Chencinski’s inclusion highlights Canadian national-team roster

Tomer Chencinski

Tomer Chencinski is finally going to get his chance to play for Canada.

The addition of the goalkeeper’s name was the most striking part of the Canadian Soccer Association’s men’s national-team roster announcement ahead of two friendlies in Qatar: March 22 against Japan and March 25 against Belarus.

Chencinski was with Swedish relegation-doomed side Orebro last summer after enjoying a stellar 2011 campaign with Finnish side VPS. But, despite these performances, the former Toronto FC keeper couldn’t earn a call into then-coach Stephen Hart’s national side.

Over the winter, Chencinski moved to the country of his birth, Israel, where he joined league leaders Maccabi Tel Aviv even though that club already has a crowded situation in goal. Nigerian national keeper Vincent Enyeama is the No. 1, while Israeli keeper Barak Levi got the starts while Enyeama was away on national-team duty.

The Canadian keeper was a victim of timing — Levi had to start after Enyeama left for the African Cup of Nations, because the window hadn’t yet opened for Chencinski to be eligible to play. Levi excelled in that time and the coaching staff elected to stick with the hot goalie after Chencinski did become eligible.

Chencinski actually did get a call to join the Canadian national side for its January friendlies against Denmark and the United States, but couldn’t go because of his commitments to MTA. But, at least this call-up will relax some sections of Canadian supporters who were already fretting that Chencinski might represent Israel, instead.

“This camp represents an opportunity to reintegrate our European-based players as we take on two very difficult opponents in Japan and Belarus,” said CSA Technical Director Tony Fonseca in a release. “These two matches will be an important platform for our continued preparations for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup and beyond.”

CANADA ROSTER
GK- Milan Borjan | TUR / Sivasspor
GK- Tomer Chencinski | ISR / Maccabi Tel Aviv
CB- David Edgar | ENG / Burnley FC
CB- André Hainault | SCO / Ross Country FC
CB- Dejan Jakovi? | USA / D.C. United
CB- Adam Straith | GER / FC Energie Cottbus
FB- Marcel de Jong | GER / FC Augsburg
FB- Ashtone Morgan | CAN / Toronto FC
M- Kyle Bekker | CAN / Toronto FC
M- Samuel Piette | GER / Fortuna Düsseldorf
M – Julian de Guzman | GER / SSV Jahn Regensburg
M- Atiba Hutchinson | NED / PSV Eindhoven
M- Will Johnson | USA / Real Salt Lake
M- Nik Ledgerwood | SWE / Hammarby Fotboll
M- Pedro Pacheco | POR / CD Santa Clara
M- Issey Nakajima-Farran | CYP / AEK Larnaca FC
F- Stefan Cebara | HUN / Zalaegerszegi TE
F- Randy Edwini-Bonsu | GER / Eintracht Braunsweig
F- Marcus Haber | ENG / Stevenage FC
F- Simeon Jackson | ENG / Norwich City FC
F- Tosaint Ricketts | NOR / Sandnes Ulf