If you haven't heard, you really need to read this website more. As reported by Duane Rollins yesterday evening, Toronto FC has withdrawn young Canadians Doneil Henry and Ashtone Morgan from the Canadian U-20 national team training camp at the behest of ashen-faced supremo Aron Winter due to (imagine air quotes the size of Volkswagens here) "injury concerns".
Now, as irritated as I am by Toronto's conduct, we haven't got enough information to jump to conclusions. Both Henry and Morgan are defenders. It's possible the Toronto first team has suffered a few injuries in training and will require Morgan and Henry to cover. There are also rumblings courtesy of Rudi Schuller that the two players will be returned to Canada after the Portland game. If this is all true: if Toronto legitimately requires Morgan and Henry and they'll both be back with Canada when the games start to count, I have no problem with that. Canada kicks off the CONCACAF U-20 Championship against Guadeloupe on Monday, March 28. If both Henry and Morgan are in the lineup, having done their duty with TFC, not even the most cynical observer (me) will be able to complain.
At first glance, though, this looks bad. Neither Morgan nor Henry are key players. Morgan was an unused substitute in Toronto's first game of the season against Vancouver and Henry didn't even make it to the bench. There haven't been reports of relevant injuries in Toronto that would require Morgan and Henry to stick around, or at least none that have reached my west coast ears. Grumblings that Henry and Morgan might return after the weekend are only that and you'd think Toronto FC would be quick to publicly re-assure everybody that Canada will get their players back. Moreover, in the Mo Johnston era Toronto had a history of being... reluctant to support their country. Meanwhile, the Vancouver Whitecaps have released their only first-team Canadian U-20, Russell Teibert, without any fuss, in spite of the fact that Teibert is fighting a minor leg injury, is our starting left winger instead of a benchwarmer, and in fact missed much of the 2010 season thanks to another leg injury suffered on assignment with the Canadian U-20 national team.
I admit it. As a Whitecaps fan I'm disappointed, and as a Canada fan I'm worried.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
First off, Toronto fans, please hold your tongues. "Toronto has more Canadian players than Vancouver, woo-hoo!" That's perfectly true and also completely irrelevant; just because Toronto had a four-year head start hoovering up MLS-level Canadian talent doesn't mean they deserve our applause.
The truth is that there's a symbiosis between club and country, especially in Canada where club-based development of players at the U-15 level and below is still in its infancy. The Canadian Soccer Association, ultimately, takes on responsibility for all those young would-be professionals that come up into our ranks. Their youth national programs provide excellent opportunities for players to show their stuff. Whitecaps fans should know this better than anyone, given the prominent role Whitecaps Residency players have had in every recent incarnation of the youth national teams. Not to mention the way Vancouver took Canadian U-17 captain and Player of the Year Bryce Alderson from TFC Academy, benefiting from the CSA's good work in putting Alderson in the spotlight and giving him a chance to succeed. When former Whitecaps defender/midfielder Ethan Gage got the opportunity of a lifetime and moved on to Reading, the articles in England weren't impressed about a spot starter with the USSF D2 Whitecaps who might have played more if he didn't get his nose broke in a reserve match. They were about a U-20 international and the reigning Canadian U-20 Player of the Year.
Bearing this in mind, the reason why the Whitecaps are being so gracious with Russell Teibert is obvious. It's good for the player, who has an opportunity to wear his country's uniform and catch the eye of teams at a higher level. It's good for the team. Teibert will be a stand-out player on a U-20 team that, quite frankly, needs the help, and a few games as a crucial player for your country is much more important than a few practices as just another cog in the MLS machine. It's proper repayment from club to country, as without the CSA's development structure Teibert might be stocking shelves at Safeway right now. He joins two of his former Whitecaps Residency teammates, Coulton Jackson and Derrick Bassi, as well as another familiar face named Ethan Gage. It's a great opportunity for the Whitecaps and it's a great opportunity for Russell Teibert. Canada's going to have a hard time in this tournament, but that just means Vancouver's players have more of a chance to beat adversity and win glory.
Let's just hope Toronto sees it the same way.