Continent Conundrums: Canada's Challenges and CAF's Chances

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Welcome to the second half of our interview with Awei from Afrika.

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We're going around the world in

less than 80 minutes talking all

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things international football.

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Enjoy.

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Africaaans FC: Looking across the

pond, can we take a moment and

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say, Nigeria, will you ever fly?

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Will you, ever do anything?

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it's frustrating for me.

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as an African, it's frustrating to

see a team with that much talent.

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Like I've said this for years,

Nigeria has more Stryker.

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Talent than some countries

have quality players yet.

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Technically they haven't lost

they just haven't won the games

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they needed and now they're at

risk of missing another World Cup.

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But hey, at least I get to play in af on.

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That'll be fun.

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And so just seeing the games, I watched

a lot of games, this window because

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this was the window I figured would

be where teams would either separate,

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our groups would get much tighter.

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in many ways you saw the

Moroccos, Egypts Ghana.

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For the instance, we were able to give

us a little bit more breathing room.

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But you saw the likes of

Nigeria who needed six points.

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You only get four and now

they're at risk of not being

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able to play out of their group.

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So I think.

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Looking at calf World

Cup qualifiers was fun.

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Just seeing the drama, stress

of teams trying to perform My

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best friend is Gambian, and

my next best friend is Kenyan.

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that three, three game where Gambia

decided defending was for no one,

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and Kenya decided we'll score today.

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The group chat was alive that day,

but Gabi is another one of those teams

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where they just can't put the full

performance down and they have talent.

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They're a young, emerging side, but

lack the maturity to see out games.

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There's no reason that game should

have been at three, three, let alone

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three, two, that game should have

been five one by the time Kenya scored

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their second goal, but they weren't

able to put away their opportunities.

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And when you're in high pressure

situations, you can only learn

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it's seeing teams react to this.

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Anytime something goes wrong against

my team, I'll always post or tweet out.

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I still say Twitter, I don't care.

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adversity is free, so let's

see how you react to it.

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And we saw Ghana React adversity.

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We saw Gambia React adversity poorly and

we saw Nigeria kind of react, but then

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not really do what they could have done.

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So watching how those teams

react and then vice versa.

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Looking at, say, going back to CONCACAF

Canada in the us, how are they gonna

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react to the adversity that they face

now, the pressure that they have, both

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were expected to play for a trophy,

neither did what do they do with that?

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Becomes much more fascinating.

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We have the rest of World Cup.

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club soccer then June the tournaments

World Cup qualifiers and Europe kickoff

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seeing how teams react to adversity

is the thing for me, because that's

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something that, you don't always see,

so you can only evaluate what as fans.

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We only get to see the games.

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You don't get to see training and

we don't get to see what's going on

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with them personally players wise.

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So you only see the games and

you can only evaluate the games.

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all you can do is watch and make

assumptions based off of that and

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then try to build the best, script

of what is actually happening

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and then make judgements and make

it, and make moves off of that.

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But seeing teams reacting to the

pressure of World Cup qualifiers is

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always fascinating because you see

the passion in the players, you see

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the passion in the fans, but you also

see the pain and that comes with the

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losses and the missed opportunities.

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And all you got to do is

watch it and it's free.

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see how you react to it.

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PSP: That's right, and there'll be much

to react in the next nine to 12 months.

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There's gonna be a few inter

confederation playoffs, which you never

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Be part of those.

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I've seen my fair show.

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Those Nope.

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You wanna observe and

not be participant in.

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Africaaans FC: No, true.

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PSP: just on Nigeria.

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I have to throw this in there.

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2006 I was with you.

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Yes.

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Nigeria were a defacto of mine.

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, Most of my other countries were

not going to the Men's World Cup.

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So Nigeria were a team.

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I would get behind.

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But after Ghana started to, get

into the main draw of the World

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Cup, I was cool with Nigeria.

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I was neither here nor there with Nigeria.

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it's tough because the Super Eagles,

underperform and frankly, the

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country has inferior joll of rights.

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Am I right?

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Africaaans FC: I agree.

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They are not top three in

West African gel of rice.

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They are not top three.

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I will go that far and say it because,

Sierra Leone fried rice is much better.

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I know too many Nigerians and

that's their argument every time.

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If I wanted to eat sandpaper, I would

eat sandpaper, but I'm not gonna do that.

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So I believe in flavor and good food.

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I'll send all my ING fans to this podcast,

This is how I feel about your food.

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Come at me.

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I agree, the frustrating thing with

Nigeria is like you see the talent, right?

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And it's just, you don't ever

see them put it all together.

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And it's frustrating because

again, as an African, you want your

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best teams, your biggest stars.

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Nigeria has arguably the biggest stars.

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the last two African players of the

year and to quote Ghana fans after they

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lost to Uruguay, but Uwe was out of

the World Cup because of other results,

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we'll all be going home together.

