Island duo called up for national soccer
Island soccer products Adam Straith and Simon Thomas are back on beam with the Canadian national team after missing a few recent call-ups.
The Bays United and Lower Island Metro graduates were named to the Canadian team for the friendly against El Salvador on Oct. 8 at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, with a portion of the proceeds to go to Hurricane Harvey relief.
Straith has been a recent mainstay of the Canadian back line with 43 caps, including through the last two World Cup qualifying campaigns, and began the 2017 season with FC Edmonton of the NASL before signing last month with Sportfreunde Lotte of the German third division.
It was thought best he get settled in with his German club, so he missed the recent 2-0 Canadian victory over Jamaica before 21,724 fans at BMO Field in Toronto.
“I’m very excited to get into camp on Sunday [in Toronto]. After missing out on the last one, it feels good to get back in with the group and work with everyone again,” Straith said, from Germany.
“Looking at the [Canadian] roster, there are a number of new faces. It gives a chance for hungry younger players to come in and show themselves. We have a steady flow of young talent coming through, and this is a good chance for them to show themselves on the international stage. We know El Salvador quite well, as we have played them a number of times over the past few years, and we know they have the players in their squad to be a dangerous team.”
Canada is an encouraging 2-2-1 under new coach Octavio Zambrano.
“We are going to have to build on our recent performances and positive results, and I think with this lineup, that is definitely possible,” Straith said.
Notables named to the Canadian roster include Cyle Larin from Orlando City, Scott Arfield from Burnley, Samuel Piette of Montreal Impact and Fraser Aird of Dunfermline.
The seven-time capped goalkeeper Thomas, the Islander who plays in the Norwegian Premiership, was one of the two Canadian goalkeepers selected for the El Salvador fixture along with Jayson Leutwiler from Blackburn Rovers.