Fury star to play for Canada
Midfielder says ‘results matter most’
Ottawa Fury FC midfielder Julian de Guzman is suiting up one more time for Canada.
The veteran player, who has been a past captain of the Canadian squad, was named to the team Tuesday by the team’s new head coach Benito Floro. The first matches will be against tiny Dominica in a homeand-away series starting June 11 in Roseau before returning to Toronto on June 16.
“Getting the call up is always a wonderful feeling and everyone wants to be involved. Getting the results is what matters most,” de Guzman said in a statement.
Ottawa Fury FC head coach Marc Dos Santos hailed the selection as “not only important for Ottawa Fury FC, but also for the player.”
“Julian cares a lot about the Canadian program and is always ready when he’s called up. We wish him a lot of success.”
Fury FC will be without De Guzman’s services for the final game of the NASL Spring Season, taking place June 13 against San Antonio.
The Scorpions will be without the services of Nana Attakora who is the second NASL player named to the Canadian national team.
They will join Calgaryborn Tesho Akindele.
“I’m extremely excited, just honoured to get a chance,” Akindele told The Canadian Press.
Akindele, named MLS rookie of the year in 2014, accepted and then declined a Canadian invitation in November and attended a U.S. camp in January. But he has yet to be cap-tied.
That will change as soon as he sets foot on the field for Canada, currently ranked 115th in the world.
Akindele, who attended a Canadian under-17 camp in Costa Rica in the past, said he consulted friends, family and teammates in making his decision.
“Also I just thought I was born a Canadian citizen,” Akindele said.
“Every time I dreamed of international soccer, it was Canada that I thought of. Because I never knew I’d have the option of playing for America.
“So, I thought I should just go with what I’ve always felt my whole life.”
Floro says there’s at lot at stake against Dominica.
“I hope my players understand the situation, because it will be very, very bad if we don’t play well.”
Next up for Canada following the Dominica series is the Gold Cup, the CONCACAF championship which runs July 7-26. Canada will be grouped with Costa Rica, El Salvador and Jamaica.