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at some point I'd like to see the best

my continent can offer at the World Cup

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but we will have just better stories,

which is unfortunate because Nigeria is a

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side that I feel that they match up well

with teams that aren't in the region.

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It's, you're in Canada right

do you follow any other sports

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other than football?

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PSP: Yeah.

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Africaaans FC: What do you follow

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PSP: baseball.

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Basketball, American football.

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Africaaans FC: there?

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PSP: football.

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Yeah, for sure.

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Africaaans FC: Yeah, I'll use an American

or like Canadian collegiate term, right?

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I think they, Nigerian and some

African sides match up well against

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the best teams in the planet.

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And for a lot of people, a lot

of Africans, it's the Europeans.

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We match up well with the Europeans.

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'cause apparently Africa and Europe

are just two different levels.

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That's a whole nother

conversation, Jamie Kerger.

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But

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I find that African teams match

up better with African teams.

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And some of those matchups where

they can't get through right in Conka

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calf Conka calfing is a thing, right?

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A team knows how to game the system, Get a

call from the ref, grow the grass an extra

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inch to slow down the pace or speed it up.

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But if you play teams like Dr.

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Congo sometimes you

struggle with African sides.

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But I think they would do well

against a lot of European sides

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based off not only their style of

play, but the players that they have.

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And Nigeria's the same way, but they

have to get past Rwanda And Rwanda

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says, no, we have endured enough and

we will not endure your rice either.

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So you'll get a win, but nothing else.

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Some teams just match up

better against other sides.

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you don't get to see those

teams play when the stakes.

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Are high against teams who can match

their quality because they can't get

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away through the team that just knows

how to get under their skin and be

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able to get the results that way.

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And it's unfortunate for

Nigeria, but as a Ghanaian,

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I enjoy it so much.

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PSP: Yeah, it's like a nice warm bowl of

jollof, Ghanaian that's not mistaking for

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Jollof people talk about.

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Africaaans FC: Yep.

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PSP: yeah, it's hearty.

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there is an element of UR because the

last few ACON tournaments, Ghana have gone

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home early or haven't turned up at all.

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Nigeria have deep and it

has not been a nice time,

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Africaaans FC: No.

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I supported everyone.

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the Ivorians.

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Hey, I'm bilingual.

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I can support you in French.

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I'm here, I am here.

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Let's go elephants.

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Dj, you played at Chelsea.

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Every African Chelsea.

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Let's take this home for us.

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But they just don't match

up well for whatever reason.

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And that's just the nature of it.

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Do you find that when you're

looking at African sides, they don't

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match up well against their peers.

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There are teams that, for whatever

reason, always get results.

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But then you see them play a Switzerland.

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You see them play like a Sweden.

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You see them play even I'm throwing

Poland into this conversation

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because it's a name, but.

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You see them and you like, yeah,

we're a better team and we'll perform

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better, but get them to Africa send

'em to Madagascar and it's a struggle.

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we can't beat Madagascars

because on that day.

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They've got the results.

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Do you find that the same

as Africa or is it just

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PSP: Yeah.

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Africaaans FC: underperforming

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PSP: Yeah.

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I see that, especially in Africa.

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There are times we see it in the Asian

Federation as well with certain teams,

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Africaaans FC: Yes.

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PSP: yes.

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the idea of playing down to your

opposition, I'll use an NFL analogy.

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A team like the Kansas City

Chiefs, during the regular season

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Africaaans FC: Yes.

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PSP: they'll often win by

one score against a team.

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They should be, throwing two or three

touchdowns against, but they're,

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They know they're good.

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They do just enough.

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But in tennis, some of these teams

in calf, they, they're not doing just

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enough against some of the teens.

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They should be beating.

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They're drawing, they're losing in some

cases, but when they make it to the.

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A tournament to use, like the carism

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Africaaans FC: yeah,

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PSP: up against teams they're not

expected to perform well against.

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it does make you wonder.

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Morocco on the other hand they

shopped everyone last World Cup.

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They went to the semi finals.

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They matched Croatia,

they took it to France.

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It'd be interesting to see if

another team from CAF can get

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the semi finals time around.

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Africaaans FC: Morocco is a fascinating

case study before the tournament, they

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chose their players over their coach.

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Which is the more interesting thing.

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And that to me is like a do you

actually, and look at them now,

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Morocco has become the model child

in African football where it's look

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at them recruiting all their players.

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Look at them hosting all the tournaments.

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They are now the child who came

home with all A's in school

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and mom and dad love 'em.

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And everyone else was just like, I don't

like you, but you're winning so fine.

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But they chose their players and at the

result, and they were a team that decided

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just to be pragmatic with how they played.

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They weren't trying to be pretty, they

just said, we're gonna play this way

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'cause it's gonna get us that result.

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But they do have the fluidity if they

need to play possession they can If they

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need to play transition game, they can do

they have the depth, they are recruiting,

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they're always adding to their depth.

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They're not afraid of necessarily,

oh, we have too many, no, get

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as many players as you can.

