Smith, Waston called up to Costa Rica for January camp and friendly

VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC confirmed today that defenders Jordan Smith and Kendall Waston have been called up to the Costa Rican national team for an upcoming training camp and friendly versus Venezuela.

Smith and Waston will join the Ticos when they hold camp from January 18 to 20 in San Rafael de Alajuela, Costa Rica, after which they will report to Whitecaps FC for preseason in Vancouver. The duo will then rejoin their national team on January 28 ahead of their road friendly vs. Venezuela on February 3 at Estadio Agustín Tovar in Barinas. Following the match, Smith and Waston will join Whitecaps FC in Tucson, Arizona for the 2016 Desert Friendlies.

Smith and Waston, both San José natives, featured in Costa Rica's most recent fixture, with Waston's first senior international goal proving to be the difference in the 1-0 friendly win over Nicaragua last December 15. 

Smith has two senior international caps, while Waston has five. 

Waston scores first international goal versus Nicaragua

Smith, 24, also featured for Costa Rica at the FIFA U-17 and U-20 World Cup tournaments. The right back concluded his first season for Whitecaps FC with six starts in eight appearances across all competitions after joining the club in August 2015.

Waston, 28, figured on the scoresheet for Costa Rica last November 17, recording an assist in their 2-1 win against Panama in the fourth round of 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. Last October 13, he played the full 90 minutes in the 1-0 international friendly win over the United States. The centre back also previously played in th 1-0 World Cup Qualifier win over Honduras on June 7, 2013.

Waston, who was re-signed by the club to a multi-year contract extension last November, completed his first full season for Vancouver in 2015, becoming the first-ever Whitecaps FC player to be named to the MLS Best XI. He was also the 2015 Whitecaps FC BMO Player of the Year and a runner-up for the 2015 MLS Defender of the Year.

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