With their own FIFA World Cup qualifying tournament ticking ever closer, Canada’s Men’s U-17 Team is setting up camp in Central America to prepare for the sort of environment they’ll expect in Honduras at the end of February and into March for the CONCACAF Under-17 Championship.
Head Coach Sean Fleming has called in a squad that includes some new faces looking to leave an impression, as Canada will play two matches against Guatemala and one against El Salvador. The camp will run 5-15 January.
“It's going to be a great opportunity for us to keep fine-tuning our style of play. It will give us a great opportunity to see different players play with each other,” said Fleming. “It's exciting as a couple new players have come in again which will be giving great competition for spots on the squad and hopefully be adding depth.”
Both Guatemala and El Salvador will be facing each other for the final competing spot at the CONCACAF Under-17 Championship in San Pedro Sula, HON.
There’s nothing like the experience of playing in Central America and that’s something the team want to adapt to as much as possible before the tournament.
The team has one day of training on Tuesday 6 January before their first match against Guatemala before the two teams play again on Saturday 10 January on the turf at Cobar Stadium in San Miguel Petapa, GUA.
They’ll then take the bus to El Salvador in advance of their final match against the hosts at the Delicias Stadium in San Tecla, SLV.
“It will be difficult with only one day of training and then we have to play a match. But these are the challenges I'd like to see your players fight through and beat,” said Fleming. “It is another step for us to be ready to be at our best for Honduras in qualification.”
Canada starts their qualifying campaign at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, HON, on 28 February against Haiti as they look to qualify Canada for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015. Canada has qualified for the past two FIFA World Cups at the U-17 level.
CANADA
GK- Brogan Engbers | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
GK- Luciano Trasolini | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
D- Matthew Baldisimo | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
D- Gabriel Boakye | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
D- Dante Campbell | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
D- Kadin Chung | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
D- Andrew Dias | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
M- Tristan Borges | CAN / West Toronto Cobras
M- Thomas Gardner | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
M- Thomas Mickoski | CAN / North Toronto Nitros
M- David Norman | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
M- Harry Paton | ENG / Fulham FC U18 Academy
M- Reshon Phillip | CAN / North Mississauga SC
M- Munir Saleh | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
F- Terran Campbell | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
F- Duwayne Ewart | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
F- Shaan Hundal | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
F- Malik Johnson | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
F- Cyrus Rollocks | CAN / North Mississauga SC
F- Daniel Sagno | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
