Hart Invites 18 Players for Scotland Games

[loyola]

Ottawa, Ontario – Canada’s Junior Under-17 Team Head Coach Stephen Hart has invited 18-players for an Under-16 development training camp in Toronto, Ontario beginning today until Sunday, April 17, 2005. Canada will play two exhibition games against Scotland; the first on Thursday, April 14 at 7:00 pm and the second on Saturday, April 16 at 3:00 pm.

“This will be this age group’s second round of International games,” said Hart. “The fact that we are playing at home, against opposition with the caliber of Scotland makes it a very special occasion.”

Toronto area residents are welcome to attend the games at the Soccer Centre located at 7601 Martin Grove Road in Vaughan, Ontario.

As this age group is four years away from competing at the FIFA World Youth (Under-20) Championship in 2009.

Players who perform well may find a spot on Hart’s junior team competing in group B of the final round CONCACAF Under-17 qualifying tournament in Culiacán, Sinaloa Mexico from May 17-21, 2005 against Haiti, Honduras, and host Mexico for a place in the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Peru from September 15 – October 2, 2005.

Games vs Scotland @ Soccer Centre

April 14, 2005 @ 19:00

April 16, 2005 @ 15:00

Roster

# Pos. Name Club DOB Hometown Prov

1 GK GILL, Jaswinder Alberta 05-Jan-89 Edmonton AB

2 D OWASU-ANSAH, Kennedy Ontario 20-Jul-89 Toronto ON

3 D ATTAKORA, Nana Ontario 27-Mar-89 Orangeville ON

4 D SMITH, Liam BC 01-Jan-89 Surrey BC

5 M SURPRENANT, Alex Quebec 04-Sep-89 Montreal QC

6 M MELO, Joey Ontario 25-Jan-89 Milton ON

7 M ROSA, Sean Quebec 07-Jun-89 Montreal QC

8 M PEREIRA, Michael Ontario 09-Mar-89 London ON

9 F RUTLEDGE, Todd Ontario 30-Jun-89 London ON

10 M GAUDET, Derek Nova Scotia 14-May-89 Bayside NS

11 M GALA, (Gala) Gabriel Ontario 29-Jun-89 Toronto ON

12 D HABER, Marcus BC 11-Jan-89 Vancouver BC

13 D AUGRUSO, Adam Ontario 02-Mar-89 Thunder Bay ON

14 M SAIKO, Shaun Alberta 13-Nov-89 Morinville AB

15 M LASSONDE, Fabrice Quebec 18-Feb-89 Mt-St-Gregoire QC

16 M ROBERTS, Dane Ontario 26-Jan-89 Ajax ON

17 D LEKO, Christopher Ontario 15-May-89 Mississauga ON

22 GK LAPLANTE, Marc-Andre Quebec 08-Jan-90 Terrebonne QC

[loyola]

It's good to see that the CSA is already preparing the group of players who'll defend our 2007 world championship .

We've seen a lot of complaining about the CSA and the scouting of our youth players but I want to say that they seems to do an excellent job with organizing camps,games and tournament for those young guys.

Does some of the Toronto Voyageurs have plan to attend these games? It would be interesting to hear about the future generation.

[NE]

I agree it get's tiring reading all the negative stuff!

[analyst]

I agree with both of you that its good the CSA is bringing the players together for these games. Its an investment which will probably pay dividends in the future. When Holger was in charge, he asked for and got approval for lots more funding to develop the youth teams. They called it the blueprint for success.

But I don't agree with your other message that there is too much complaining. We should continue to expect better results, particularly from the MNT, and if it doesn't improve then we should all complain.

I wonder if there is a typo error in the players list as it only lists 1 striker out of 18 players.

[Ricardo06]

I don't understand why are we spending money on our 89 team when our 88's have qualifying next month. Wouldn't it be much better for to call-up our 88's mostly and checkout a few 89's in the process?

The complaining is exactly as it should be. Sure, we've made some progress in a lot of areas but in reality our present standard will not cut it in the international stage. We are not Germany or Brazil who can sit on top of the world reflecting on their achievements. We are Canada, the struggling country in North America striving to become a top soccer nation. We must continue to constructively criticise our development to promote future success.

