VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC confirmed today that striker Darren Mattocks has been called up by Jamaica for international duty in the final week of May and early June. As a result, Mattocks will miss Vancouver's MLS regular season matches against New York Red Rulls on June 1 and Seattle Sounders FC on June 8.
Mattocks, 22, joins Jamaica for two friendly matches and three World Cup qualifying matches. First up will be a match against English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur FC on Thursday, May 23, as the Reggae Boyz hold a 12-day training camp in the Bahamas.
The young striker will then return to Vancouver following Jamaica’s May 23 match and will be available for Whitecaps FC in the second leg of the 2013 Amway Canadian Championship final on Wednesday, May 29, at BC Place.
Following the ACC final, Mattocks will rejoin Jamaica for an international friendly versus Bahamas on Friday, May 31. The second year MLS player will remain with Jamaica as they continue their World Cup qualifying campaign with matches against Mexico on June 4, the United States on June 7, and Honduras on June 11.
Selected second overall in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, Mattocks was previously called up for international duty in December 2012, starting two of his three appearances for Jamaica in the 2012 Carribean Cup. The athletic striker made his international debut for Jamaica on August 15, 2012, coming on in the 55th minute in a 2-0 win over El Salvador in an international friendly.
On Wednesday, May 29, Vancouver Whitecaps FC will look to lift the Voyageurs Cup for the first time as they host the second leg of the Amway Canadian Championship final against Montreal Impact at BC Place. Don't miss out as the 'Caps look to make history, get your tickets today at ticketmaster.ca/whitecapsfc.
