The Canadian Soccer Association has announced that five Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency players will participate with Canada’s U-15 boys national team in the Copa Mexico de Naciones Sub-15, a boys’ U-15 tournament in Ciudad de Mexico from June 18 to 24, 2012. Canada is one of eight teams participating in the tournament, with group matches against Mexico (June 18), Nigeria (June 19) and Chile (June 20). Also competing in the event are Colombia, Costa Rica, Spain and USA in the opposite group.
Pre-Residency defender Evan Libke and midfielders Olamide Ajibike, A.J. Lopez, Marcello Polisi, and U-16 Residency midfielder Francesco Saporito were all named to the 20-player squad by U-15 head coach Michael Findlay. The 10-day national youth camp will run from June 16 to 25. All 20 selected players come from clubs in Canada.
Following group matches on June 18, 19 and 20, the top teams from each group advance to the semi-final phase on June 22. The tournament final will be played on June 24.
This marks Canada’s first project for 1997-born players. Players in this age group are eligible for the biennial CONCACAF & FIFA competitions in the U-17 category until 2013 (with 1996-born players) and in the U-20 category until 2017.
CANADA
1- GK- Philip Di Bennardo | CAN / Woodbridge SC
2- FB- Donte Henry | CAN / Woodbridge SC
3- M- Francesco Saporito | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
4- M- Andre Baires | CAN / Phoenix SC U-14
5- CB- Mateo Restrepo | CAN / Woodbridge SC
6- M- Kwame Amoah | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
7- M- David Choinière | CAN / Académie Impact Montréal
8- M- A.J. Lopez | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
9- AM- Luca Uccello | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
10- F- Andrew Gordon | CAN / Hearts Azzuri
11- M- Marcello Polisi | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
12- CM- Emmanuel Zambazis | CAN / Mississauga SC
13- CB- Juliano Cobuzzi | CAN / Académie Impact Montréal
14- FB- André-Cédric Zibi | CAN / Académie Impact Montréal
15- FB- Kamal Miller | CAN / Vaughn Azzuri
16- FB- Michael-Ricci Jean-Charles | CAN / CS Villeray
17- M- Olamide Ajibike | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
18- GK- James Pantemis | CAN / Lakeshore SC
19- F- Aymar Sigue | CAN / FC Edmonton Reserve
20- CB- Evan Libke | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
