Canadian Jonathan de Guzman has decided to play for the Netherlands. (Phil Cole/Getty Images)
Soccer: John F. Molinaro
Canadian coach doesn't fault de Guzman for Dutch decision
Last Updated Friday, February 8, 2008
by John F. Molinaro, CBC Sports
"Judas" de Guzman.
That's what some Canadian soccer fans are calling Jonathan de Guzman after the talented midfielder acquired his Dutch citizenship on Wednesday and told the CBC he would not represent Canada, but instead was committing to play for the Netherlands in international competition.
"It's been a hard decision for me to make and I'm happy that I made it," the 20-year-old from Scarborough, Ont., wrote in an e-mail to the CBC. "My family supports me 110 per cent and that's what's most important for me. As long as I have their support, I feel positive with one of the biggest decisions I had to make in my life."
Canada's loss is the Netherlands' gain.
Touted as one of the hottest young prospects in the game ever since making his debut for Dutch club Feyenoord shortly after his 18th birthday, de Guzman could have been the cornerstone of the Canadian national team for years to come. Some pundits even think he could have helped Canada qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986.
"He is probably somebody we could have pencilled in for 10 games a year for the next 10 to 15 years," Canadian national team coach Dale Mitchell told CBCSports.ca.
De Guzman's decision to "go Dutch" serves as a cruel blow to a Canadian national program lacking depth and short of world-class players, but Mitchell doesn't fault de Guzman for choosing to play for the Netherlands, considering that he moved to Rotterdam when he was 12 and became the star he is today because he was nurtured by Feyenoord's youth system.
"Jonathan has been in Holland since he was 12, so you can't say he doesn't have a link to Holland, especially with everything that's happened to him in his soccer career," Mitchell said.
"I mean, that system has been a huge factor in his development. Let's be honest: he's been with Feyenoord since he was 12; if he was in Canada, what youth team would he have been training with? He's been developed in Holland and if he decides because of that he's going to play for Holland, as much as we'll be disappointed, we have to accept it."
Fans not impressed
That viewpoint might not sit well with many Canadian soccer fans — some of whom have taken to calling de Guzman "Judas" and "a traitor" on website message boards — but more players will follow the Feyenoord midfielder's lead until Canadian soccer has a formal structure for developing and retaining talent in place.
Mitchell warns that having three Canadian pro teams — Toronto FC in Major League Soccer, and the Vancouver Whitecaps and Montreal Impact of the United Soccer Leagues First Division — isn't enough.
"We're not in a situation where we can develop top-class players like other countries. We don't have the structure to do it here. When you're talking about the international level, a lot of Canadian players have to go outside the country to be developed," Mitchell said.
So, what would it take to get the proper structure in place in Canada?
"It's gonna take a lot of money, it's gonna take full-time professional soccer, it's gonna take, basically, what every other country has. We don't have it. We have to be honest about that," Mitchell said.
"A lot of people are trying hard and it's good that we have Toronto FC; Vancouver and Montreal have been leaders in the USL, but at the end of the day, it's only two or three clubs, and then we have a lot of youth and amateur teams underneath them, and that's not the way it is in the rest of the world. It's run by professionals. We need to try to move towards that type of a system, but unfortunately it is gonna take a lot of money and a lot of know-how to eventually get there."
While some fans are bitterly upset with de Guzman for choosing the Netherlands over Canada, Mitchell points out the Canadian national team has benefited in the past from players born outside the country making similar decisions.
"It works both ways. You just have to look at where some of our players come from. Thomas Radzinski could be playing for Poland right now, so it's just the nature of the way soccer is now," Mitchell said.
Mitchell wouldn't comment when asked if he plans on personally calling de Guzman to try to convince him to change his mind, but the Canadian coach still holds out hope the young midfielder will one day wear the red and white of Canada, and not the trademark orange jersey of the Netherlands.
"To me, it's not over until he puts the jersey on and plays for Holland … ; I just think you don't shut the door on the situation until you see him playing for another country," Mitchell said.
John F. Molinaro is a reporter for CBCSports.ca whose chief love is international soccer. Contact John here.
Related
More John
- Opportunitas Aequa: Soccer with a social conscience
- 'It was time to walk away': Jason de Vos
- Bordeaux a sip away from winning French title
- Greg Sutton: Standing tall once again
- Toronto FC has serious problems at the back
- Getafe can hold its head high
- Meet the new boss: John Carver is no soft touch
- South American stars add flair to MLS
- What is Mo Johnston waiting for?
- Valencia's season goes from bad to worse
- There won't be a third comeback for Ronaldo
- Canadian coach doesn't fault de Guzman for Dutch decision
- Webster decision could be the second coming of the Bosman ruling
- Instant replay has no place in soccer
- Time for Europe to quit whining about the African Cup of Nations
- AS Nancy is turning heads in France
- Blatter's quota system is misguided
- Lanús' title victory offers hope to soccer fans
- Euro failure an opportunity for England to rebuild
- Italian soccer's problems rooted in serious social issues
- FIFA world player award is a farce
- False dawn on the horizon for Juventus
- Deification of Jose Mourinho is premature
- No more Mr. Nice Guy for Mo Johnston
- Rest in peace, Antonio Puerta
- CSA continues to hijack Canadian soccer
- Shinawatra stain points to the moral corruption of English soccer
- Toronto FC is the hottest ticket in town
- Toronto FC can't use injuries as an excuse
- Giggs a class act on and off the field
- Juan Pablo Angel gives MLS a credibility boost
- Flying Donkeys get wings clipped
- Toronto FC players, coach caught in a catch-22
- Mitchell's legs cut out from him by Canadian soccer officials
- No peace in the valley for Charlton Athletic
- Veron proves you can go home again
- Toronto FC in good hands with Mo
- Manchester United doesn't need Hargreaves
- A strong case for the defence: Paolo Maldini
- Man U and Ronaldo: a match made in heaven
- Sevilla makes Madrid, Barcelona take notice
- Please say it ain't so, Zizou
- Riquelme gets a second chance at Boca
- England is more pussycat than lion
- Apathy is Italy's biggest soccer woe
- Magath's firing makes little sense
- Ronaldo hoping for Italian renaissance
- Olympique Lyon still looking for respect
- Coming to America: David Beckham
- Chelsea feeling blue without John Terry
- Success comes at a price for some Brazilian players
- Hooligans are running amok in Argentina
- Deisler's tale is of hope, not depression
- Thirteen years of hurt for Marseille
- Romanov is making Hearts bleed
- Del Piero's love affair with Juventus
- Manchester stands United
- Beckham's Spanish dilemna
