Vancouver Whitecaps FC announce that defender/midfielder Navid Mashinchi has been called up to the Whitecaps men's team from Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency of the United Soccer Leagues (USL) Premier Development League (PDL).
The five-foot-eight, 141-pound native of Dusseldorf, Germany, joined the full-time Residency program in September 2007 and has just completed the PDL regular season with the squad on July 19. Mashinchi, who currently resides in Coquitlam, BC, appeared in 14 of the Whitecaps 16 PDL matches, accumulating 1237 minutes of action and scoring one goal. Mashinchi helped Whitecaps Residency to a regular season record of 11 wins, four losses, and one tie as well as a spot in the PDL’s Western Conference semifinal this Saturday, June 26.
Internationally, Mashinchi has made four appearances for Iran’s U-18 national team, all coming in a four-team tournament that included Laos, Uzbekistan, and Bahrain in 2006. Prior to joining the Residency program, the 19-year-old played club soccer with Westside FC Rangers U-21 side of the Vancouver Metro Soccer League U-21 Division in 2006. Also, from 2003 to 2006 Mashinci played for both the U-15 and U-17 teams of Germany’s third division club Fortuna Düsseldorf.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency is a full-time program dedicated to developing North America’s top youth players in Vancouver. Whitecaps Residency allows elite youth players from U-17 to U-19 to achieve professional opportunities with the Whitecaps men’s team and world-class European clubs using the European club model of identification, development, and placement.
The Whitecaps take on the Charleston Battery tonight at 7:00 p.m. The Battery currently sit in first place in the USL First Division, while the 'Caps sit six points back of Charleston with two games in hand. For tickets, which start at $18, call 604.280.4400 or visit ticketmaster.ca.
