Music: {allcanada} Canada wonders about Hoilett, De Guzman

Thursday, May 10, 2012

{allcanada} Canada wonders about Hoilett, De Guzman

TORONTO -- You can sense the frustration in Stephen Hart's voice.

The Canadian national team coach has long had to field reporters' questions about the future of Blackburn winger David "Junior" Hoilett and Villarreal midfielder Jonathan de Guzman, and whether or not they will play internationally for Canada.

Hart has always replied to the persistent queries from the press with great patience and grace, but no more. He's had enough.

Asked for an update on the pair during a Thursday event to unveil the Canadian Soccer Association's centennial team uniform, the Canadian coach sounded like a man who's done chasing after the two talented Canadian-born players.

Make a decision, gentlemen. The ball is in your court now.

"In all honesty, you guys talk to them," Hart told reporters. "I don't think (them playing for Canada) is going to be a reality, not in the near future. But other than that you should speak to them directly. Nothing's changed."

Asked if he's frustrated with the players' not making a firm decision one way or another, Hart replied: "The frustration is having to answer these same questions and them not having to speak for themselves."

De Guzman was born in Scarborough, Ont, and spent significant time as a youth player for Dutch club Feyenoord before making his senior team debut in 2005. He pledged his international allegiance to the Netherlands in 2008 after he became Dutch citizen.

Although he's played for his adopted country's under-21 side, De Guzman has yet to be capped by the Netherlands at the senior level, and he let it be known earlier this year through his brother, Toronto FC star Julian de Guzman, that he would consider playing for Canada. But there are not only immigration issues to be sifted through, but also FIFA rules regarding players who wish to switch nationalities.

Hoilett, a native of Brampton, Ont., has not declared who he will play for internationally: Canada or Jamaica, the birth nation of his father. He could also eventually be eligible to play for England.

Regarded as one of Blackburn's top players, Hoilett has always said he will make up his mind once his long-term club future is settled. Hoilett is out of contract at the end of this season and with Rovers being recently relegated, a number of high-profile suitors, including Spurs and Arsenal, have their eye on the Canadian.

Canada could use both Hoilett and de Guzman in its line-up, as it faces a tough task in the next round of World Cup qualifying. Canada will compete in a group with Honduras, Panama, and Cuba where only the top two teams advance to "the Hex," the final round of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers.

Hart has kept regular contact and maintained a regular dialogue with both players, but is now turning his attention to organizing the national team's upcoming training camp in Florida.

Although he's disappointed that players the calibre of Hoilett and de Guzman haven't yet committed to playing for Canada, Hart is firmly focused on the task at hand, namely his team's pair of crucial World Cup qualifying matches against Cuba (June 8 in Havana) and versus Honduras (June 12 in Toronto).

"They could bring something to the team ... but for me, I have a whole bigger group that wants to play for Canada, are eager and ready to go into camp, and that for me is more (important)," Hart stated.

Attempts by sportsnet.ca to garner a comment on this story from representatives of David Hoilett and Jonathan de Guzman proved unsuccessful.

NOTES: Hart said defender Marcel de Jong and midfielder Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault are out with long-term injuries, and will not be available to play in Canada's June 3 friendly against the United States in Toronto, and the World Cup qualifiers later that month against Cuba and Honduras... Hart also revealed he is awaiting medical reports on two other injured players, but declined to identify which two... Canada's training camp in Florida will begin on May 21 with players based in Europe reporting. MLS players will be released after playing their respective league games on May 26... Hart is also trying to arrange a closed-door exhibition match between one of two unnamed opponents ahead of June's World Cup qualifiers...