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Have them play well, compete.

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And bring your best 23 to 26 and then

get a system that is easy enough to

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translate to the pitch and get results.

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I do think an African team can have a deep

run, just 'cause it's gonna be longer,

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how the format is for this World Cup.

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I don't know if I'm gonna bank on

Morocco repeating it, but they would

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be on the list for me from African

teams based off how they look as a

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team that could easily have another

deep run for the World Cup next year.

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They're going to make it.

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Let's not pretend like they won't, D

Congo is another group I think Senegal

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is one of those teams that on paper

they have the names, but they feel

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like the team that is holding on to

a generation of one cycle too many.

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And so I feel like if they can make it

through, it'll be one last run for them.

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But I don't know if they can

necessarily, they're the names, but

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It be like they feel they really do.

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They feel like a Saudi Arabian team

where you see all the names like, oh

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man, those were big names four years ago.

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okay.

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I guess that's why they're all playing

in Saudi Arabia or some of them are.

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Cameroon not making the World Cup is

disappointing, but I've been a Cape

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Verde Dark Horse team for the last

five years, so I'm finally happy seeing

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a return on my investment with them.

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if you have to pick a team based

off form right now, it would be

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Morocco and then probably TiVo.

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Those two teams, could walk into any

competition and get a deep run for Africa.

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Do you think an African team

or a CONCACAF team will make it

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further at the next World Cup?

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PSP: Okay, so that's a good point

you've raised Mexico seemed to have.

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I it around with a Gade and the new

generation that he's bringing through

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Canada Depth is gonna be an issue

as we've talked about, Jesse Ma is

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doing his best, but injuries happen.

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You have to navigate around

injuries in an expanded format.

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Although objective to the World Cup

is get out the group, get a win,

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get points, and get out the group.

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Anything beyond that is gravy.

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The US is a team that has a fan

base that believes they can win the

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World Cup and manages who's been

told to go and win the World Cup.

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I'm not convinced they necessarily had

the players to win, said World Cup.

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Now, coming back to your question,

I gotta say an African team.

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If it's not Mexico, it's probably

gonna be an African team.

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You just got guys.

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calf squads who are getting

regular playing time.

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don't see

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The US Canada, it's that depth issue.

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and Mexico, they're the kings of round 16.

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So why would they

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Africaaans FC: Yes.

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PSP: different to that?

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Canada and African team

get to the quarterfinals?

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Yes.

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Africaaans FC: Yes.

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PSP: we've narrowed it down

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Africaaans FC: that is interest.

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I tend to agree with you we've talked

about depth, and I think I'll ask

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you a cand question in that sense.

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'cause apparently this

is now my interview.

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This is great.

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I love it.

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every podcast is a conversation.

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It's back and forth and you go, what

do you think this Canada side is

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missing for you to take them, for

lack of better words, more seriously?

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they have names and we've talked

about depth, specifically.

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What is the thing that you think

that they are missing to take that

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next step To be taken seriously

for the world's perspective.

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What do they need to push forward

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PSP: Let me touch on the women's team

quickly because I was thinking about

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this the other day when Casey Stoney was

doing her media availability, her head

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of the series against Argentina, and

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Africaaans FC: Yes.

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PSP: with them is they have

issues in the final third.

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They're very good at playing wide and

getting into the box, but it's getting

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the ball into the back of the net.

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That's a problem for them.

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On the men's team, I think they

solved the goal keeping issue

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they had at the World Cup in 2022.

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they have two or three guys who

can fill that spot, defensively.

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I in assuming Alfonso Davies is

gonna be back for the World Cup?

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Africaaans FC: Yeah.

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PSP: They should be fine fallback.

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Centerback is a concern, but in the

international game not easy to find a

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centerback with a Canadian passport.

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So I would say yeah, just center back

and the set piece, defending the set

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piece, if they can either bring in a set

piece closer, if they have someone in

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there already improving the set piece

tactics, I think that will go a long way

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to addressing issues at the World Cup.

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What do you say?

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Africaaans FC: That's interesting

because most Canadians would

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say their back line is set.

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I think most Canadians will see what the

emergence of Moise bonito with Derrick

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Cornelius, both of them playing in

France and the top League, league earn.

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They feel they're at a good enough level

and bonito has just skyrocketed, literally

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'cause he's just that quick of a player.

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But also his rise has been very

much unforeseen by a lot of folks.

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So most Canadians will say their

back line is fine midfield.

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Between stack and Kne, they feel

you have a solid enough set there.

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I think if you look at the nines, there's

a reason they brought in Daniel Jemison

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: 00:14:52

and David they're trying to find another

nine who can play with Jonathan David.

317

: 00:14:58

getting more opportunities will help.

318

: 00:15:00

on the right side, to me, look

like all Ahmed is a good story.

319

: 00:15:07

Jacob Schaffel are good stories.

320

: 00:15:09

I think though if you look at

that, the outside midfielder

321

: 00:15:13

are the winger position.

