Question: Are TFC Academy Players on Canadian Youth Teams? Any going to Portugal?

[footyfan]

Considering all the talk about Toronto FC's academy I was curious.....

I was just hanging out on USSoccer.com and saw the roster for the USA U-18 team going to a tournament in Portugal. Are any TFC Academy players on the Canadian squad? I tried finding out at the CSA's website but it is a load of crap. (and I thought US Soccer's was bad till I saw the CSA's whew...)

http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/vie...p_6356999.html


U-18 MNT U.S. Under-18 MNT Set to Travel to Lisbon International Tournament
CHICAGO (May 12, 2008) -- The U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team will return to the Lisbon International Tournament, where the U.S. will take on Norway on May 21, Portugal on May 22 and Sweden on May 24. Head coach Bob Jenkins has named 18 players to the roster that will travel to Lisbon on May 16.
The trip to Portugal will be the first international training camp of 2008 for the U-18 MNT, but will include 11 players who participated in the team’s most recent domestic camp in New Jersey.

Of the 18 players on the roster, 14 are part of U.S. Soccer Development Academy clubs, including three players from Pateadores – Dersu Abolfathi, Eder Arreola and Steve Birnbaum – and two from Miami FC Kendall in Francklin Blaise and Andrew Quintana.

Under-18 MNT Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Larry Jackson (IMG Academy), Cody Mizell (Woodstock, Ga.)
DEFENDERS (5): Francklin Blaise (Miami FC Kendall), Paolo DelPiccolo (Colorado Rush), Jose Diaz (Chivas USA Academy), Nick Millington (CASL), Harrison Petts (Carmel United)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Eder Arreola (Pateadores), Chad Barson (Columbus Crew Academy), Steven Birnbaum (Pateadores), Bryan Dominguez (Concorde Fire), Amobi Okugo (Sacramento, Calif.), Andrew Quintana (Miami FC Kendall), Mike Roman (Real So Cal), Donny Toia (Tucson, Ariz.)
FORWARDS (3): Dersu Abolfathi (Pateadores), Tristan Bowen (LA Galaxy Academy), Adam Jahn (El Macero, Calif.)

[werewolf]

The CSA website epitomizes the uselessness of the CSA as a whole. The TFC website has a page for the Academy, but no roster. And finally, the best players in the area aren't even necessarily with the academy yet.

[UltraSuperMegaMo]

I know some of the players have represented Canada at various youth levels (Shawn Kodejs for example). I have no idea if anyone on the roster is in the current Canadian setup. TFC hasn’t done a very good job getting the word out about who’s on the team.

Someone made the point earlier that people are going to be more interested in the team if they know a little something who’s playing on it.

[Red CB Toronto]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TFC_Academy

This is the roster from their 1-0 victory over Toronto Croatia last week.

[UltraSuperMegaMo]

Another bit of interesting news on the CSL webite - the June 6th game against Portugal FC is going to be on Rogers:
http://www.canadiansoccerleague.ca/index.php

[T_Mizz]

This is all assuming Canada even sends a team. However, there are some very talented players in the academy including former U-17 player and current U-20 player FW Jarek Whiteman also there is former U-17 captain and current U-20 player Daniel Tannous. So these kids clearly have talent but I don't think the CSA is even sending a team.

[jloome]

I wouldn't be surprised if we heard very little about the academy; they're obviously following the English model, and it's typical there to shield academy players from any press or coverage until they're 16 or 17 at the earliest.

Given that ours has only just started I imagine you could say they'll probably take that stance with all the players for the first few years, particularly when they don't have their professional rights yet and can be poached.

[Red CB Toronto]

Another bit of interesting news on the CSL webite - the June 6th game against Portugal FC is going to be on Rogers:
http://www.canadiansoccerleague.ca/index.php

Yes I saw that on the CSL website the other day, so if you do live in the GTA and can't make it down it will be on TV.