Canada U20 coach Cindy Tye will serve as interim coach for the Canadian women’s upcoming friendly matches Iceland and Korea Republic in Murica, Spain next week.
Canada will play Iceland on Friday, Nov. 29 and Korea Republic on Tuesday, Dec. 3.
Tye, who also coaches the women’s team at Dalhousie University, will temporarily fill the national team head coach role that was left vacant after the Olympic drone scandal. Former head coach Bev Priestman will not return to the role according to Canada Soccer – Priestman is currently serving a one-year suspension from FIFA.
“It’s always an honour and privilege to be asked to serve in this capacity,” said Tye during an online media conference Thursday. “I think excitement of course, a little bit of nerves. But I’m definitely excited for what’s coming up in the next couple weeks.”
But the interim coach was clear that she considers this a temporary assignment while Canada Soccer searches for a new manager.
“I’m a full-time employee at Dalhousie and they’ve been wonderful letting me have this opportunity,” she said. “And that’s where my focus and future will lie, here at Dalhousie. I honour the opportunity to do this. I think it’s a chance for me to support the group through this transitional period.
Absences and opportunities for Canada
Canada’s roster for the upcoming friendlies is missing some regular members. Kadeisha Buchanan, Sydney Collins, Cloe Lacasse and Quinn are unavailable due to injury.
But Tye believes this will only help some of the younger members of the program.
“Unfortunately, due to some injuries we’ve had to make some replacements,” said Tye. “But with that comes opportunity for some of our young players.
“And we’re particularly excited to integrate them into the system and give them that experience with the senior team and prepare them for their next step.”
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Canada U20 players Nyah Rose and Janet Okeke are notable debutants in the squad.
“With Janet and Nyah, they’re in their NCAA season which has been complete. They were available, is only part of it. The other part is they had great performances at the U20 World Cup. It’s an exciting opportunity for those players to be rewarded with that.”
Iceland and Korea Republic offer ‘unique challenges’
Neither of Canada’s opponents are very familiar to the women’s national team. But Tye expects the friendlies to be well contested and hopes they will help end the year on a positive.
“They’re two opponents we haven’t seen very often and two varying styles,” said Tye. “And also, two teams that are in the top 20 (world rankings). So, we expect some unique challenges, and it will give us a chance to adapt as a group and end out 2024 on a high note.”
