The 2013 season has been an important and busy one for the development of the KIA Toronto FC Academy teams. Junior Academy Head Coach Anthony Capotosto has the added responsibility of guiding a team into the Generation Adidas Cup.
The Generation Adidas Cup was launched in 2007 as an important component of MLS’ player development initiative. This competition for under-17 players has undergone some drastic changes for the 2013-14 edition. Previous editions of the Cup featured MLS Academy sides pitted against one another in a single one-week event. In order to expand the opportunity for high-level competition, the Cup will now feature more games for each team, spread out over several tournament-style weekends, and a tiered championship round.
Toronto FC’s team is in the Eastern region, alongside Montreal Impact, Columbus Crew, D.C. United, Philadelphia Union and New York Red Bulls. Following the first round of games, Capotosto has the team, which combines players from the Junior Academy and the U16 sides, only one point out of the lead in the group, with 4 points from 2 games. In October in Montreal, the team will play its final 3 games of the group stage. The top 3 teams will then earn qualification for the international final round of the Cup, while the others will enter a consolation final.
"Top talent needs to be immersed in a high a performance environment, as often as possible," explains KIA TFC Academy Director Thomas Rongen. "The Generation Adidas Cup gives the TFC academy the opportunity to play against the best in MLS. Exposing our players to the highest level of competition will allow TFC players to further develop into the elite best."
The KIA Toronto FC Academy roster for the Generation Adidas Cup is:
Goalkeepers: Mathew Rondinone, Michael Uccello
Defenders: Gabriel Boakye, Marc Gallo, Marcus Godinho, Donte Henry, Mateo Restrepo, Nikola Stakic
Midfielders: Kwame Amoah, Aidan Daniels, Liam Fraser, Steven Furlano, Jordan Montoya, Luca Uccello
Forwards: Jonathan Amoo, Tomasz Balicki, Patrick Boyle, Malik Johnson, Zoom Langwa, Alexander Pena
