To play for her
\u200bcountry and to play at the highest level at a FIFA Women’s World Cup were just
\u200btwo of the highlights from goalkeeper Carla Chin Baker’s soccer career. An
\u200boriginal member of Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team in 1986, Chin Baker
\u200btraveled the world to represent Canada from the program’s first international
\u200bmatches in USA to competitions hosted in Chinese Taipei, China PR, Denmark,
\u200bBulgaria, Haiti, France, Japan, and Sweden.
“The opportunity to
\u200brepresent Canada Soccer and wear the Canada jersey was the greatest honour of
\u200bmy athletic career,” said Chin Baker. “It was an absolute incredible experience
\u200band I would have never imagined that that opportunity would have come.
\u200bReflecting back on the journey and being one of the founding members, it’s
\u200breally allowed me many opportunities within the game of soccer to be able to
\u200bwork at many different levels, but more important it showed me how to be a good
\u200bteammate, my work ethic, communication, and all those particular skills that
\u200bhelp you be successful in life after the sport.”
Chin Baker is one
\u200bof eight legends who has been inducted to the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame in
\u200b2021. Marking the 35th anniversary of Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team,
\u200bthe eight legends represent Canada’s landmark first decade in international
\u200bfootball from the original selections in 1986 through to Canada’s first
\u200bparticipation at the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in 1995. The eight inductees are
\u200bSue Brand, Annie Caron, Carla Chin Baker, Janet Lemieux, Luce Mongrain, Suzanne
\u200bMuir, Cathy Ross and Sue Simon.
Chin Baker made 29
\u200bcareer international “A” appearances from 1986 to 1997, ranked first amongst
\u200ball Canadian goalkeepers when she left international football. Along with
\u200bCaron, Ross, Geri Donnelly, Charmaine Hooper and Michelle Ring, she was one of
\u200bsix original Women’s National Team members that represented Canada at their
\u200bfirst FIFA Women’s World Cup at Sweden 1995.
At one point, she
\u200bplayed in a career-high 11 consecutive Canada “A” matches from 1990 to 1993. At
\u200bthe 1991 Concacaf Women’s Championship in Haiti, she posted four consecutive
\u200bclean sheets before Canada finished second in the tournament behind USA. Along
\u200bwith Chin’s 29 official international “A” matches, she also played eight
\u200badditional tournament matches against either national “B” sides or a clubs
\u200bcompeting against Canada.
Chin Baker also
\u200bmade her mark at the club and university level. She was a two-time Canada
\u200bSoccer All-Star Championship winner with Ontario (1986 and 1987), a Canada
\u200bSoccer National Championships runner up (1987), a CIAU Soccer Championship
\u200brunner up (1987), and a three-time Ontario Cup winner.
“Working with my
\u200bteammates, those players in front of me, I felt I would contribute from a
\u200bfitness standpoint and then I would work on my strengths which were my
\u200bquickness, my lateral agility and my ability to come off the line,” said Chin
\u200bBaker. “To really maximize those characteristics helped me be successful along
\u200bwith my teammates helping me out in front of me.”
Chin Baker also
\u200bnoted the importance of good communication between the goalkeeper and her
\u200bdefenders.
“I definitely have to credit
\u200bthe defensive line in front of my for saving me on many, many occasions, but I
\u200bthink my best attribute would be communication, trying to organise them,
\u200bdemanding them to get to their spots when they needed to be there and present,
\u200band as a unit just working our tails off every single day to improve and to be
\u200ball on the same page.”
Now,
\u200bnearly 25 years after she left the game as a goalkeeper, Chin Baker looks back fondly
\u200bon her time with Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team.
“Focus on the journey,” said Chin Baker. “If you make the decision to go after it, then put your whole heart and soul into it, control the controlables, have the right mindset, be present in every situation and enjoy every situation that you have because those opportunities become fleeting with more and more competition and the level being so high in Canada right now.”
Carla Chin Baker | Canada Soccer Hall of Fame? 1x FIFA World Cup? 2x Concacaf silver? All-time leader in #CANWNT goalkeeper appearances when she left int'l soccer in 1995? One-time Canada record holder with 8 clean sheets in 29 appearances\u26bd\ufe0f? https://t.co/z7TRSL8qXr pic.twitter.com/omm1b89uXt — Canada Soccer Hall of Fame (@CS_HallofFame) April 29, 2021
CANADA
\u200bSOCCER HALL of FAME:
I am
\u200bhonoured and humbled to be inducted into the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame with
\u200bthe Class of 2021, my fellow teammates, Sue Brand, Annie Caron, Janet Lemieux,
\u200bLuce Mongrain, Suzanne Muir, Cathy Ross and Sue Simon.
I would
\u200blike to thank my parents, family, Rosemarie Sears, Charmaine Hooper, Michele
\u200bHouchen, Cathy Klein, Lisa Munro, Tracy Miernicki, Cathy Redshaw Briggs,
\u200bOntario Soccer teammates and my husband, Tom for their unconditional love,
\u200bbelief in my abilities and unwavering support in making my dream of playing for
\u200bCanada a reality.
Many
\u200bthanks to Scarborough United and Oakville Soccer Club for the foundation of my
\u200byouth development, and SoccerPlus GK camps for elevating my performance by
\u200bpreparing me for the 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cup. I will be forever grateful to
\u200bChris Petrucelli, Bill Millar, the late Tony DiCicco, Dick Howard, the late
\u200bPeter Bonetti, Lincoln Phillips, Kim Maslin Kammerdeiner, Dave Latourette, Matt
\u200bClark, Bill Steffen and Becky Burleigh for their leadership, guidance, training
\u200band encouragement as I refined my game at the international level.
To all
\u200bmy teammates, words cannot describe my gratitude for the positive memories of
\u200bour travels, friendships that will last a lifetime, laughter that brought us to
\u200btears, and camaraderie during our soccer journey. I will always cherish the
\u200bopportunity to represent Canada and play with so many talented women. Thank
\u200byou, Canada Soccer, for this breathtaking honour.