Hart weighing options
Halifax coach wants better idea of the direction of the CSA
By GORDIE SUTHERLAND Sports Reporter
The next time the Canadian senior men's soccer team takes to the field it should have a permanent head coach in place.
Stephen Hart of Halifax filled in on an interim basis after Frank Yallop left in June to lead the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer, but he's unsure as to whether he'll apply for the vacant job.
Deadline for applications is the end of January.
It's one of three major positions available within the Canadian Soccer Association, including technical director and chief executive officer.
'I'd like to see where the developments are going,' Hart said when asked why he has yet to apply. 'I'd like to see what direction the CSA itself is going.'
He said he's confident he can do the job. He served as Yallop's assistant before and is also the head coach of Canada's under-17 team.
'The situation is one where I would not have taken the interim position in the first place if I didn't think I had the confidence to do it,' said Hart, who is originally from Trinidad and Tobago but has called Halifax home for more than 20 years.
Hart had the reins for Canada's home-and-away series against Jamaica and a recent road game against Hungary. The team went 1-2.
Injuries and club commitments limited Hart's access to Canada's top players for the friendly versus Hungary, a 1-0 loss on Nov. 15.
Scoring was a problem throughout the three-game set.
'What we probably lacked is a bit of killer instinct around the penalty box and a little bit of composure as well,' said Hart, a father of three. 'The chances were definitely there. 'We should have done better.'
He said he enjoyed the experience.
'You look forward to challenges like that,' said Hart, first hired by the CSA in 2001.
Colin Linford, president of the CSA, was with Hart when the team faced Jamaica in Montreal in early September and also travelled to Hungary.
He said Hart did well and noted the team's results were secondary.
'He was put there, really, to stabilize the situation, to give the players a little confidence in that it wasn't their fault Frank left,' Linford said from his home in Kitchener, Ont.
'He has done all of those things.'
Linford expects Hart will apply for the coaching job.
Linford also said that while the race is wide open there's a movement to make sure the job is filled by a Canadian.
'There's a lot of support for a Canadian coach because they understand that it's not the normal national coach position that one would have in other country, i.e., if you're in Europe you tend to go and watch a game every Saturday. We don't have that because we don't have a league as such.
'There's going to be that part of the equation that some coaches from overseas don't understand and maybe don't like.'
Canadian national team defender Ante Jazic of Bedford said Hart would be a popular choice. The two go way back. Hart coached Jazic in youth soccer.
'I spoke to a lot of the fellas and they were all impressed with Stephen's work over the Jamaican series,' Jazic, 30, said recently from Los Angeles where he played this past season with the Galaxy. 'I know, coming from the players' point of view, no one would have a problem with the selection of Stephen Hart.'
Hart and Linford agree that getting the men's team more games is a priority.
Linford said he'd like Canada to take full advantage of the 10 international breaks, allotted each season.
'Those would be 10 dates we'd be seeking opposition, whether it would be in Europe or whether it would be CONCACAF,' Linford said.
Among the other challenges is making sure players are available. The MLS, which will have a Toronto entry next season, does not recognize international breaks.
An increasing number of Canadians are signing to play in the MLS.
'They've got to work with us and we've got to work with them,' Linford said. 'Talking to the MLS has to be a priority, too.'
gsutherland@herald.ca