CLEVE DHEENSAW
sa国际传媒
Canadian national soccer team head coach John Herdman appeared live on the big screen inside sa国际传媒 Place during the recent sa国际传媒 Sevens rugby tournament. He thanked British Columbians for their past support of the national soccer side and encouraged them to come out again today.
Which they will do, with 16,000 tickets already sold, and close to a sellout of the lower bowl hoped for as sa国际传媒 take on French Guiana in a decisive CONCACAF Nations League qualifying match. sa国际传媒 needs to win to guarantee its spot in both the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup and 2019-20 CONCACAF Nations League Group A.
The travel-friendly 3 p.m. start time makes it easier for fans from the Island and Okanagan to get to the game, and make it back home on the same day. The game will be broadcast live on TSN-2.
鈥淓very game you play at home is special, but this game has the little something extra as the result could really shape the destiny for sa国际传媒,鈥� Herdman said.
鈥淔or the people of British Columbia, they鈥檝e been amazing at being there for sa国际传媒 when we鈥檝e needed them most, and we need them out again to help this team make history by qualifying for CONCACAF Nations League Group A. I know how important it is for [Canadian players] to play at home so that our heroes in red shirts are visible to our young fans.
鈥淔or the players coming back into sa国际传媒, there is always that extra emotion playing on home soil.鈥�
That is certainly so for goalkeeper Simon Thomas of Victoria, the lone sa国际传媒 player on the Canadian team.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an honour to be selected for sa国际传媒, and it鈥檚 even more exciting when it is in sa国际传媒 because we haven鈥檛 played on the West Coast much lately,鈥� Thomas said.
Thomas plays in the Norwegian First Division for KFUM-Kameratene Oslo, so any trip back home is appreciated.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 get to come back to sa国际传媒 much. So these games in front of friends and family are extra special,鈥� said Thomas, who married wife Charlotte at the Fairmont Empress in December.
鈥淚 am going to have more than 20 people out to see me [today].鈥�
Thomas and Maxime Crepeau, of the Vancouver Whitecaps, know that today they will be dressed, but backing up sa国际传媒鈥檚 unquestioned No. 1 goalkeeper Milan Borjan, who last season helped lead Red Star Belgrade to the Serbian SuperLiga title and qualification for the UEFA Champions League.
Thomas and Crepeau are battling it out to be chosen as the 39-time capped Borjan鈥檚 top backup this summer in the Gold Cup and eventually in World Cup 2022 qualifying.
鈥淲e鈥檙e a competitive group in the crease. We all push each other and nobody gives an inch, but we鈥檙e all good friends,鈥� Thomas said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a very good and productive environment,鈥� said the six-foot-three Bays United and Lower Island Metro product.
sa国际传媒 has called in its top players from European clubs for today鈥檚 game.
鈥淭his is the place to be. It鈥檚 the most exciting time I鈥檝e experienced with the national team,鈥� Thomas said.
In a major blow, however, sa国际传媒 will be missing the injured Alphonso Davies, the former Whitecaps prodigy now with Bayern Munich.
The top 10 of the 34 CONCACAF nations will qualify for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup, with the top six also qualify for 2019-20 CONCACAF Nations League Qualifying Group A. sa国际传媒 is in third place with the full nine points after its previous three qualifying games. French Guiana is 12th with six points and must beat sa国际传媒 today to qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
There will be an alumni section today at sa国际传媒 Place for former national team players from this province, including many from the Island, including 1986 World Cup qualifying hero George Pakos.
