situation, the state of Canadian soccer is currently an unknown.

However, a large portion of the momentum that currently resides within the Canadian program doesn’t come from the Senior Men’s National Team. They represent the old guard, the old Canadian soccer mentality. A mentality that has gotten the program nowhere. The momentum and future resides in the Canadian youth programs. They are the motivation behind change in the program. Changes that Canadian youth international Jonathan Lao can already distinguish.

“I think there have already been a few changes that have been taken place”, Lao tells Last Word On Sports, “I find that there are a lot more camps put in place, which is good because it allows each team to gel together and the players get to learn more about each other. I also find that we are getting really good competition for our exhibition games. This allows us to see how we compare to other countries.”

For Lao Canada Soccer has already presented several positives for him in his short but promising career. His experience is one he currently considers the highlight of his career: “My highlight of my career would have to be representing Canada in a youth Fifa qualifying tournament. I was 16 at the time and was fortunate enough to be a part of the u17 Canada Men’s National team that went to Tijuana, Mexico for Qualifiers…It was the first time I got to represent my country at a world stage and it is something neither my family nor I will ever forget.”

Furthermore, soccer has recently been dominated by a mercenary mentality. The rate at which players exchange clubs for financial reasons is increasing and has crept its way into the international game, with Canada already feeling the effects. Money has resulted in International soccer taking a step back in terms of importance to players. However, Lao still believes playing for his country is more important then club, something that the Association will certainly hope to replicate in other players.

“Being able to play for your Country is an amazing accomplishment”, explains Lao, “and it’s an even bigger honour [then playing for your club]. You get to represent your family and millions of wonderful people.”

Should this become the new mentality of Canadian soccer players of the future then Canada may be able to right a ship that has been sailing with some difficulty for an extended period of time. The Men’s program only have to look to the women’s program for inspiration.

Although multiple factors negate the possibility of the Men’s program using the women’s as a blueprint Jonathan Lao certainly believes that their accomplishments will translate: “I think it does translate in a way to the Men’s program because it is one association and we are one country. I think it gives the Men’s program hope and belief. If the Women’s program is on track with the rest of the world, then the Men’s program can’t be far behind and I think this victory really gave the Canadian soccer fans something to look forward to [from the Men].”

In Lao’s opinion, Canadian soccer supporters will not have to wait as long as some would think for all this to be realised: “I strongly believe that Canada will be in the next World Cup (Russia 2018). With that being said, Canada has 5 years to prepare for its qualifiers. The coaches and staff who are involved with a Canada Men’s Soccer Team (u15 to the Men’s) are doing everything they can to prepare their players who are going through the system. Our current youth teams are doing unbelievable which give our Men’s National Team a good source for players.”

Finally, with regard to the aforementioned loss to Honduras, he believes that it has positive undertones. Furthermore, the loss did not alter his perception of Canada soccer: “My perception of Canadian soccer is still really good. I feel that the score of the game and how the game played out was not fair. Every team will have a game where nothing seems to go right and that is how I see that Honduras game. I still have a strong passion for Canadian soccer, being one player myself, and I strongly believe that the loss taught us to develop and to have a killer instinct to score goals and to finish games off to get the three points.”

Canada soccer is currently experiencing a hangover that had to be expected with the ousting of the old guard. However, legitimate hope is on the horizon for the sport in Canada. In fact, the next generation may offer the best hope Canada has ever had.

Main photo credit: S.S.K. via photopin cc