Vancouver Whitecaps FC announce that striker Charles Gbeke has been called up to Canada's men's national team for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifier in Jamaica.
Gbeke will be part of Dale Mitchell's squad for next Wednesday's qualifier in Kingston, Jamaica, as Canada conclude their campaign against The Reggae Boyz after being eliminated from contention for South Africa 2010 last month.
Gbeke's latest call-up comes after the forward earned his second international cap as a stoppage-time substitute in the 2-2 World Cup qualifying draw versus Mexico in Edmonton, Alberta, on October 15. The call-up came just days after Gbeke led the Whitecaps to their second United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1) championship in three seasons when he scored both goals in a 2-1 final victory over Puerto Rico Islanders at Swangard Stadium on October 12. The 30-year-old's efforts earned him the USL-1 Championship Final's Most Valuable Player award.
The six-foot-two, 210-pound forward made his international debut for Canada in a 1-0 away victory over Martinique on January 30. He also appeared for Canada in a 2-0 friendly win over Danish club Vejle Boldklub in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on February 3.
Born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and raised in Longueuil, Quebec, Gbeke recorded three goals and two assists in 14 regular season appearances for the Whitecaps. During the USL-1 playoffs, the forward appeared in all five matches for Vancouver, making four starts, and had two goals and two assists during Vancouver's successful postseason run.
Also included in the Canadian squad for the match in Jamaica are former Whitecaps Adrian Cann, Kevin Harmse and Chris Pozniak.
Meanwhile, Whitecaps striker Dever Orgill has been called up to Jamaica's U-20 men's national team for the upcoming Caribbean zone final round qualifying tournament in Aruba, which begins next Tuesday. The tournament serves as a qualifier towards next year's CONCACAF U-20 Championship in Trinidad & Tobago. The 18-year-old joins The Young Reggae Boyz after a successful year as a member of the inaugural Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency squad.
During the summer, Orgill made seven regular season appearances in the USL Premier Development League for the Residency team, amassing 399 minutes of action and scoring two goals. On September 13, the forward made his first-team debut in the USL-1 when he was a second-half substitute in the 1-0 win over Montreal Impact at Swangard Stadium.
Orgill has previous international experience with Jamaica at youth level, having played for his country's U-15 national team in 2005 before captaining the U-17 Jamaican squad at the 2007 CONCACAF U-17 Championship.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2009 season tickets are now on sale. Season tickets include all men’s and women's team regular season and playoff home matches at Swangard Stadium, Nutrilite Canadian Championship home matches against Toronto FC and Montreal Impact, as well as priority listing for BC Place and the proposed Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium. Book or purchase season tickets now and receive early bird pricing, as well as the chance to win one of three trips to Las Vegas or a trip for two to Toronto to see the Whitecaps play Toronto FC in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship next year. For more information on 2009 season ticket packages, CLICK HERE.
