VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC confirmed today that defender Carlyle Mitchell, wingers Dane Richards and Russell Teibert, as well as strikers Etienne Barbara and Darren Mattocks have been called up by their national teams for international friendly action this month.
Teibert, 19, earns his first call-up to Canada’s senior national team for a friendly against CONCACAF rivals Trinidad & Tobago at Central Broward Regional Park in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, next Wednesday, August 15. The friendly will serve as a tune-up for Canada’s crucial set of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers versus Panama at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario, on Friday, September 7, and in Panama City on Tuesday, September 11.
Teibert will face Whitecaps FC teammate Mitchell after the 24-year-old centre back was called up by Trinidad & Tobago for next Wednesday’s friendly. The Soca Warriors have been eliminated from contention for the 2014 World Cup in the CONCACAF region.
Mattocks, 21, and Richards, 28, have been called up by Jamaica for a friendly against CONCACAF rivals El Salvador in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. The match at RFK Stadium will serve as a tune-up for Jamaica’s crucial set of World Cup qualifiers versus the United States in September. While Richards has made 35 senior international appearances for The Reggae Boyz, this is the second call-up to the Jamaica squad for Mattocks, who has yet to appear at the senior international level for the Caribbean nation.
Barbara, 30, has been called up by his native Malta for a friendly away to San Marino on Tuesday. With 30 appearances for Il-Kavallieri (The Knights), the striker will look to impress before Malta begin World Cup qualifying versus Armenia and Italy in September.
As a result of these international call-ups, Barbara will miss Whitecaps FC’s two home matches versus Real Salt Lake on Saturday and FC Dallas next Wednesday. Mattocks, Mitchell, Richards, and Teibert will only miss next Wednesday’s clash versus FC Dallas on Bell Pitch at BC Place.
Whitecaps FC (MLS RS 9W-7L-7D) are back on Bell Pitch at BC Place this Saturday, August 11, when they host Real Salt Lake (MLS RS 13W-8L-3D) in an important Western Conference match - TV: Sportsnet Pacific, RADIO: TEAM 1410 - teamradio.ca, ONLINE:live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdlMOBILE:bell.ca/mobiletv. For information on match tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets or call 604.669.9283.
