At the end of 2012, we checked in with most members of Canada's medal-winning women's national team, to get their thoughts on the year that was and see what they'd been up to since that epic tournament in London.
Earlier this month, we learned that national-team veteran Kara Lang -- who retired from the game in early 2011 due to injuries -- is mounting a comeback, with designs on getting back on the field for Canada as early as this November. You can, and should, read Sean Fitz-Gerald's story in the National Post for some of the details.
The news came as a shock to most followers of Canadian sport -- and so, what better way to revive the Checking In With CanWNT series than by checking in with a national-teamer who's looking to revive her on-field career for Canada?
So, in this edition, Kara tells us about her road to recovery, what her burgeoning broadcasting career has taught her about the game, the 2015 Women's World Cup, her potential role in the NWSL and more.
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It's been a little under two weeks since the story came out that you're on the comeback trail. What has the reaction been like, and how have you handled it?
The reaction that I got was unexpected and almost overwhelming. Because I've been doing this for so long now without really talking about it, I had gotten used to what I was doing, and then all of a sudden, it's out: this is what's up, this is what I've been up to. Actually, it's given me more motivation -- I've found even in my workouts, now, knowing that there are young girls out there pulling for me to make it back, it makes it more inspiring.
The story caught most Canadian soccer fans by surprise. How tough was that, going through this without being able to let it out to a wider audience?
I wouldn't say it was really tough; it was just the best way to go about it, especially at first when there were no guarantees. Early on it really was just a shot in the dark, I didn't want to talk about it until there was some idea that it was going to work out. It's still not guaranteed for sure, but at this point there's light at the end of the tunnel.
Also, in the beginning I think I was reluctant to talk about it because I still didn't have anything to show for it. It's one thing to say "I want to do this" or "this is what I'm planning to do", and it's another thing to actually do it. Early on it was, "I don't want to talk about this until I have something to show for it". I was advised by the people around me that it's not really about the end game, it's about the pursuit and the journey.
I think I needed to hear that and I also needed to realize that for myself, throughout this whole process, that I really do need to focus on each day, and take it day by day. There are moments where I get frustrated and I get impatient and I want to be on the field now, and that's just not a good way to go about it.
Was there one "eureka" moment when you first started honestly believing that you could make a return to the national team?
I think the moment after I had my evaluation here in Montreal, and the medical staff said "we're looking at you and we think there's something we can do for you". That was the moment when it went from being a long shot to a possibility. For me it went from being something where I was told there was no chance -- so I had accepted that and started to pursue my post-soccer ambitions -- and then all of a sudden, there's huge questions, because now there is a chance, now there is something that could be done. And there's this question that now needs to be answered. That was a big moment.
And also when I really started to amp things up -- in these past two weeks, they've kind of taken everything to the next level. My knee has reacted really well, obviously because of everything we've done for the past few months before elevating the intensity. That's been a really huge factor, that I've responded the way I have in these last two weeks as things are getting more intense, more athletic, more dynamic -- that's really promising.
Doing this comes with a lot of risks -- you mentioned your post-playing ambitions, which include getting your broadcasting career going, and having to put that on hold. There's also the chance of further injury. What makes these risks worth it?
Just knowing that I tried. Yeah, it's a big risk, but I know that I would always have that question in the back of my mind if I didn't try. No matter how far I might succeed in my other goals, that question would always be there. It is a risk and it is hard to walk away from something like broadcasting, where it's hard enough to get your foot in the door as it is, and it's a competitive career -- but at the same time, I just don't want to have any regrets.
There was a point where I didn't, where I was comfortable with my decision and I thought I'd done everything I could. But then B2Ten comes along, and John Herdman comes along, and they've shown me another avenue or another option and I have to look at it.
Did the fact that the next Women's World Cup is in Canada play a part in making you decide to pursue this?
To be honest, yeah, I think the idea of playing in a World Cup at home was a factor. In some sense, it almost feels like that was something that I was meant to do in my career. Thinking about the (2002 FIFA U19 Women's Championship) in Edmonton and just all the other moments where I feel like Canada has unfinished business, and in my own career where I feel like I have unfinished business. It's just sort of that one opportunity to get that revenge or get what we've worked for, and what I have spent my whole career working for. There's never been that cherry-on-top moment, and I hope the World Cup can be that.
A number of your teammates from that U19 team are still playing a big part with the women's national team. Have you remained in constant contact with members of the national team in this time you've been away from the team?
Yeah, quite a few of them I talk to regularly. There are a few who knew what I was doing from the beginning. It's actually pretty remarkable how the core group of players from that team in Edmonton are still on the team now [including Christine Sinclair, Erin McLeod, Robyn Gayle and Carmelina Moscato], and that's a big reason why I'm looking forward to joining them again. Those girls are still some of my best friends.
Now, the ball got rolling on this when John Herdman reached out to you, is that right?
