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It's been a challenging few months for Canadian national team keeper Milan Borjan. Plagued by injuries and a lack of playing time with his Turkish club, Sivasspor, the talented 6 foot 4 shot stopper was not called up for Canada's recent World Cup qualifiers.
However, with the announcement this week that he has been loaned to Romanian Liga I side FC Vaslui, it appears there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel.
His announced move to Romania this week is expected to result in consistent playing time for Borjan and that announcement was very quickly followed by the news that the 24 year old keeper had been called up to represent Canada in its friendly fixture against Armenia on February 29th.
According to Borjan, he is excited about the move and is hopeful the development will enable him to consistently represent Canada in its upcoming World Cup qualifying matches.
"It's a good move for me because I am going to get playing time and because I need to play to get called up to the Canadian National Team. I want to make history with the National Team and make the World Cup. I think it is going to be a good experience for me," says Borjan.
Asked if Vaslui has brought him in to be their number one keeper, Borjan is confident that he will have every opportunity to earn a position as the team's starter.
"They don't have a solid number one keeper, so we will see how the games go and how I play. Hopefully I will do well. They have brought me in as a first goalkeeper."
With his national team teammate Josh Simpson recently having left Turkey due to unpaid wages and with rumours about financial troubles at Sivasspor, Borjan was also quick to dispel any rumours about his recent club situation in Turkey.
"No, it was nothing to do with the financial situation (at the club). I came from Serbia to Turkey and it is a big difference. In Turkey they play much faster football and everything and I just couldn't get adapted fast enough to be playing enough. I have made the move now to Romania to get playing time. I will be there on loan until June and then I will go back to Turkey."
While he is scheduled to return to Turkey in the summer, Borjan did leave the door open to lengthening his stay in Romania.
"It depends really. If the club is willing to keep me for the next year, they can buy me from Sivasspor. We made some arrangements and we will see at the end of the season."
Regardless of how long he stays in Romania, Borjan admitted that he is excited to be joining Vaslui, a club that could see him playing in the Europa League at some point.
"That's something that is really exciting. This team has a great history. This year they played against Lazio and they have had some good results. The team has really good potential. The guys are really good and have accepted me. I'm really happy with the move."
Asked if the style of play in Romania is closer to what he experienced in the Serbian top division compared to Turkey, Borjan expressed his belief that playing in the Romanian Liga I would present him with a good challenge.
"Romanian football is different from Serbian football. It is faster in Romania than it is in Serbia. I will have to see how it goes. I have not followed the Romanian league too closely, but when the season starts, we'll see how everything goes."
Prior to his move to Turkey, Borjan was able to consult with a couple of his Canadian national team teammates (Josh Simpson and Mike Klukowski)to get the low down on his new league. In a similar vein, he now has the opportunity to pick the brains of Canadian forward Tosaint Ricketts, who currently plies his trade with Politehnica Timisara and his fellow national team keeper, Lars Hirchfeld, who previously played professionally in Romania.
"I have not spoken to them. I was waiting to go to Cyprus on Sunday for the national team. Lars is not coming, but I tried to reach Tos. He is in Jamaica right now and has some personal business, so I will speak with him in Cyprus. He will be able to give me some pointers about the Romanian league."
With Borjan excited and positive about his move to Romania, his playing career looks to be back on the right track at the club level. However, before he starts that new journey he will meet up with the Canadian team in Cyprus and work to earn a starting spot against Armenia.
"It's always good to play for the national team. I haven't been in for the last 2-3 games because of some problems with injuries and with my club. So I'm really happy about going and being able to see all the guys. And it is going to be a good thing for me and for the team."
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