[loyola]

quote:Originally posted by analyst

I agree with both of you that its good the CSA is bringing the players together for these games. Its an investment which will probably pay dividends in the future. When Holger was in charge, he asked for and got approval for lots more funding to develop the youth teams. They called it the blueprint for success.

But I don't agree with your other message that there is too much complaining. We should continue to expect better results, particularly from the MNT, and if it doesn't improve then we should all complain.

I wonder if there is a typo error in the players list as it only lists 1 striker out of 18 players.

I'm talking about people like Ricardo06 who are complaining about the youth program. I totally agree that we should expect better results from our MNT but I don't understand why people are complaining about the youth program which is very good and one of the top 3 in Concacaf.

To answer Ricardo06 question I would say that it may be because of players availabilty and that they are preparing something for the end of april or beginning of may. And another reason would be that the Scotish FA is sending an 89 team and don,t want a play a 88 team.

I still remember how most of the people on this board reacted when our U-17 team failed to qualify in Victoria after winning their first 2 games. People went mad asking for the coach to be fired, rumour about a potential party after our second win, calling the team chokers, and stuff like that who make me sick.

[The Beaver]

quote:Originally posted by Ricardo06

We are not Germany or Brazil who can sit on top of the world reflecting on their achievements.

I get your point, but I hardly think Germany and Brazil are just sitting there (on top of the world) reflecting on their achievements. First off, Germany is rebuilding their program--with some success now that Klinsmann is at the helm--and the Brazilians should know all too well that reflecting too much on ones success (ie resting on laurels) is probably the best way to send your program into decline. I'd argue that the Brazilians are NOT sitting at all. They know the rest of the world is chasing them; they can't pause to reflect too much, can they.

In 10 years time, I'd expect China to volley itself into the top 25 or so soccer nations. Okay, maybe 15 years. Just you watch. The Chinese Empire is coming.

[footyfanatic01]

I dont think the Chinese Empire is coming. I think there more interested in ping pong and computing . I think it is good that we are spending money on our 89's. ATM our WC team is ****...we need to look to the future, not the present, or the past.

[The Beaver]

quote:Originally posted by footyfanatic01

I dont think the Chinese Empire is coming. I think there more interested in ping pong and computing . I think it is good that we are spending money on our 89's. ATM our WC team is ****...we need to look to the future, not the present, or the past.

Oh, I'd love to make a nice fat bet with you on the Chinese Empire! You could help put my soon-to-arrive child through university. The Chinese are poised to win the most medals at the next summer Olympics; their rise to the top of the podium has been (sorry for the cliche) meteoric! And they are very dedicated to their soccer program, have tonnes of cash (which they do not distribute as evenly as avowed Communists are supposed to) and are en route to eclipse the US and the European Union as the largest economy in the world. The fact of their rise is not the story here, but the speed at which they are rising truly IS. If you are going to conquer the world economically and symbolically, then you MUST have a good soccer team. There are few other more important symbolic signs of a country's power and global prowess than winning tonnes of medals at the Olympics and winning major international soccer tournaments.

[footyfanatic01]

Not always. Look at USA...by no means are they a world-class team. Look at Brazil, mexico, even Ireland...in NO MEANS economic superpowers, but are top 10 (according to FIFA rankings). The recipe for success on the World stage for soccer my friends is YOUTH. Do you guys know what Ajax does? They scout around 9-10 and train these boys and don't start playing positions until this age. That is why Holland is a superpower, and EVERY position has tons of skill, even there keeper (Van der sar). Holland has produced MANY big names like Kluivert, Van der sar, Reiziger, Van Der myde, just to name a few. There are countless more.

[FC Beast]

quote:Originally posted by loyola

I'm talking about people like Ricardo06 who are complaining about the youth program. I totally agree that we should expect better results from our MNT but I don't understand why people are complaining about the youth program which is very good and one of the top 3 in Concacaf.

To answer Ricardo06 question I would say that it may be because of players availabilty and that they are preparing something for the end of april or beginning of may. And another reason would be that the Scotish FA is sending an 89 team and don,t want a play a 88 team.

