The Canadian Soccer Association announced today that eight Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency players have been called up as part of a 30-player group assembled for a three-day prospects evaluation for the U-15 men’s national team. The camp is being held from Tuesday, June 4 through Thursday, June 6 in Montreal Quebec.
Whitecaps FC players called up include: goalkeeper Aidan Aylward, defenders John Kasper, Riley Pang, Matthew Baldisimo and Kadin Chung, midfielders Thomas Gardner and David Norman, and striker Terran Campbell.
The camp is primarily being used to evaluate players from Canada’s four professional academies – while players from the U-15 provincial teams will have an opportunity to perform in front of Canadian coaches at the 2013 Canadian Soccer Association All-Stars showcase in July.
Canada’s increased activity at the U-15 level is part of technical director Tony Fonseca’s vision for the international development of young Canadian players that centers around increased contact with the national team program at a young age.
“The move towards increased national team opportunities for our U-15 men’s players began last year and this is something that you can expect to see continue,” said Fonseca from camp in Montréal,
“This particular camp is an opportunity for us to identify prospective national team players from the MLS and NASL academies.”
The schedule for the U-15’s will not be limited to domestic camps however, as following the evaluation opportunities, Canada will assemble a Men’s U-15 National Team to take part in a CONCACAF U-15 tournament in Mexico City from August 6-18; as well as the AGS Cup in Alicante, Spain in September.
“This type of increased international experience for our youngest players represents a big step forward for us,” said Fonseca.
“It is proven that the world’s best international sides are identifying players at younger ages than ever before and we are pleased to have a program that will allow us to incorporate our young players into the Canada set-up during the early stages of their careers.
“Our goal is for our core national team players to have 50 international caps under their belts by the time the time they are 19-years-old.”
Fonseca is overseeing the evaluation camp in Montréal.
CANADA Men's U-15 Evaluation Camp:
GK- Aidan Aylward | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
GK- Charles Desrochers | CAN / Académie Impact Montréal
GK- Brandon Kerr | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
CB- William Archambault | CAN / Académie Impact Montréal
CB- John Kasper | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
CB- Riley Pang | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
CB- Nikola Stakic | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
FB- Matthew Baldisimo | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
FB- Gabriel Boakye | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
FB- Steven Furlano | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
RB- Kadin Chung | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
M- Dylan Barichard | CAN / Académie Impact Montréal
M- Don Junior Bobe | CAN / Académie Impact Montréal
M- Patrick Boyle | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
M- Aidan Daniels | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
M- Esleyder Echeverria | CAN / Académie Impact Montréal
M- Justin Esteves | CAN / FC Edmonton Reserves
M- Thomas Gardner | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
M- Tchad Lapierre | CAN / Académie Impact Montréal
M- David Norman | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
M- Nicholas Osorio | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
M- Alexander Pena | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
M- Giovanni Pulitano | CAN / AS Blainville
M- Luca Ricci | CAN / Académie Impact Montréal
M- Mouhamed Touré | CAN / Académie Impact Montréal
M- Kevin Tran | CAN / Académie Impact Montréal
F- Terran Campbell | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps Residency
F- Malik Johnson | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
F- Raheem Taylor-Parkes | USA / VSI Flames
F- Gabriel Wiethaeuper-Balbinotti | CAN / Académie Impact Montréal
