As we edge another week closer to Canada’s next friendly, away to Panama, it is important to monitor and ensure the players who have been Benito Floro’s mainstays so far in his tenure continue to have meaningful minutes for their domestic clubs. While it wasn’t a prolific weekend for Canucks Abroad, there are signs that the foundation of the team now and moving forward is strong and continues to make appearances around the world. From Dejan Jakovic in Japan to Daniel Haber in Cyprus and Randy Edwini-Bonsu in Germany, there are important stories to keep an eye on in the coming weeks before traveling to Panama City on November 18.
In Cyprus
While there are no massive performances in Cyprus, there are interesting developments that will effect the youth of Canada’s National team in the near future.
With Daniel Haber on loan to Ayia Napa from Apollon, news broke over the last two weeks that Toronto FC centre back Doneil Henry had in fact been sold to a team in Cyprus and is currently on loan. Coincidentally, it is Haber’s club Apollon that Henry has been sold to. There are mixed feelings with regards to the Cypriot First Division, however, with decent performances in European competitions over the last few years, the league could be a stepping stone to a higher caliber of football in the continent.
Haber continues to ply his trade in the Cypriot First Division and put in performances that hopefully will result in either returning to the starting line-up at Apollon or moving onto another league in Europe. Ayia Napa are struggling near the bottom of the table, but this weekend earned an important three points away to Omonia Nicosia. Haber looks to have gotten on the end of the cross that lead to the game-winning goal and has had some good performances of late. At only 22 years of age, it is encouraging to see an attacking option for Canada playing week in week out at a good level of competition.
In Japan
It has been somewhat of an up and down career for Yugoslavian-born Dejan Jakovic. Coming back to North America in 2009 to play for MLS side DC United, he has had several injury-plagued seasons that have hindered cementing his reputation as a solid centre back for club and country. Many Canadian supporters will recall his impressive performance in a 0-0 draw with the United States back in early 2013, but that might have been forgotten by following it up with a DC United season that finished dead last in the league.
In the off season, Jakovic made a bold move and went literally around the world and signed on with J-League side Shimizu S-Pulse. This was the same club that former Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Daigo Kobayashi was at before he arrived to MLS in 2013. It has been a tough year for Jakovic for the Shizuoka Prefecture club, as even though he has gained meaningful minutes, it has been a tough season for the club, who have been in relegation danger for several week.
This past weekend though, they had massive away result against a much more formidable club in Kawasaki Frontale. Jakovic went the full 90 minutes as a 90’ winner from substitute Kazuya Murata gave Shimizu the 3-2, but most importantly three points that has temporarily put them out of the relegation zone. Sitting two points ahead of Omiya Ardija with four games left in the season it will be a tough go as two of their opponents are in the top six, with one being second place Gamba Osaka. Two wins could be enough and will be important to furthering S-Pulse’s chances at staying in the J-League.
In Turkey
A week ago Atiba Hutchinson’s Besiktas were sitting pretty at the top of the Turkish Super Lig Now seven days later, and two losses on the bounce, they have dropped to fourth in the table and in need of three points quickly.
Hutchinson continues to prove to be essential wherever he plays and earning 90 minutes each week, as he went the full match in both encounters this week. Unfortunately they were both losses as a 3-2 defeat to Kayseri Erciyesspor was tough enough to deal with, but this past weekend, at home, were soundly beaten 2-0 by rivals Fenerbahce. It will be a busy November with two Europa League fixtures and two league fixtures, despite an international break. Both league games are against teams below them in the table, and will be critical matches to ensure Besiktas keep pace with leaders Fenerbahce and Galatasaray.
Edwini-Bonsu's quick thinking on the corner starts off the set pieces that leads to the tying goal in a 1-1 draw with Dynamo Dresden.
Daniel Haber crosses in the ball for the winning goal in an important 2-1 win over Omonia Nicosia.