322

: 00:15:14

That is, to me, the difference

between this team, especially under

323

: 00:15:19

Jesse Marsh who wants to play quick.

324

: 00:15:21

He wants to play fast.

325

: 00:15:22

He wants to press, and he wants players

who are, who have the IQ to really.

326

: 00:15:26

Impact the game you saw that with

Tejon starting against the US

327

: 00:15:30

picking his spots And they missed

that with no Jacob Schaffel.

328

: 00:15:32

I still think Jacob Schaffel Berg

is best used as a substitute.

329

: 00:15:38

Either the first 45 aren't going

well, you put him on to just go gas.

330

: 00:15:42

Just press and go.

331

: 00:15:44

Ali Ahmed, is a good steady

player who can give great

332

: 00:15:47

moments as he did against the us.

333

: 00:15:50

But I think he's less

interchangeable with Tejon.

334

: 00:15:52

I feel that Tejon is better starting

than coming off the bench, which

335

: 00:15:55

leaves the left midfield I said

earlier I think Jesse Marsh has

336

: 00:15:59

about 90% of this team penciled in.

337

: 00:16:01

the left midfield position

is the most curious spot.

338

: 00:16:05

can we still try to recruit a

player like Luca COO show who's

339

: 00:16:10

at Barley and doing things?

340

: 00:16:12

If you get a player like Kim at the

championship level, I think that's a

341

: 00:16:18

good enough player that you can put in

front of Alfonso Davies when healthy.

342

: 00:16:24

That makes Alfonso Davies.

343

: 00:16:26

I think the bigger threat, because him

on the ball is great, but I think you put

344

: 00:16:30

more pressure and more stress on a defense

when he's off the ball because he could

345

: 00:16:35

be three steps behind you, but the second

he takes off, he's al, he's winning that

346

: 00:16:38

ball and making the defense have to backup

and respect that speed and that pace.

347

: 00:16:44

I think would do wonders for this

team, especially in possession,

348

: 00:16:47

having to back them off.

349

: 00:16:49

I think that left midfielder,

left winger position.

350

: 00:16:52

is the biggest thing to address

from a starting 11 standpoint.

351

: 00:16:56

When you're talking the whole 23.

352

: 00:16:57

Yeah, like full back depth.

353

: 00:17:00

I know Richie is there,

I know Sam Kuby is there.

354

: 00:17:02

I am notorious in my family for not

celebrating things, so I don't expect

355

: 00:17:07

things to be there the next year.

356

: 00:17:09

though many are expecting that, looking

at the track record and unfortunately

357

: 00:17:13

the players just haven't been healthy.

358

: 00:17:15

they need to find some depth

at the fullback position.

359

: 00:17:17

Is that Nico Seeger?

360

: 00:17:18

I hope so.

361

: 00:17:20

I prefer I'm in a midfield,

but I don't make those choices.

362

: 00:17:23

Can they find another fullback both

left and right that can come in and

363

: 00:17:29

supplant and give some minutes that's

the big question and maybe they

364

: 00:17:32

have to look for younger players,

coming through the youth ranks.

365

: 00:17:36

Or make waiting for players

who are still emerging.

366

: 00:17:38

That's where people mention Joquila

Marshall Rudy, who was at TFC, now at,

367

: 00:17:42

CF Montreal, a player like him to emerge

would do well, but to me, I think the

368

: 00:17:47

biggest question mark for that team is

that left midfield position that left

369

: 00:17:51

striker, that left a winger position.

370

: 00:17:53

If they fix that, offensively

they look dangerous and fast,

371

: 00:17:58

they are the transition team, the

pressing team, Jesse Marsh wants

372

: 00:18:00

PSP: that's some great points you've

raised and that, would be a game changer

373

: 00:18:05

if they get the right person in into that

374

: 00:18:07

On the left side.

375

: 00:18:09

about someone from to see who's

been around the national setup?

376

: 00:18:14

Africaaans FC: Theo can still offer

something for the national team.

377

: 00:18:16

he is a winger, stuck in a striker's

body, he either has to be a camp for

378

: 00:18:20

this team or find space out wide.

379

: 00:18:23

And at TFC, unless you're Italian,

you're not playing out wide.

380

: 00:18:27

unfortunately Theo is Romanian Canadian,

so he's not gonna get those spots.

381

: 00:18:31

But I think he's a player that

I haven't given up on yet.

382

: 00:18:33

I think when he broke into the national

team, he certainly showed his quality,

383

: 00:18:37

he showed his promise that was there,

but he just, it's been interesting

384

: 00:18:40

watching his journey through clubs and

then watching Liam Miller, who finally

385

: 00:18:45

got a good spot at Preston North End.

386

: 00:18:49

Where it felt like Liam was making the

right moves, every five, six months

387

: 00:18:54

Theo was getting pulled from the club

and then sent to another And you don't

388

: 00:18:57

wanna label a player but after a while,

if the kettle is black, it's black.

