The Canadian Soccer Association announced today that six Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency players have been named to Canada's Men's U-15 20-man roster for the 2013 Copa Mexico de Naciones set to take place in Mexico City from August 10 to 18.
All six of the Whitecaps FC players called up - goalkeeper Aidan Aylward, defenders John Kasper and Matthew Baldisimo, midfielders Thomas Gardner and David Norman, and striker Terran Campbell - participated in last June's U-15 30-player camp in Montreal, Quebec. Each player is also a former member of the BC Soccer Provincial Development Program and National Training Centre.
Canada Soccer's Technical Director Tony Fonseca will oversee proceedings for the country's youngest national team in a tournament that features some of the best international sides in the Americas. Canada's all-time Men's National Team caps leader Paul Stalteri will also travel to Mexico as part of the coaching staff.
Canada's up-and-coming squad, featuring mostly a collection of players from the country’s professional academies, has been drawn into a strong group at the competition along-side hosts Mexico, as well as Chile and Paraguay.
Despite the strong opposition from South and Central America, Fonseca is keen to see the experience serve as an important learning process for the country’s players.
“We are trying to change the mentality of young Canadian teams going into Central America,” said Fonseca.
“We are encouraging this group of players to go into a very challenging environment – and to do it in a way that they continue to express the brand of soccer we are looking to create.”
Fonseca is also hoping that Canada’s U-15’s will benefit from the mentorship of MNT veteran Stalteri.
“It is fantastic to have a player like Paul Stalteri involved with this age group,” said Fonseca.
“It is great that players will have the opportunity to learn from an individual that has been so important to this country’s football culture.”
The Canadian U-15’s, the youngest branch of Canada’s youth national teams system, will take part in a training camp in the Mexican capital, including a friendly against local side Club America, ahead of the tournament.
CANADA’s Men’s U-15 Team, 2013 Copa Mexico de Naciones
GK- Aidan Aylward | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
GK- Alic Rasmussen | CAN / Bonvital SC
D- Matthew Baldisimo | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
D- Patrick Boyle | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
D- Steven Furlano | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
D- John Kasper | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
D- Nikola Stakic | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
D/M- William Archambault | CAN / Académie Impact Montréal
M- Gabriel Boakye | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
M- Don Junior Bobe | CAN / Académie Impact Montréal
M- Esleyder Echeverria | CAN / Académie Impact Montréal
M- Duwayne Ewant | CAN / North Scarborough SC
M- Thomas Gardner | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
M- David Norman | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
M- Alexander Pena | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
M- Mouhamed Touré | CAN / Académie Impact Montréal
F- Terran Campbell | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
F- Malik Johnson | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
F- Raheem Taylor-Parkes | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
F- Gabriel Wiethaeuper-Balbinotti | CAN / Académie Impact Montréal