Here's how the rest of Canada's Internationals did Across the Pond:
Milan Borjan – Ludogorets (BUL – D1):
Friday, October 31, did not play in a 4-0 victory over Marek.
Daniel Haber – Ayia Napa (CPR – D1):
Sunday, November 2, played 71 minutes in a 2-1 victory over Omonia Nicosia.
David Edgar – Birmingham City (ENG - D2):
Saturday, November 1, did not play (serving suspension) in a 0-0 draw with Wolverhampton.
Simeon Jackson – Coventry City (ENG – D3):
Saturday, November 1, subbed in at the 74th minute in a 2-2 draw with Leyton Orient.
Michael Petrasso – Leyton Orient (ENG – D3):
Saturday, November 1, played all 90 minutes in a 2-1 loss to Walsall.
Marcus Haber – Crewe Alexandra (ENG – D3):
Saturday, November 1, subbed in at the 88th minute in a 1-1 draw with Crawley Town.
Marcel De Jong – FC Augsburg (GER - D1):
Friday, October 31, did not play in a 1-0 loss to Schalke 04.
Andre Hainault – Aalen (GER – B2):
Sunday, November 2, did not play in a 2-1 loss to Eintracht Braunschweig.
Randy Edwini-Bonsu – Stuttgarter Kickers (GER – D3):
Saturday, November 1, subbed in at the 46th minute in a 1-1 draw with Dynamo Dresden.
Nik Ledgerwood – Energie Cottbus (GER – D3):
Saturday, November 1, subbed in at the 76th minute in a 3-0 victory over Unterhaching.
Daniel Stanese – Augsburg II (GER – D4):
Sunday, November 2, did not play in a 2-0 loss to Illertissen.
Iain Hume – Kerala Blasters (IND – D1):
Sunday, November 2, played all 90 minutes in a 1-0 loss to Mumbai City.
Tosaint Ricketts – Hapoel Haifa (ISR – D1):
Saturday, November 1, played all 90 minutes in a 3-0 loss to Bnei Sakhnin.
Tomer Chencinski – Ironi Ramat Gan (ISR – D2):
Next match, Monday November 3 vs. Hapoel Nazaret.
Dejan Jakovic – Shimizu S-Pulse (JPN – D1):
Sunday, November 2, played all 90 minutes in a 3-2 victory over Kawasaki Frontale.
Pedro Pacheco – Santa Clara (POR – D2):
Saturday, November 1, played all 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw with Sporting Braga II.
Jordan Hamilton – Trofense (POR – D2):
Sunday, November 2, did not play in a 1-1 draw with Uniao Madeira.
Luca Gasparotto – Airdieonians (SCO – D3):
Saturday, November 1, played all 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw with Greenock Morton.
Dylan Carreiro – Arbroath FC (SCO – D4):
Saturday, November 1, did not play in a 2-1 victory over Nairn County in the Scottish Cup.
Samuel Piette – Deportivo La Coruna B (SPN – D4):
Saturday, November 1, a 3-1 victory over Silva.
Atiba Hutchinson – Besiktas (TUR – D1):
Monday, October 27, played all 90 minutes in a 3-2 loss to Kayseri Erciyesspor.
Sunday, November 2, played all 90 minutes in a 2-0 loss to Fenerbahce.
Lucas Cavallini – Nacional (URU – D1):
Saturday, November 1, played in a 3-0 loss to Nacional.
ACROSS THE BORDER
Tesho Akindele slots home the opener as FC Dallas get past Vancouver in the Wild Card round of the MLS playoffs.
Tesho Akindele – FC Dallas:
Wednesday, October 29, played all 90 minutes and scored A GOAL in a 2-1 victory over Vancouver in the MLS Cup playoffs.
Saturday, October 25, subbed in at the 73rd minute in a 2-0 loss to Portland Timbers.
Russel Teibert – Vancouver Whitecaps:
Wednesday, October 29, did not play in a 2-1 loss to FC Dallas in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
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