By J.P. Gencey
jp@canucks-abroad.com

Nick Dasovic has announced his final roster in advance of the U23’s first qualifying clash with the Mexicans on Wednesday March 12th. Canada also plays Haiti on Friday March 14th and finishes Group B play against Guatemala on Sunday March 14th. All games will be held at the Home Depot Centre in Carson, California.

Dasovic cited the lack of preparation time accorded him and his players as a real obstacle to qualifying “What we’ve done is pushed 4 years into 10 days …so it’s been a trying time.”

“It’s not been a perfect scenario by any means. The players know, but to their credit they’re getting on with it.”

Surprisingly, Will Johnson who has earned 4 senior caps for Canada managed to secure a release from his on-loan Dutch club De Graafschap. Johnson had initially been refused a release, but after pleading with management at his club they agreed to let him play for Canada. He landed in California on March 9th and trained with the squad on Tuesday.

David Edgar, another former U20 member was not as lucky as Johnson. Dasovic twice requested the release of Edgar only to have Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan shoot him down both times citing a rash of injuries at the Tyneside club.

“David was willing to come,” said Dasovic. “I don’t understand, even if they have a crisis, he’s not getting any games. I’m just really disappointed.”

His disappointment is warranted as Edgar has yet to see the field this season for the senior Newcastle side. Edgar captained the Newcastle reserve team to a 3-1 win over Blackburn last night (Monday March 10th).

Two Canucks Abroad were released from the squad; Paris Nakajima-Farran of Danish 2nd Division club Naestved BK and Kennedy Owusu-Ansah of Hertha Berlin were victims of the numbers game on the backline. Both players were born in 1989 and will have a chance to compete in Olympic qualifying for the 2012 games in London, England.

A couple of pleasant additions to the program are Jacob Lensky of Feyenoord and Isidro Sanchez-Macip of Puebla. Lenksy made one appearance for the U20’s at the Porto tournament in March 2006, but has not been part of the program since despite the efforts of Dale Mitchell to bring him back into the fold. It was rumoured that Lensky was holding out hope of playing for his father’s homeland.

“I’m not quite sure what the problem was, but when we spoke to him and his agent he was receptive to the idea (of playing for Canada) and he’s looked very sharp so far.” said Dasovic when asked about Lensky.

Sanchez had been summoned for a camp last spring, but was not match fit and did not impress the coaching staff enough to be called back. That changed however when Sanchez and his agent sent Dasovic some game tape of Sanchez playing in the Mexican 1st Division.

"He’s not a very athletic player, but tactically and technically he’s shrewd, and 1 on 1 he’s superb. Plus he’s been playing in the Mexican 1st Division which is a strong level of play."

One player who will not be playing for Canada is Toronto-born defender Steven Vitoria who is property of FC Porto of Portugal. Vitoria was able to represent Portugal at last summers U20 World Cup thanks to his parents having been born there. Dasovic approached him to play, but Vitoria had already turned 21 and under FIFA regulations cannot change his mind.

With the roster set, Dasovic and the team are setting their sights on their first opponent - the Mexicans. Dasovic had a chance to scout the Mexicans during their recent friendly against Finland in Dallas, TX and came away impressed despite a less than impressive result which left the fans in attendance booing El Tri off the field.

“They like to use certain running patterns and movement off the ball, combined with 1-2 passing.” adding ‘“It’s an entertaining style really.”

But he has no illusions that it’s going to be easy to stop Mexico despite them missing their 3 biggest stars at this level in Gio Dos Santos, Carlos Vela and Andres Guardado who all play in the Spanish Primera Liga.

“The thing about Mexico is that once you shut them down one way, they find a second, a third, a fourth way to break you down.”

CANADA U23 Olympic Qualifiers Squad
G - Asmir Begovic - Edmonton, AB - ENG / Portsmouth FC
G - Joshua Wagenaar - Grimsby, ON – Unattached
G - David Monsalve - Brampton, ON - Unattached
D - Graham Ramalho - Calgary, AB - NED / FC Groningen
D - Jacob Lensky - Vancouver, BC - NED / Feyenoord Rotterdam
D - Tyler Hemming - London, ON - CAN / Toronto FC
D - Diaz Kambere - Surrey, BC - CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
D - André Hainault - Hudson, QC - CZE / Sparta Praha
D - Nikolas Ledgerwood - Lethbridge, AB - GER / TSV 1860 München
D/M – Dan Jakovic - Etobicoke, ON - USA / University of Alabama-Birmingham
M - Andrzej Ornoch - Scarborough, ON - DEN / Esbjerg fB
M - Ryan Gyaki - Calgary, AB - GER / FC Hansa Rostock
M - Tyler Rosenlund - Port Coquitlam, BC - Unattached
M - Keegan Ayre - Coquitlam, BC - SCO / Berwick Rangers FC
M/F - Will Johnson - Woodbridge, IL - NED / De Graafschap
M/F - Kyle Hall - Toronto, ON - USA / Syracuse University
F/D - Marcus Haber - Vancouver, BC - NED / FC Groningen
M/F - Isidro Sanchez-Macip - Puebla, Mexico - MEX / Puebla de Zaragoza
F - Andrea Lombardo - Toronto, ON - CAN / Toronto FC
F - Tosaint Ricketts - Edmonton, AB - USA / University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

Nik Ledgerwood: Photo: Dale MacMillan

Head Coach: Nick Dasovic - Burnaby, BC
Assistant Coach: Tony Fonseca - Vancouver, BC
Assistant Coach: Mark Watson - Vancouver, BC
Equipment mgr. & goalkeeper coach: Kevin Muldoon - Oakville, ON
Doctor: Dr. Michael Campbell - Abbotsford, BC
Athletic Therapist: Dwayne Laing - Edmonton, AB
Manager: Dave Nutt - Ottawa, ON