Yeah, I love Canada, but in truth soccer is soccer to me. It's all pretty much the same, so if the Czech team came and asked me - maybe, sure. But they didn't, so I'm going to the call up just focussing on it and playing my game. Some people don't like it and that's ok.
That's Jacob Lensky talking to Red Nation Online about his future international plans. It's part of a full interview that you can read here.
Most Canadians will likely react ambivalently to what Lensky says. On one hand it's nice to see that he "loves Canada" and that he's willing to play for it, but on the other it seems like he might be willing to jump ship if the call came from elsewhere.
Soccer is soccer, after all. And there is little doubt that Czech Republic soccer is a little more advanced than Canadian soccer.
Still, one of the biggest problems Canadian fans have had with most of the ship jumpers is the lack of honesty they have displayed during the decision. In some cases -- Owen Hargreaves and Asmir Begovic -- they outright lied. In others -- Jonathon de Guzman -- they essentially lied by omission (famously de Guzman the younger appeared on Canadian TV just days before saying that he was choosing Holland and said that he was "only focusing on his club career" and that he "hadn’t given much thought" to his international career).
So, if Lensky does end up one day playing for the Czechs, then we can't say he didn't say it was possible. I'll give him credit for that even while I have trouble wrapping my head around the disconnect of loving Canada but being willing to throw that loyalty aside because "soccer is soccer."
NOTE: and literally seconds after I post this the CBC's John Molinaro reported on his Twitter feed that Lensky is turning down the Canadian call-up to play in the Czech youth system. Now, he has the story up at CBC.ca.
3 comments:
As a Slovak I can safely say I'm not surprised. Jagr, Petr Chech, Lensky, just a long line of prima donna athletes... except the Kaberles, they're alright.
Read the rednation article this morning, had my hopes up for approximate 3 hours, now this.... what a fucking idiot... after this I would think that although he may be talented, he may also be the type of player we don't need in the MNT right now. We need some strong characters on the team that understand that it is up to them to help rebuild the CSA and restore a sense of pride in our national side.
I just read your post and I must say that it is a very good post. I would like to echo your views to some of my friends. Keep up the good work.
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