Lion Links: 1/4/20

Welcome to the weekend, Mane Landers. Maybe it was because the new year started right in the middle of it, but it felt like this past week flew by. Hopefully the weekend won’t though, as we enjoy some more rest and relaxation before Monday rolls around. Let’s get this Saturday started with some links from around the soccer world.

Lions Called Up For Canada

Orlando City players Tesho Akindele and Kamal Miller were both called up for the Canadian Men’s National Team’s training camp later this month in California. Both Akindele and Miller had strong club campaigns in their Orlando debut seasons and could break out this year for Canada as the nation aims for World Cup qualification. Former Lion Richie Laryea also made the 26-man roster along with a pair of young Toronto FC teammates in Jayden Nelson and Noble Okello. Canada starts the year with a pair of friendlies against Barbados on Jan. 7 and Jan. 10 before another friendly with Iceland on Jan. 15.

Orlando City Rumors and Happenings

Alianz Lima officially bid farewell to goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, opening the door for Orlando City to add him after The Mane Land confirmed last week that the Lions were in talks with the shot stopper. It still may take some time for him to join the Lions and it’s far from a done deal but keep your eyes peeled.

In other news, the Lions have the fifth pick in the upcoming MLS SuperDraft and there are strong options for them to consider. Former Orlando City B head coach Anthony Pulis is headed to Inter Miami as an assistant coach after a call from David Beckham. Forward Dom Dwyer was an honorable mention in a bold prediction pegging Gyasi Zardes as the top American scorer in MLS for the 2020 season.

Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger Discuss Women in Sports

Both Krieger and Harris featured in part one of what is set to be an eight-episode series discussing the state of women’s sports. Alongside women’s basketball and track and field stars, the Orlando Pride pair had an honest conversation about the expectations thrust upon them and how women’s sports as a whole is riding the momentum given from the World Cup this past summer. In the video, Harris pointed out how she had male role models growing up since women athletes were rarely shown on television and she weighed in on how that’s changed over the years.

U.S. Soccer Cancels Qatar Trip

With the current events unfolding in the Middle East, the United States Soccer Federation decided to cancel the United States Men’s National Team’s trip to Qatar for its January camp. While the camp will take place in Bradenton, right here in Florida, the USSF hopes another trip to Qatar can be arranged in the future. This news means the USMNT won’t have the recently announced friendly with Jesse Marsch’s RB Salzburg, but the team is still set to take on Costa Rica in Carson, CA on Feb. 1.

USMNT Adds Goalkeeping Coach

While many U.S Soccer coaches have left to pursue careers in MLS, the USMNT managed to make a move of their own, hiring goalkeeper coach Aron Hyde from Atlanta United. Hyde has experience working on the national level already, working with the USMNT goalkeeping pool during the 2019 Concacaf Nations League.

Free Kicks

• Former Lion Dillon Powers has a trial with Dundee United, the top team in Scotland’s second division.
• Utah Royals FC is without a head coach after Laura Harvey left for a position with U.S. Soccer.
• USMNT fullback DeAndre Yedlin’s hand apparently isn’t broken and he could play for Newcastle United this weekend.
• Zlatan Ibrahimovic says that his time with the LA Galaxy made him feel alive.
• We end our links with another departed MLS star as Wayne Rooney had a nice assist in his debut with Derby County.

That’s going to do it for today, folks. I hope each and every one of you have a great Saturday and rest of your weekend as 2020 rolls on.