Floro: Akindele, Roberts and Johnson all “new” to me By Steven Sandor Posted on June 9, 2015 2 0 837 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Benito Floro Canadian national-team coach Benito Floro is working with three “new” players as the team prepares to begin its qualification process for the 2018 World Cup. FC Dallas striker Tesho Akindele, FC Edmonton defender Mallan Roberts and, um, Portland Timbers midfielder Will Johnson are all new players, in Floro’s eyes. Wait? Will Johnson? The Canadian national-team veteran? Floro put him in the “new-to-me” category, because Johnson has just come back from a broken leg; and that injury has kept him away from the national side since Floro took over as the boss. And Johnson’s role could be all the more important, considering that midfielder Atiba Hutchinson will be out of the June 11 qualifier at Dominica and the return leg June 16 at Toronto’s BMO Field. There is no plan to bring in a player to take Hutchinson’s roster spot. “It is possible for all players [on the roster] to play some minutes,” said Floro. He said it was vital for the three players he has yet to see before to get integrated into the Canadian system, and learn how the team plays. Benito Floro The curve will be especially steep for Roberts, the big centre back who was also a major football (as in, with the helmets and tackling) out of high school. Roberts, who came to Canada with his father from Sierra Leone, got his Canadian citizenship earlier this year. He was called into the national side on Saturday, as a late replacement for the injured Dejan Jakovic. “I saw him play two or three games,” said Floro. “I was talking with Colin [FCE head coach Colin Miller], and he gave me a very good impression, that Roberts was a player who could play with us. He’s a young boy, physically good, technically it is possible for him to increase his level.” Veteran midfielder Julian de Guzman said that Canada will take Dominica very seriously, but the players will also look at this as an opportunity to further adapt to Floro who, after a year, is essentially still new on the job. “It’s something we don’t want to overlook; these are very important moments for our team, in terms of improving things we have to work on.” The Canadian Soccer Association is hopeful that a stream will be available for the match in Dominica on Thursday, but nothing will be known for certain till the team and officials arrive in the Caribbean nation. TO READ STEVEN SANDOR’S COVERAGE OF THE WOMEN’S WORLD CUP, GO TO SPORTSNET.CA Sinclair rescues Canada at Women’s World Cup Canadian women looking for World Cup redemption
