Canada in Kuwait: Interview with HC Warren Craney

Canada touched down in Kuwait not knowing what to expect. That apprehension was quickly put to ease upon arrival.

“We arrived in Kuwait at 6:30 in the morning and the sheik was waiting for us and greeted us getting off the plane. I think that put a lot of kids at ease they didn’t know what to expect getting off of that plane,” said Junior National Team head coach and defensive coordinator, Warren Craney.

“The act of the sheik meeting us at the airport, I think that turned everyone’s attitude around from there. I don’t think safety was ever a concern but it was like oh ok this is really happening and it’s going to be good.”

Canada embraced their new surroundings using the experience to come together as a team.

“Being on a practice field or a meeting room it was just that little bit extra, we’re doing this in Kuwait. All kinds of differences in culture around us and just how we embraced it and saw it – I think it brought a level of maturity and appreciation. I think as a whole they appreciated being there.”

Canada’s first game of the tournament was a historic one as their opponent was making their [tackle football] World Championship debut on home soil. Craney knew the host nation was very much a developing program.

“Being a part of the genesis of Kuwaiti tackle football was a pretty neat experience and I’m so proud of our kids and how they handled it.”

“One of the messages to the kids all week was getting them to focus and remember the type of sport football is and how we always have to respect the game and respect ourselves and respect our families. This was one of those occasions where we were going to have to respect the game.”

“This is a game you’ve been fortunate to play and it’s a privilege. It’s just been brought to Kuwait and we need to make sure that were a part of the maturation and not a part of the destruction.”

Kuwait got better on every snap but the excitement of football in Kuwait was truly summarized with the handshake at the end of the game.

“Bringing it down to something as simple and something we take for granted is the handshake. The honour in the faces of those Kuwaiti kids as they were shaking hands and the gratitude for us being there and participating in their event was pretty amazing.”

(Photo courtesy of Karen Chad)

Despite a final score of 91-0, Canada only racked up 376 total yards on 33 plays.

“I know it’s hard to believe but keeping that game at 91 was very difficult. It was something you needed to see live or look at the stats to understand how difficult it was to even keep at 91.”

Team Canada had a tight schedule without much free time but took what little time they did have to take in some of the local attractions.

“We took our team to see the Arabic Gulf and took our team photo at the Kuwaiti towers in front of the Arabic Gulf – that was a surreal moment.”

“The night before the gold medal game, we took them to the souk which is the largest outdoor market in the Middle East. We just threw them out and they went around and they bartered, negotiated and bought all kinds of stuff. I don’t think you can sum up more about Kuwaiti life than you can at an outdoor market.”

Following a win against France in their second game, Canada’s path to the gold medal game went through a tough Austria squad.

“I don’t think people appreciated how good Austria is. They’re an unbelievable football program in a country that is becoming very good, very fast. I know their head coach spent a number of years coaching high school football in California. I don’t know if people can appreciate looking at it but that was one of our toughest games.

“Nearing the fourth quarter it was 14-7 – it was a dogfight right up until the fourth quarter and then that’s when everything just turned around.”

With the score 14-7, Mathieu Betts recovered an Austria fumble. Canada capitalized on the turnover with a late 3^rdquarter touchdown, adding two more in the fourth to make the final 36-7.

The win set-up a third U19 World Championship meeting with Team USA in the gold medal game. Canada went into the contest as the defending champion, bouncing back from a ’09 loss to defeat Team USA in 2012.

USA jumped out to an early 12-0 first half lead after two quick touchdowns.

“I was really proud of the guys, the US got off to a really quick start. We just sat them down and told them we’ve got to stop the bleeding. We need one stop on defense, let’s get the ball to the offense and I know the offense is going to make something happen – and they did.”

(Photo courtesy of Karen Chad)

“We got 14 points in the second quarter, we left some points on the board but our offense moved the ball consistently la

te in the first quarter and the second quarter and I think it speaks to their resiliency on how they fought and clawed their way back into that game.”

Despite the comeback Canada was unable to overcome an early third quarter fumble following an early US touchdown. Team USA scored on their first play following the turnover and when the dust cleared had put up 21 points in less than 5 minutes. Canada showed grit down 40-14, continuing to battle until the final whistle.

(Photo courtesy of USA Football)

If there’s one thing that resonates with Canada’s squad from 2014 Craney hopes it’s the character and resiliency built up by the team.

“If they’re ever in a situation in their own program when stuff starts going south, think back to that 2014 world junior championship and that resiliency we needed to have… it really was resiliency that got this team through a lot.”

Canada’s Junior National Team head coach continues to strive to win gold in 2016 and beyond.

“I don’t look back and wish we did anything differently – I don’t have any regrets but you know what I definitely have a hunger to get Canada back to that gold medal podium.”

“I’ve been fortunate to be a part of this tournament as a defensive coordinator since 2009 and the tournament and the Football Canada experience has gotten better every year. We need to make sure that we continue to get the best kids out to this national program and make sure they see how amazing it is.”

Craney has seen the tournament grow since its inauguration in 2009 and admits the competition gap is narrowing.

“There’s some pretty good football being played around the world and it’s getting a lot closer. Those kids at the national level are getting access to some pretty good coaching and all these programs now have strength and conditioning programs. They’re attacking this thing as a national program and not just as an event — things are changing in a hurry!”

“The parody is unbelievable – Mexico gave the US a game. There are countries that are developing and developing in a hurry. I’m not going to be surprised within the next couple of World Junior Championships to see a different match-up in the gold medal game other than USA and Canada.”

One of the reasons for the closing gap in competition; an evolution in football on a global scale may turn out to be Canada’s 2012 gold medal game win over Team USA in Austin, Texas.

Photo credit: USA Football / @CIMAGES

“We’ve been told [that our win in 2012 served as a catalyst for growth] by a number of countries including Mexico and Austria. I know a lot of programs that don’t even make the tournament have reached out to us to find out how we did it. I think 2012 changed everything, unfortunately I also think it woke the US up.”

Football continues to develop across the globe and teams are circling July 2016 in their calendar with the hopes of playing for a world championship, whether it’s against Canada, the USA or an unknown opponent only time will tell.