Former Chelsea goalkeeper Asmir Begovic don yarn about how Canada football don change from small thing to big something. Di man wey play for Bosnia and Herzegovina and also spend part of im pikin time for Canada, talk say di transformation for Canadian football na night and day.
Begovic, wey born for Bosnia but move go Germany as small boy before im family settle for Edmonton, Canada when im be ten years old. At dat time, football for Canada na just fun game, no get professional opportunity. ‘Ice hockey na religion for Canada, but football no dey develop at all,’ Begovic talk. ‘But now, everything don change. Di opportunities for pikin, di coaching, di professional teams for MLS and Canadian Premier League – everything don shoot up.’
Begovic im career include many years for English Premier League, including time for Chelsea where im play 31 times between 2015 and 2017 and win di title for im second season. Im also represent Stoke, Bournemouth, QPR, and now dey with Leicester City. But di time wey im wear Bosnia shirt dey shine pass for im career highlights.
Im bin central to Bosnia World Cup qualification for 2013, with 1-0 victory away to Lithuania wey secure dia place for Brazil 2014. ‘Dose moments na wetin you work for and dream about,’ Begovic yarn. ‘Qualifying for any World Cup na incredible, but when you consider say na Bosnia first ever major tournament, and all us displaced players from di war come together for one common goal, e dey incredibly special feeling.’
For 2014 World Cup, Bosnia do dia nation of around three million people proud. Dem bin narrowly lose to Argentina and Nigeria before win 3-1 against Iran. Dia progression to knockout stage depend on 1-0 loss to Super Eagles, where Edin Dzeko get goal wrongly ruled out for offside when game still 0-0. ‘Di World Cup na without doubt di highlight of my career,’ Begovic reflect. ‘Winning di league with Chelsea and other trophies dey up there, but when you consider wetin e mean to Bosnia, and our opening game at Maracana against Argentina and Lionel Messi, e no get better dan dat.’
Begovic talk about fine margins for World Cup: ‘Unfortunately we score own goal two minutes into game against Argentina, and den dat decision against Nigeria cost us dearly. You need quality, key players, and dat little bit of luck we no quite get.’
Now, Canada dey host World Cup for 2026 and prepare for dia third appearance, after 1986 and 2022. Begovic say Canada get opportunity to grab by neck. ‘With home support, recent World Cup experience, and talented generation of players, Jesse Marsch team should expect to get out of group.’
For Bosnia, dem qualify for dis summer tournament by winning dramatic penalty shoot-outs against Wales and then Italy for play-off round. Begovic say pressure off Sergej Barbarez side, and while e go be fantastic learning experience for many young players, dem still fit cause problems for group containing Switzerland and Qatar.
Di meeting for Toronto on Friday go set tone for Group B, and Begovic look back on 2014 with memories of opening defeat to Argentina putting dem on back foot. ‘Canada dey look for better shape at di moment,’ im yarn. ‘Dem dey come into it with good, positive vibes and play well for dia warm-up games, although Alphonso Davies go be big miss if im no fit to play. Bosnia get lots of injury concerns and look a bit hobbled. Dzeko no don play for some time, but hopefully dem go fit and good to go. I go watch with interest, and I no fit wait to see how e go play out.’
