These are heady times for Canada on the soccer pitch. People who love the sport in this country have waited a generation for this moment.
Spanning the women’s Olympic gold medal victory in Tokyo last summer to the men’s 2022 World Cup qualification clinching game Sunday in Toronto, the greatest successive days in the history of soccer in Canada have come between August and March.
They will flow through the Island as the Canadian women’s Olympic gold-medal celebration tour comes to Starlight Stadium with a friendly featuring Canada and 11-time Africa champion Nigeria on April 11.
“We are on the up,” Canadian women’s head coach Bev Priestman said in a Zoom call with national sports media Monday.
“A massive amount of work has gone into both [women’s and men’s] programs to put Canada on the map. Each has drawn inspiration from the other. Both programs have motivated each other to push each other to new heights. I was in the stadium and inspired by what the men did Sunday and they were inspired by what we did last summer. It’s incredible. I’m really proud of this organization [Canada Soccer].”
As an indication of how much Canadian fans have embraced the moment, the Canada-Nigeria women’s game at Starlight Stadium sold out quickly, as did the Canada versus Trinidad and Tobago men’s game at Starlight Stadium in 2020, before having to be cancelled due to the pandemic.
“It will be two great nights on the West Coast [Canada also plays Nigeria on April 8 at B.C. Place] to look forward to with packed stadiums,” said Priestman.
The fixtures will serve a practical purpose, as well.
Canada is preparing for the eight-nation 2022 CONCACAF Championship from July 4-18 in Monterrey, Mexico, which serves as the qualification route for both the 2023 FIFA World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Priestman said a blend of old and new will be on display in the two friendly games in B.C.
“It will be a blended roster with Olympic gold medallists and additions,” she said.
“We have to keep moving the roster forward and widening the pool. We will always be investing in youth, so it will be a balance between that and the celebration tour.”
Canada announced its roster Monday for the B.C. Place and Starlight Stadium games. It includes all 22 Olympic champions from Tokyo last year and seven additional players.
cdheensaw@timescolonist.com
