Miller says Gold Cup job still up in the air: FCE players may get added to Canada roster

Colin Miller PHOTO: CANADA SOCCER

When it comes to the 2013 Gold Cup, no one at the Canadian Soccer Association has yet approached Colin Miller to see if he’d be interested in the job.

Miller, the interim coach of the men’s national team, will steer FC Edmonton for this Sunday’s key NASL match against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, then lead Canada in next Tuesday’s friendly against Costa Rica at Commonwealth Stadium. On Thursday, the Canadian roster, selected by CSA technical director Tony Fonseca, was released.

But, with each week that goes by, the Gold Cup gets closer. It kicks off July 7 and wraps up on the 28th. Conveniently, the NASL takes almost all of July off — and Miller could have the time on his hands.

Miller was emphatic that no one has brought up the Gold Cup to him yet — saying “we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.” But he did state that it is his ambition to one day coach the national team full-time.

The first group of players — maybe eight in total, will begin training Friday. The last player to come in to camp will be Edmonton’s own Tosaint Ricketts, who isn’t expected to complete his journey from Norway until a day before the game.

And that group could still be joined by Eddies. While there were no Rabbits on the initial roster, Miller said “that it may still be the case” that some of his club players will play for the country. He said one or two FCE players could draw in based on injuries.

If you’re a betting man, you’d assume that those FCE players up for nomination would be midfielder Shaun Saiko, fullback Edson Edward or striker Michael Cox. All have been regular starters for the Eddies this season. But Miller wouldn’t confirm which players he was thinking about. Obviously, being coach of both club and country, it isn’t an easy political situation for the gaffer.

Ricketts and Eintracht Braunschweig striker Randy Edwini-Bonsu will both have the chance to play in front of their hometown crowd.

“I think it’s exciting that a player can go back home and get to play with the national team,” Miller said of the Edmontonians. “It’s real thrill and honour.”

Four Toronto FC players, including Jonathan Osorio — in line for his first cap — were named to the roster. But, after that, MLS participation is thin. Vancouver Whitecaps’ third keeper Simon Thomas was made available, as was San Jose defender Nana Attakora.

With midweek U.S. Open Cup games, and the second leg of the Amway Canadian Championship final between Vancouver and Montreal set for May 29, most of the MLS clubs said no to Canada. D.C. United didn’t release Dejan Jakovic, Kyle Porter or Dwayne De Rosario. Portland said no to releasing Will Johnson.

In the conference, Miller said he wanted Porter on the team, a far cry from the last time he spoke about the attacking midfielder, when he suggested that the player’s attitude needed an improvement (CLICK HERE). Miller praised Porter’s hard work for getting him into an MLS side.

But Miller said the CSA didn’t want to push the MLS teams.

“We want to build a bit of a relationship with the clubs, rather than ticking them off.”

CANADA ROSTER
GK- Haidar Al-Shaïbani | FRA / Nîmes Olympique
GK- Milan Borjan | TUR / Sivasspor
GK- Simon Thomas | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
D- Nana Attakora | USA / San Jose Earthquakes
D- André Hainault | SCO / Ross County FC
D- Doneil Henry | CAN / Toronto FC
D- Ashtone Morgan | CAN / Toronto FC
D- Adam Straith | GER / FC Saarbrücken
M- Kyle Bekker | CAN / Toronto FC
M- Stefan Cebara | SVN / Nogometni Klub Celje
M – Julian de Guzman | GER / SSV Jahn Regensburg
M- Issey Nakajima-Farran | CYP / Alki Larnaca
M- Jonathan Osorio | CAN / Toronto FC
M- Pedro Pacheco | POR / CD Santa Clara
M- Samuel Piette | GER / Fortuna Düsseldorf
F- Randy Edwini-Bonsu | GER / Eintracht Braunsweig
F- Marcus Haber | ENG / Stevenage FC
F- Tosaint Ricketts | NOR / Sandnes Ulf