389

: 00:19:01

All I know is the player has gone

to many spots and just hasn't been

390

: 00:19:04

able to break through consistently.

391

: 00:19:06

And, but the talent is still there.

392

: 00:19:08

So maybe this is a player who hasn't put

it all together, or this is just a talent

393

: 00:19:12

set that coaches look and say, maybe we

can, we are the people, the hubris of

394

: 00:19:16

coaching, the hubris of a team saying We

are the ones who can unlock this properly.

395

: 00:19:19

And maybe someone is

eventually able to do it.

396

: 00:19:21

He's still early in the season with

TFC, but he's a player who still has

397

: 00:19:25

the potential and is still young enough.

398

: 00:19:28

But I think with this team.

399

: 00:19:31

It's gonna get late very early.

400

: 00:19:33

And so he needs to start to

put up performances, right?

401

: 00:19:38

We're all talking, Canadians are

talking about Jayden Nelson because

402

: 00:19:40

how he started the year and I think

Jayden Nelson is a solid shout for the

403

: 00:19:44

Gold Cup to get some opportunities.

404

: 00:19:46

And he's another player who on the left

side could provide something that could

405

: 00:19:50

be helpful and useful for the team.

406

: 00:19:52

But he put in the results and he's put up

numbers and he's a good, Theo started off

407

: 00:19:56

starting and now is still fighting for

his spot, we'll see what that looks like.

408

: 00:20:00

But I think for him, if he can start

to put together some good performances,

409

: 00:20:04

it won't go unnoticed because

he's a player who does have that

410

: 00:20:07

pedigree of being part of this team.

411

: 00:20:08

And I think he can offer

something to this team still.

412

: 00:20:14

PSP: No doubt now.

413

: 00:20:16

There is a tournament coming up

before we got couple 14 tournaments.

414

: 00:20:20

Gonna feature Canada, New Zealand,

Ukraine, and TiVo I, and see

415

: 00:20:27

how Jesse Marsh experiments.

416

: 00:20:31

It'll be in Toronto.

417

: 00:20:32

You'll be there.

418

: 00:20:34

Africaaans FC: I'm

planning on going there.

419

: 00:20:35

I've told the group chat an

African team is coming to Canada

420

: 00:20:38

and they're like, we ride at dawn.

421

: 00:20:39

I hope you have $300.

422

: 00:20:40

But yeah, I think it'll be a good matchup.

423

: 00:20:42

I was talking with, one of my YouTube

compatriots about they approach those two

424

: 00:20:46

games, they play Ukraine on the seventh.

425

: 00:20:48

TiVo on the 10th, and the

Gold Cup starts on the 14th.

426

: 00:20:52

And I'm of the opinion that they

might split the squad and have maybe.

427

: 00:20:58

As many players as they

can for those friendlies.

428

: 00:21:00

And then send players back to

their clubs for the club World Cup.

429

: 00:21:03

Maybe you send them back if they're

able Or you try to see as many

430

: 00:21:06

players as you can then take a pool

from those players going forward.

431

: 00:21:10

you'd have to set your

squad for the Gold Cup.

432

: 00:21:13

I'm curious to see how Jesse Marsh wants

to run this, because I don't think you're

433

: 00:21:18

gonna play a team of that quality anywhere

in the Gold Cup, not named Mexico.

434

: 00:21:25

if you want to prepare players

unfamiliar with that level,

435

: 00:21:31

those two teams are perfect.

436

: 00:21:32

if you want to test players getting

ready for the World Cup, that's a

437

: 00:21:36

different conversation How do you

think Marsh should approach this?

438

: 00:21:40

PSP: you mentioned it best earlier

in the interview about national teams

439

: 00:21:43

not having a lot of time to prepare

with these guys when they come from

440

: 00:21:46

their thinking about the group.

441

: 00:21:47

you're probably gonna get a Uafa team

might get A team from CAF or Asia.

442

: 00:21:52

I would definitely be.

443

: 00:21:54

the Ukraine game like it's a

dress rehearsal for the World Cup.

444

: 00:21:58

Africaaans FC: Yep.

445

: 00:21:58

PSP: not saying you go out with a

second string lineup against Corvo,

446

: 00:22:02

but this is African champions.

447

: 00:22:05

Give them their flowers.

448

: 00:22:06

Maybe have a bit more of a

scenario analysis in that game.

449

: 00:22:09

Maybe that's the game where you say that

could be our third game in the group.

450

: 00:22:12

We need X number of points.

451

: 00:22:13

do a scenario analysis

452

: 00:22:15

Africaaans FC: Yeah.

453

: 00:22:16

That's true.

454

: 00:22:16

I think when you're playing

different teams, conquer calf

455

: 00:22:20

doesn't looked like any type of

world beaters in world football.

456

: 00:22:24

They are looked at as one of

the I mean are we the worst

457

: 00:22:28

confederation in the world?

