Straith looks to re-ignite soccer career in Germany

A familiar face will be missing when Canada meets Jamaica in a soccer friendly today at BMO Field in Toronto (4 p.m. PT on TSN1).

Defender Adam Straith of Victoria, who has been a recent mainstay of the Canadian back line with 43 caps including through the last two World Cup qualifying campaigns, will stay in Germany to acclimatize with his new club team.

Straith, who began the 2017 season with FC Edmonton of the NASL, signed last month with Sportfreunde Lotte of the German third division.

“Octavio [Canadian head coach Octavio Zambrano] got in contact with me shortly after I signed, and he indicated that he felt it was important for me to first get settled in with the move and also to get settled within the team [Sportfreunde Lotte],” said Straith.

“We both felt the timing was too short after signing to have to come back for this camp in Toronto.”

The Bays United and Lower Island Metro product was a favourite of former Canadian head coach Benito Floro. But in the first major tournament of the Zambrano era, Straith was named to the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup roster in July, but did not see the field during the tournament.

“I hope to be involved in the future, as there is nothing that I am more proud of than playing for my country,” said Straith, who turns 27 on Sept. 11.

At the club level, the Islander sees a great opportunity with Sportfreunde Lotte, because it returns him to the country where he began his pro career from 2008 to 2013 in the German second division with Energie Cottbus before further career stops in FC Saarbruckken and SV Wehen Wiesbaden in Germany, Fredrikstad in Norway.

“I’m very excited to be back in Germany,” said Straith.

“This is the country where I feel I grew up as a professional football player, and I have always felt comfortable here. When I had the chance a couple of weeks back to come to Germany, it honestly did not take me long to decide that this was the correct next right step for me. I missed how seriously football is taken over here. The competition for places is extremely high, and that is an element that I love.”

Meanwhile, Straith’s Canadian teammates today will be looking to avenge the 2-1 loss in July at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale to Jamaica in the Gold Cup quarter-finals

“I will be cheering on the boys from Europe, which will most likely mean setting my alarm quite early on Sunday morning,” said Straith.