A group of young Canadian players take the next steps on their journey in the Menās EXCEL Program as Canada prepares for the 2019 Concacaf Menās Under-17 Championship. The 11-day camp takes place in Mexico from 4-14 March at the Mexican Football Federation training centre through a collaborative effort with Canada Soccerās United 2026 partner Mexico.
āSome of these players are right at the start of their journey in the Menās EXCEL Program, so they will be exposed to new concepts, new ideas, and a new program that is fully aligned to the Menās National Team tactical and cultural frameworks,ā said Andrew Olivieri, Menās EXCEL U-14 to U-17 Program Director. āMany of these players have already been exposed to these concepts through our NEX-PRO Integration strategy and can now get the opportunity to experience it in a Best with Best environment.ā
Ahead of the Concacaf Menās Under-17 Championship, Canada have been diligent in synergizing its Menās EXCEL Program with the professional clubs in Canada, formalising the monitoring and tracking systems, periodising competition programs, and aligning calendars ahead of the international competition in May. Canada Soccer have worked hand-in-hand with the clubs in their own environments, evaluating a wider base of players while working together with the clubs to develop players both on and off the field on the pathway to the Menās National Team.
āWe have undergone a thorough assessment process and weāre excited to bring this talented group of young Canadian players together as they prepare for the Concacaf Menās Under-17 Championship,ā said Olivieri.āThe development of these selected players as well as an ongoing identification process of new talented players both domestically and abroad will continue over the cycle as we remain focused on developing more Atibaās more often for the Menās National Team.ā
The Canada squad features players from clubs in Canada and abroad, working with academies including Vancouver Whitecaps FC, FC Edmonton, Toronto FC, Impact de MontrĆ©al, and Canadaās provincial and territorial member associations. In the past year, Canada Soccer has worked closely with each of those Canadian clubs.
As part of the camp in Mexico, Canada will have the opportunity to face academy clubs from CF America and UNAM Pumas.
CANADA SOCCER MENāS EXCEL PROGRAM
Canada Soccerās Menās EXCEL Program channels our nationās exceptional players into the best soccer environments. The Canada Soccer Pathway works in collaboration with our provincial and territory partners as well as the professional clubs and academies. For Canadaās elite players, the program emphasizes player development on the pathway to representing Canadaās Menās National Team in international soccer.
Canada Soccer's Men's National Youth Teams have won two CONCACAF titles: both the 1986 and 1996 CONCACAF Men's Youth Championships. Canada have qualified for eight editions of the FIFA U-20 World Cup and six editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
CANADA
GK- Benjamin Collins | CAN / AcadƩmie Impact MontrƩal
GK- Eleias Himaras | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
GK- Marc Kouadio | USA / Montverde Academy
CB- David Amla | CAN / AcadƩmie Impact MontrƩal
CB- Maxime Bourgeois | CAN / AcadƩmie Impact MontrƩal
CB- Nathan Demian | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy
CB- Gianfranco Facchineri | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy
FB- Mckail Brathwaite | CAN / FC Edmonton
FB- Keesean Ferdinand | CAN / AcadƩmie Impact MontrƩal
FB- Kobe Franklin | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
FB- Rohan Goulbourne | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
M- Julian Altobelli | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
M- Matt Catavolo | CAN / AcadƩmie Impact MontrƩal
M- Simon Colyn | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy
M- Jamie Dunning | NED / Feyenoord
M- Tomas Giraldo | CAN / AcadƩmie Impact MontrƩal
M- Kamron Habibullah | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy
M- Damian Iamarino | ITA / Chievo Verona
M- Damiano Pecile | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy
M- Ralph Priso-Mbongue | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
M- Sean Rea | CAN / AcadƩmie Impact MontrƩal
F- Jayden Nelson | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
F- JƩrƩmie Omeonga Nkoy | CAN / AcadƩmie Impact MontrƩal
F- Jacen Russell-Rowe | CAN / Toronto FC Academy