I still remember how most of the people on this board reacted when our U-17 team failed to qualify in Victoria after winning their first 2 games. People went mad asking for the coach to be fired, rumour about a potential party after our second win, calling the team chokers, and stuff like that who make me sick.

Our youth program is doing great for the sport in Canada. But if the

players can't make it with a European/South American side where do

they go? A-league, MLS ? Lets hope most catch on with some top

clubs.

[Canuck Oranje]

quote:Originally posted by footyfanatic01

Not always. Look at USA...by no means are they a world-class team.

No? the USA is currently ranked 10th and tied with Italy and ahead of Ireland, Greece, and Germany. If you said that 12 years ago, anyone who followed soccer would have thought you were nuts. I'm with the Beaver on this one, China could be in the mix too 12 years from now. Maybe not but I wouldn't bet against it.

I'm not normally one to defend the USA but they have been getting the results.

As for youth development, I agree that it is important. And even more important for countries with less population like Sweden,Denmark, Belgium, and Holland.

[Dionattan]

quote:Originally posted by Canuck Oranje

No? the USA is currently ranked 10th and tied with Italy and ahead of Ireland, Greece, and Germany. If you said that 12 years ago, anyone who followed soccer would have thought you were nuts. I'm with the Beaver on this one, China could be in the mix too 12 years from now. Maybe not but I wouldn't bet against it.

I'm not normally one to defend the USA but they have been getting the results.

I agree with the statement that the US is not a world class team. They have beaten weaker teams in the region, but that's about it. I think they look better than they really are right now, and they've learned to dominate the weaker teams better than they have in the past. We won't really know how good the US really is until they start playing some powerhouse teams. They only team they've been able to beat that is ranked ahead of them since the WC 2002 has been Mexico. They're a good team, but not world class.

[TDOT FAN]

The US has comitted themselves to excellence in sports. In the past 10-12 years the US has made dramatice strides in soccer. There infrastructure in soccer has allowed this. They also have the NCAA which bridges the gap from youth soccer to pro soccer and the NCAA does develop good players - ie Reyna, Sannah, Mcbride, ...

More importantly $$$$$$ = sucess.

[Soju]

[Guest Jeffery S.]

China is a long way from pushing into the top. I saw the friendly vs. Spain, very weak side. I'd say right now Lithuania is better.

And they are out of World Cup qualifying, while a country like Bahrein has a decent chance of making it to Germany still.

[The Beaver]

quote:Originally posted by Jeffrey S.

China is a long way from pushing into the top. I saw the friendly vs. Spain, very weak side. I'd say right now Lithuania is better.

And they are out of World Cup qualifying, while a country like Bahrein has a decent chance of making it to Germany still.

Yes, China has a long ways to go, but my point is that they will likely get there fairly quickly. It is very important in China right now to at atleast appear to be a global player--in many respects--and I think soccer will play a role over time. I certainly am not claiming their rise will happen next year or even the next 3 or 4 years. but in a decade or so we'll see a soccer nation building towards real power.

[canadiankick97]

Couldn't agree more with The Beaver on that one.

[Ivan]

Just to get this thread back on track, can anyone tell me how to get to the Soccer Centre?

[Massive Attack]

quote:Originally posted by Ivan

Just to get this thread back on track, can anyone tell me how to get to the Soccer Centre?

If your coming from Welland, I'd take the QEW Toronto bound, then the 427 north till it ends at Hwy.7. You make a right(east) onto Hwy 7. When you hit Martingrove, make a right (south). The Soccer Centre will be on your left, beside the high school (Holy Cross).

http://tinyurl.com/53zfh

[Ivan]

Thanks Massive Attack. I am going to try and make the Saturday game. I am assuming it will be played outside.

[canadiankick97]

quote:Originally posted by Ivan

Thanks Massive Attack. I am going to try and make the Saturday game. I am assuming it will be played outside.

Probably (they have many outdoor fields), but the Soccer Centre has a very large indoor soccer field with a balcony you can walk on overlooking the field that goes about 3/4 around (I think).