Yeah, I actually spoke to John at the CSA AGM when I was still acting as a player rep. It was May (2012), so not very far away from the Olympics, and he said he knew there wasn't enough time on his end or on my end before the Olympics, but he asked if I'd be willing to explore the possibility of me coming back.
At that point I didn't think that there was any way, but with the respect that I have for John, there's no way I was going to say no. I was willing to have that conversation with him, no matter what. So he mentioned it then, and then we spoke when things sort of settled down after the Olympics, and it went from there.
You've been keeping very busy in the last few years, even if you haven't been on the field -- you've been behind the camera as an on-air host, you were a player rep with the CSA, you've even taken part in a charity game or two. But other than soccer, what have you been up to?
Right away after I retired, I got certified to teach yoga. So I've been doing that for the past two years. I've been involved with some charity work, working with Street Soccer Canada in Toronto. I've been working at my dad's studio, he owns a yoga studio, and I've been spending a bit of time there too.
We've mentioned your broadcasting career a few times -- did being in front of the camera allow you to see and appreciate the game of soccer in a different way than as a player?
Absolutely. When you're a player, at least for me when I was playing, you watch soccer but always from the view of "what can I learn here and apply to my game?" It's great, and I think it's important for every player, but at the same time, it was always to find the lesson somewhere or to learn something, and I never became a casual soccer fan.
Obviously with the amount of soccer I've watched over the past few years I really learned to look at the game in a different way and to appreciate it in a totally different way. It's funny that it took until after I retired to recognize this, but when you can sit back and watch it that way, casually, you really do recognize the creativity and artistry in it. Even though I wasn't thinking about it at that time -- "what can I learn, how can I apply this to my game?" -- I think that is something that I will take with me now if I am successful in getting back on the field.
Another thing I realized in watching so much soccer at the highest level, men's soccer, the World Cup, Euro, Premier League, the best players in the world... I noticed how often they make mistakes. I think that I had this illusion when I was a player that it wasn't OK to make mistakes, and that was really detrimental to me. Now, seeing Messi -- it's rare, but seeing that he loses the ball, that he doesn't score every opportunity he gets, I think I'm going to take that with me too, not to be so hard on myself and realize that when something like that happens, you've just got to let it go and move on to the next play.
This year we've seen the launch of the NWSL. We're putting the cart way before the horse, but have there been any talks about trying to find you a spot in the league for next season?
John and I have spoken about it briefly. I had it on my radar, he said, and I had already been thinking about it -- that if everything goes well, I will need to find a club team to play for. I hadn't presumed that it would be the NWSL because there are only so many allocations available. I've been thinking about that possibility ... ideally, playing in the NWSL is what I would hope to do. It's far away at this point, but it's certainly something I will have to start thinking about.
If the comeback is successful and John does pick you for selection at some point, it will have been at least three years since your last competitive match. That kind of layoff is going to be tough for any athlete in any circumstances, but you're also dealing with the fact that the women's game is evolving very rapidly, with higher skill levels and more parity amongst national teams. So if and when you are declared fit to play and you're named to the women's national team, what are your expectations upon your return?
Well, I'm fully aware of the fact that it's been a long time since I was a part of the women's national team. That's something that I'm conscious of now, and something that my trainers have said I'm going to need to be patient with. Aside from all that, out on the field, the goal of all this training is basically to teach me to move in a completely different way. It's one thing to do that without a ball, and another to do it with a ball at your feet.
So the pressures of getting back are going to be very challenging, because essentially I'm learning to play with a different body. It's going to be challenging, for sure; it's going to be hard and it's going to be frustrating -- and I'm also very conscious of the fact that the game has evolved. Even now, part of my frustration was not with how long this process takes, it's that my future teammates and my future competitors are getting better every day, and I'm still not touching a ball. Well, I am, but it's very simple right now.
I'm well aware of that fact. It's something I think about, but at the same time, that's all part of this, it's all part of this risk. The fact that John came to me and told me that he believes in me and he thinks there's something I can bring to this team, it's motivating, and I need to keep reminding myself about it. He thinks there's something I can bring to the table that they're missing right now, and it's like anything -- you need to focus on your strengths, and that's what I plan to do.
Starting from the time you announced your retirement in early 2011, to the current day, where you're trying to make a comeback with the women's national team, if you could try to sum up that journey, what would you say?
It's been an incredible learning period for me. I started so young with the national team that I did miss out on some major life moments and I think, if anything, in these last few years I've been able to live a normal life in that sense.
But at the same time, I realize my love for the game never went anywhere. In fact, as we talked about before, the opportunity to sit down and watch so much soccer appealed to me in a completely different way, giving me a newfound love for the game. I think that as weird as it might be and as frustrating as it's going to be when I come back after three years away from the game, I think that in some ways it made me a better player. From watching, and just the perspective that I have now, coming back to the game completely different -- I think, more mature, more aware and I'm more self-aware. So I think that's what these last three years have shown me.
I'm pretty sure I speak on behalf of every Canadian soccer fan when I say good luck with your comeback and we hope to see you back out on the field very soon.
Thank you very much, I appreciate it.
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