Canadian Talent Playing A Key Role In FC Edmonton's Season

FC Edmonton’s Canadian identity has been on full display during the 2015 NASL season. The Eddies currently lead all clubs in NASL and Major League Soccer (MLS) in minutes played by Canadians.

Canadians have played 5,539 minutes through 18 matches with the Eddies this season while Ottawa Fury FC, the only other Canadian NASL club, is second with 4,507 minutes in 17 matches. MLS’s Toronto FC ranks third with 2,821 minutes through 22 matches.

Eddies head coach Colin Miller recognizes the importance of promoting Canadian talent to Edmonton’s first team as well as the national team program, but is adamant that his selection of players hinges solely on their ability to help his team collect points.

“I think it’s very important [to have Canadians seeing first team minutes],” Miller said. “But the key component is if they are good enough to play. If they are not good enough, they won’t play in our first team. It’s a compliment to the players that have applied themselves during the time that they have worked with us that they are in the first team regularly. I’ll play a Canadian that’s playing well, shows the right attitude, and is capable of handling the NASL.”

By Miller’s standards, the Eddies are littered with top-level Canadian talent. The former Canadian national team interim manager has played a total of nine Canadians in 2015, with two of them ranking in the top five of total minutes played by Canadians in either the NASL or MLS. Defenders Eddie Edward and Mallan Roberts are third and fourth on the list with 1,290 and 1,260 minutes, respectively. The other seven Canadians are Allan Zebie (740 minutes), Frank Jonke (602), Michael Nonni (563), Sadi Jalali (501), John Smits (316), Hanson Boakai (254) and Bruno Zebie (13).

Edward appreciates playing for a Canadian club and a coach that cares about developing Canadian talent, but he also understands that he needs to be consistent in order to make Miller’s starting lineup week in and week out.

“Of course it’s huge because in the professional level it’s hard to find minutes,” Edward said. “It’s nice being a Canadian and playing for a Canadian club. It gives us an opportunity to showcase our abilities, and hopefully like [Mallan] Roberts, go through the national program. It’s all about consistency. I’ve been playing for a little bit, so I know my strength and my weakness and I just try to play to my strengths.”