458

: 00:22:30

Not named Oceania.

459

: 00:22:31

Is Oceania even considered a federation?

460

: 00:22:33

PSP: It's there.

461

: 00:22:34

Africaaans FC: I.

462

: 00:22:34

PSP: slot now.

463

: 00:22:35

Africaaans FC: New Zealand

doesn't have to fight.

464

: 00:22:37

New Zealanders are happy

They don't have to go to

465

: 00:22:39

intercontinental playoff every year.

466

: 00:22:42

They were happy when Australia left

and now they're happy this is here.

467

: 00:22:45

there was a bit of European hubris,

when it comes to some North American

468

: 00:22:50

sides that was the whole conversation

when Canada played Belgium.

469

: 00:22:54

we didn't expect them to play so directly

and forwardly and it caught us off guard.

470

: 00:22:58

Canada, in CONCACAF can't hide.

471

: 00:23:00

everyone knows what they are.

472

: 00:23:01

Everyone knows what they want to do,

so they're going to not let them do it.

473

: 00:23:04

They want to run, they'll sit

back and that's how it is.

474

: 00:23:08

But I feel like with European sides,

maybe they just won't take them seriously.

475

: 00:23:12

And then you'll have another

situation where it's yeah, I know

476

: 00:23:14

Canada had a good matchup, but.

477

: 00:23:16

We are Ukraine or we are Poland,

or we are insert European

478

: 00:23:21

country and we can handle them.

479

: 00:23:23

So I think you have a

better chance of there.

480

: 00:23:26

When it comes to African sides, I

feel like African sides will just,

481

: 00:23:29

unless they're playing Europeans,

they think they can play with anyone.

482

: 00:23:32

that might be a game for Canada where it's

similar to the game against the US at the

483

: 00:23:38

Nations league, where I think they just

match up better stylistically better with

484

: 00:23:42

co tival because co tival will play a up.

485

: 00:23:45

They wanna play up and down game fine.

486

: 00:23:47

They'll do that.

487

: 00:23:48

They have the legs for it, they're

not afraid to, and if Canada

488

: 00:23:51

wants to play that game too, I

think that suits them better.

489

: 00:23:54

So you might get to see what that game

looks like if a team lets you play.

490

: 00:23:58

You won't have as much respect, say,

made with some European sides because

491

: 00:24:02

there is that European hubris that comes

with all the best players are in Europe,

492

: 00:24:06

so we are the best that comes with it.

493

: 00:24:10

PSP: Yeah.

494

: 00:24:10

There's gotta be a shift I think

the world is catching up to Europe.

495

: 00:24:14

those days are over.

496

: 00:24:14

The elitism is on the wane.

497

: 00:24:18

we've gotta start taking the other

confederations more seriously

498

: 00:24:21

than the Europeans used to.

499

: 00:24:23

Africaaans FC: true.

500

: 00:24:23

But from the European perspective,

haven't, the other confederations

501

: 00:24:27

made semifinals at the World Cup?

502

: 00:24:29

Will it take an Asian country, a CONCACAF

country, an African country, winning the

503

: 00:24:33

World Cup for the sport to be respected?

504

: 00:24:37

for them not to have that European hubris

world where we're just playing this

505

: 00:24:40

lowly country from insert federation.

506

: 00:24:43

Will it take one of them

winning it for respect?

507

: 00:24:45

Or do we just need to keep

stacking good performances?

508

: 00:24:48

PSP: Okay.

509

: 00:24:48

I'll meet you halfway there.

510

: 00:24:50

'cause I think that has been

disrespect and this is something

511

: 00:24:52

that, that's annoyed me.

512

: 00:24:53

As much as I don't like the 40 18 format,

do think it is, good that Africa now

513

: 00:25:00

gets nine spots for 54 or 55 countries.

514

: 00:25:03

'cause I got five is ridiculous.

515

: 00:25:04

And thought that's what I'm talking

about when I'm talking about, disrespect

516

: 00:25:09

Africaaans FC: Yeah.

517

: 00:25:09

PSP: my beef is with FIFA you can't tell

me South America deserves five spots

518

: 00:25:14

when they have 10 teams qualifying.

519

: 00:25:16

But it is what it is.

520

: 00:25:19

with this current format, it is a bit

more spread out, which I appreciate.

521

: 00:25:23

Although we'll see what happens

when we get to the tournament.

522

: 00:25:25

Now to ask you a question

about how do we, yes.

523

: 00:25:29

I think with more upsets, or more teams

from non UA confederations putting

524

: 00:25:34

out Europeans, I think there'll be

more respect coming down the line.

525

: 00:25:39

Will we see a team from Conf Asia or.

526

: 00:25:41

Calf winning the World Cup would be nice.

527

: 00:25:44

this is probably gonna be one of the

most spread out world Cups in history.

528

: 00:25:49

There's gonna be a lot of travel.

529

: 00:25:50

I dunno if the Europeans are up for that.

