If stepping away from international soccer helps Toronto FC achieve its goal of making the playoffs, Dwayne De Rosario is prepared to make the sacrifice.
"I told (Canada coach) Stephen Hart I was 60/40 on it," De Rosario told Sportsnet.ca. "In the end it is always tough because you do not want to leave your position with the team, but right now my commitment is with Toronto FC."
The ‘it’ is question is the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The 12-team tournament runs from July 3 to July 26 – a timeline that overlaps three regular-season games for the Reds.
"I have decided to make full commitment to Toronto FC right now and I really want to focus on the season," De Rosario said. "It is s a big year ahead of us and I want to make sure that we accomplish what I want to accomplish here, even it if means sacrificing national team games."
De Rosario and Toronto FC teammate Jim Brennan were at the centre of controversy last Fall when both players quit the Canadian national team after a string of poor results in World Cup qualifiers. Canada failed to qualify for South Africa 2010 under coach Dale Mitchell, who was later fired and replaced by interim Stephen Hart.
De Rosario and Hart have a history together as player and coach. At the 2007 Gold Cup Hart allowed his team to play attacking and inspired soccer before bowing out to the United States in the semi-final. De Rosario scored three goals in that tournament, including the game-winner versus Guatemala in the quarter-finals.
"That is why the 40 percent is there. I know how special it is to play in big tournaments," De Rosario said. "But in the same breath I am here with TFC and I am trying to create a championship here. Stephen knows where I stand."
On the same day that De Rosario made his intentions known the team found out it will lose defender Marvell Wynne to international duty with the U.S men’s Confederation Cup team. The Reds’ fullback will miss Toronto’s home game against the New York Red Bulls on June 13 and the team’s Canadian club championship contest versus the Montreal Impact five days later.
While teammates were happy for Wynne, missing multiple MLS games because of international duty is still seen as something that can be avoided.
"It is every player’s dream to represent his country, but I have said from Day 1 that it is not right," said Carl Robinson, who also recently decided to put the club ahead of country. "This league is the only league that does not recognize international dates."
Toronto has lost its last three games, including a 2-1 decision to the L.A. Galaxy on Saturday at BMO Field. The run of poor results has dropped the Reds out of the playoff picture and into second-last place in the Eastern Conference.