Behind Mark-Anthony Kaye’s proud approach to singing the Canadian national anthem

Mark-Anthony Kaye doesn’t just sing “O Canada” prior to matches, he screams it.

The 27-year-old and his teammates have become somewhat of a meme throughout the Canadian men’s national team's World Cup Qualifying run over the past year with their passion for belting out the national anthem felt quivering through television screens across the country.

And for the Canadian international, it’s about more than just an anthem.

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There’s two main parts to his thought process. The first he attributes to the brotherhood and pride that head coach John Herdman has instilled within the group.

“On the side about John, I think the way he’s brought us all together to understand the importance of what we’re doing for our country, it then makes you realize how grateful and how blessed we are to be Canadians and to have the opportunity to represent the country,” explained Kaye on a media call earlier this week. “And whenever we have the opportunity to put on the jersey, it’s a big responsibility and you want to show out in any way possible, and the first thing you can do is how you sing the national anthem.”

Brotherhood has become a bit of a buzzword surrounding this men’s national team, but it’s a philosophy that was non-existent within the program just a few years ago.

When Herdman first arrived, the squad was in disarray, with stories of fights breaking out in the manager’s first two camps in charge back in 2018.

“I am not talking tough tackles," said Herdman in an interview with Sky Sports News. "I am talking [about] groups of guys getting after each other in big scuffles. They were really getting into it. I was like, 'Holy ****, what have I got into here?’”

Herdman, who went on to describe the group as dysfunctional at the time, drew a line in the sand, speaking to everyone and explaining that the team would not be able to qualify for a World Cup without change, a notion that 'the real leaders' in the group understood and helped to bring it all together.

Fast forward a few years with Canada’s men on the brink of punching its ticket to just its second-ever World Cup – and first since 1986 – and it’s been that unison within the program that has become a key driving force in the team’s push to Qatar 2022.

“I’m proud to be Canadian and I’m proud to put on the jersey and play with a bunch of great guys, so why not sing proudly?” questioned Kaye.

The second part of Kaye’s approach speaks volumes about the important voice he’s become for the men’s national team, especially in the Concacaf region where even the slightest advantage gained over your opponent could go a long way in determining the overall outcome of the match.

It’s that mentality and overall belief, as he emphasizes, that starts even prior to kickoff that could ultimately end up giving your team the edge.

“I think I’ve always tried to be a leader … to set a tone for each game,” he continued. “Whether I’m on the bench, or the starting XI, the way you sing the national anthem is going to let everyone know how serious you’re taking this game and how serious you take your country and the opportunity that’s in front of you. I think it gives us a little mental edge on our opponents…”

So, when Canada takes the pitch at the Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica in San José, Costa Rica on Thursday evening, keep in mind that it’s about more than just the anthem.

It’s about starting the game on the front foot. It’s about all the blood, sweat, and tears that have gone into the last four years of this qualifying journey. And, perhaps more than anything, it’s about the unique and privileged opportunity these 25 individuals will have to say they were the ones that helped push our nation ­– Canada – across the finish line.

As they say, this is literally a once in a lifetime opportunity, and Kaye hopes his enthusiasm for belting out “O Canada” will be something everyone, including his teammates and fans, will continue to get behind.

“It’s definitely something that I want to continue to do and I hope more people continue to follow, and if the fans get into it too, it makes a hell of an experience and an atmosphere,” he concluded.

Kickoff is at 10:05 p.m. ET on Thursday evening and a victory will see Les Rouges qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.