530

: 00:25:52

They did seem to battle in Qatar with

the weather and the early kickoffs.

531

: 00:25:56

So it's might the opportunity.

532

: 00:25:59

Africaaans FC: Yeah.

533

: 00:25:59

I think yes, you'll look and say

there's more top European teams, but

534

: 00:26:02

I think give them the opportunity.

535

: 00:26:05

every man falls at some point

and giants aren't that tall when

536

: 00:26:08

everyone else is average height.

537

: 00:26:10

get them on the pitch, let

them play and see what happens.

538

: 00:26:13

'cause I, again, when African sides,

I think African sides match up well

539

: 00:26:17

stylistically, physically with that.

540

: 00:26:21

I think the thing that is more curious

is we haven't had an African side dictate

541

: 00:26:27

the pace metronome of a game in a while.

542

: 00:26:30

most African sides, when they come

to these competitions, counter,

543

: 00:26:33

But we haven't seen that in a while.

544

: 00:26:35

If you see that emergence

Morocco can dictate a game.

545

: 00:26:38

Morocco will play whatever game they

want to play that day, and it'll just

546

: 00:26:44

come down to what results they get.

547

: 00:26:45

If you get more of them, I think that

will start to also continue that shift

548

: 00:26:49

because it's not like we lack talent.

549

: 00:26:52

It's not, at least from the African

standpoint, we do not lack the talent.

550

: 00:26:56

We just lack sometimes

the mentality to do it.

551

: 00:27:00

But then also the tech, the coaches

willing to push us that's my

552

: 00:27:03

most frustrating thing with some

European coaches coming to Africa,

553

: 00:27:07

We're gonna get, all the fans will say,

where's the swashbuckling footballs?

554

: 00:27:11

They'll say where's the up and down?

555

: 00:27:12

Where's the style?

556

: 00:27:14

Where's everything?

557

: 00:27:15

And those coaches will say if.

558

: 00:27:17

We score.

559

: 00:27:18

If we prevent them from scoring, we

can just get one and we'll be fine.

560

: 00:27:21

And then you have a whole generation

built off a low block or a midblock,

561

: 00:27:25

but when they go to their clubs, they

are scoring and dancing over everything.

562

: 00:27:28

So get me the coaches who will let

them play football, how they know

563

: 00:27:33

it, but get them in a mentality

where they don't fear anyone.

564

: 00:27:37

in 2026, you could see.

565

: 00:27:39

three African teams in the quarterfinals.

566

: 00:27:42

You could.

567

: 00:27:44

Because I think they have the

talent when it comes to concacaf,

568

: 00:27:47

it's gonna be adrenaline, CONCACAF

will be straight adrenaline,

569

: 00:27:50

because Mexico has the pressure.

570

: 00:27:52

Canada will be them.

571

: 00:27:54

And then the US, as long as they play

in America, apparently they'll be fine.

572

: 00:27:58

Unless they play, Mexico.

573

: 00:28:00

And that's the weird thing

with conka calf teams.

574

: 00:28:02

They match up specifically

with teams in Conka calf.

575

: 00:28:05

But then outside of that, it's a struggle.

576

: 00:28:08

we'll have to wait.

577

: 00:28:09

And then Asia is a, I don't know

who, I don't know what to trust

578

: 00:28:13

coming out of Asia because,

guitar somehow won the Asia Cup.

579

: 00:28:18

They somehow won that.

580

: 00:28:19

I have thoughts, but they somehow won it.

581

: 00:28:22

did the thing.

582

: 00:28:23

PSP: as someone born and raised

in Australia, I have many

583

: 00:28:26

thoughts and they're not positive.

584

: 00:28:27

So let's do this, let's get

some therapy going here.

585

: 00:28:30

'cause I wasn't pleased when Qatar

won the bit, 'cause they were up

586

: 00:28:33

against the US and Australia for 2022.

587

: 00:28:37

they have a unique program for,

nurturing or bringing in talent.

588

: 00:28:41

It helped them win their first cup,

589

: 00:28:43

Africaaans FC: Yeah.

590

: 00:28:44

PSP: Prior to 2022.

591

: 00:28:45

we saw the real Qatar

at the: 2022

592

: 00:28:48

They did get found out internationally

593

: 00:28:51

Africaaans FC: agree.

594

: 00:28:52

PSP: on the world stage they

managed to regress positively

595

: 00:28:55

and win the Asian Cup again.

596

: 00:28:57

we're seeing the real Qatar, once again

in qualified they are projected to squeeze

597

: 00:29:01

into the playoffs if they're lucky, but

on the outside looking in, is what you get

598

: 00:29:06

for a small nation tried to grow quickly,

but unfortunately there's still gaps that

599

: 00:29:12

it's gonna take time for them to catch

up to the likes of Iran and Saudi Arabia

600

: 00:29:16

that are vigor in terms of population.

601

: 00:29:19

It's gonna take time for

them to build that talent.

