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While he would much rather be playing for Canada as opposed to watching, injured Toronto FC defender Adrian Cann is still looking to play a vital role as the Canadian Men’s National Team kicks off their World Cup qualifying campaign for Brazil 2014 on Friday. Cann and Umbro Canada will be hosting a pre-match event at Umbro’s official 2014 World Cup Qualifier Headquarters before Canada begin their World Cup qualifying campaign against St. Lucia at BMO Field.
“On September 2nd at 5:45pm, Umbro Canada has arranged a congregation for fans and supporters and anyone that wants to come out and support the Canadian National Team in their first World Cup qualifying game at BMO Field. It's going to be at Lamport Stadium and myself, as well as Jim Brennan and Jason de Vos, will be there. And we're pretty much going to have a march to the stadium to support the Canadian team, which I think is something we need at this present time. The World Cup doesn't start for a few years and this is our chance to qualify and we need as many people out there supporting the team,” says Cann.
Fans are urged to wear red and to come out and provide Canada with the type of home support they will need if they are to qualify for the world’s premier sporting event. Refreshments will be served and fans are invited to hang out with Cann and former Canadian National Team defenders Jason de Vos and Jim Brennan. That trio, who would make for a pretty decent back line on the pitch, will be leading the walk from Umbro Canada’s World Cup 2014 Headquarters to BMO Field where they plan to flood the stands with red in support of our Canadian Men's National Soccer Team.
Cann, who returned to Canada in 2010 following a couple of years playing professionally in Denmark, has been impressed with the growth in profile that soccer has enjoyed in Canada over the last several years and he is hopeful that those same fans who have made BMO Field the place to be since the inception of Toronto FC will bring that same passion to the Canadian National Team’s home fixtures.
“I was away in Denmark and when I came back to Canada, the change in the soccer atmosphere in Canada was like night and day. The TFC fans in Toronto are incredible and have made the atmosphere at the stadium what it is today. It is lively, it's fun and everyone is out rooting on the guys. And I think that is carrying over gradually to the National Team and, that said, hopefully this time around we will see that much more support and backing for the Canadian team as they begin a new World Cup run,” says Cann, who is predicting that Canada will defeat St. Lucia by a 2-0 score line on Friday.
As for when Canadian soccer fans will get to see Cann himself playing again, the personable and experienced central defender indicates that while the ACL injury he suffered while training with Toronto FC has prevented him from doing the thing that he loves the most, he is staying upbeat and is positive about the progress he is making with his physical rehabilitation.
“It hasn't been easy, but now that I'm able to walk, my spirits are higher and I feel better. The rehab is going well and I'm doing great. I just can't wait to get running and playing again. For me, not playing is more difficult than ever. Playing is my life and I feel free and at peace when I am on the field playing and amongst the rest of the players on the team. It's been difficult and I'm not going to lie about it, but, mentally, I think going through something like this, I'm focusing on the positives rather than the cons.”
With medical advances meaning that ACL injuries are no longer career threatening injuries, Cann believes that he will return to the pitch at 100% and resume the type of form that made him Toronto FC’s Most Valuable Player in 2010.
“My ultimate goal is to be back for December/January, prior to preseason. I think that would be ideal. The surgeon that did my surgery did a great job and the physios that I work with at TFC - Carm, Marcello and Shawn - they are doing a great job with me and I go in there pretty much every day and do my rehab. So at the present time I am in the gym doing weight training and treatments for my leg. Everything is going well.”
Until he is back on the pitch winning headers and closing down opposition attackers, Cann is excited to lead the charge off the pitch, as he, Umbro and the rest of the Canadian soccer community works to rally support for the Canadian Men’s National Team.
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