602

: 00:29:22

the way they've gone about it,

can talk about the ethics of that,

603

: 00:29:25

Africaaans FC: What ethics, Sir,

I am not telling you where I live.

604

: 00:29:28

This will be worldwide.

605

: 00:29:30

we're gonna leave that comment there.

606

: 00:29:31

everything was ethically done.

607

: 00:29:32

We all know this.

608

: 00:29:33

There is nothing fishy

about this whatsoever.

609

: 00:29:37

PSP: I'll say this, if they do have the

next World Cup off, I won't be bothered.

610

: 00:29:41

I'll leave with that.

611

: 00:29:43

Africaaans FC: we're talking

about FIFA who gave every other

612

: 00:29:46

federation a game in the next

World Cup, so: 2034

613

: 00:29:51

Ethics.

614

: 00:29:51

Ethics, of course, yes.

615

: 00:29:54

ethics

616

: 00:29:54

PSP: Australia mysteriously

dropped out of the race for that.

617

: 00:29:58

I guess someone in the A FC said,

yeah, we're not endorsing you.

618

: 00:30:02

Africaaans FC: Yeah.

619

: 00:30:03

that's a sad thing.

620

: 00:30:04

I think Australia did a good job

with the Women's World Cup, it's

621

: 00:30:07

disappointing we don't see Australia even

if it's an Australian New Zealand bid.

622

: 00:30:11

they have the infrastructure.

623

: 00:30:13

the temperature would be the issue.

624

: 00:30:15

their winter or fall But they did it

well and deserved a shot, I'm frustrated

625

: 00:30:20

with just giving, like if the bid was

just for the: 2030

626

: 00:30:25

just Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.

627

: 00:30:28

That makes sense because Morocco,

on an African standpoint, have been

628

: 00:30:32

stepping up and they have been putting

the infrastructure dollars in and

629

: 00:30:35

they've done a good job of hosting.

630

: 00:30:37

They're hosting AF Con, they hosted

WAF Con, they're hosting WAF Con again.

631

: 00:30:41

Again, they've shown that they can

host these events, but, give it to

632

: 00:30:46

the country Ronaldo's playing for

looks left, looks right, reasons.

633

: 00:30:50

Yes.

634

: 00:30:51

PSP: It's not an accident

Ronald ended up in Saudi Arabia.

635

: 00:30:54

Very strategic.

636

: 00:30:56

Maybe he is been watching

on that since he's a kid.

637

: 00:30:58

Africaaans FC: Yeah,

that's, very believable.

638

: 00:31:00

I won't let so believe.

639

: 00:31:02

Yeah.

640

: 00:31:02

That man was always just, yeah, after

Holland Madrid yeah, Saudi Arabia.

641

: 00:31:06

It seemed like the next

best choice for my life.

642

: 00:31:09

good for you,

643

: 00:31:10

PSP: No, it's a great chat.

644

: 00:31:12

we've covered a lot.

645

: 00:31:13

pretty much gone around

the world In 80 minutes.

646

: 00:31:15

Africaaans FC: Yep.

647

: 00:31:16

PSP: hope you don't have jet lag.

648

: 00:31:18

Definitely get

649

: 00:31:19

Africaaans FC: feeling good.

650

: 00:31:19

PSP: and something to

eat, on arrival home.

651

: 00:31:22

And I'm sure we'll do this again.

652

: 00:31:26

Africaaans FC: We will.

653

: 00:31:27

PSP: I look forward to that Where can

they find your work on social media?

654

: 00:31:31

Africaaans FC: All right, so I am

on Blue Sky, at Africans FC Africans

655

: 00:31:37

with three A's On Twitter, It's

Africans FC three A's you can find

656

: 00:31:41

me on all podcasting platforms.

657

: 00:31:44

Africans, three a's fc.

658

: 00:31:46

And on YouTube, where I'm going

to be, I did a little bit of stuff

659

: 00:31:50

on the, Canadian as national team.

660

: 00:31:51

I cover Canadian and African football.

661

: 00:31:53

you can find me on YouTube

for video content if you like.

662

: 00:31:56

The smooth sounds of me at 5:00

AM in the morning talking to

663

: 00:32:00

you as if it's jazz at noon.

664

: 00:32:01

I do a lot of that, but outside of that,

those are all the places you can find me.

665

: 00:32:06

Most podcasting platforms,

the same name there.

666

: 00:32:09

But, you'll see that, I think we'll

put the name in the description and

667

: 00:32:12

you can find, actually I'll give you

my, my tiny URL and it has all my,

668

: 00:32:16

links there so you can find me there.

669

: 00:32:18

PSP: Fantastic.

670

: 00:32:19

We'll include that in the show notes

and you'll be able to follow on, 'cause

671

: 00:32:23

there's a lot of football still to come.

672

: 00:32:26

Africaaans FC: Indeed.

673

: 00:32:27

PSP: I've been your host Neil Wallace,

Bruce, and this has been an episode PSPI.