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U20 Player of the Year


VPjr

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quote:Originally posted by Bertuzzi44

How many games did the U20's play this year?

4 internationals against Argentina, Switzerland, Haiti and USA. I think we also played a few exhibitions as well (Bern U-21).

Congrats to Nana!

Here's the CSA press release:

http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/media/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=3479

News

06 January 2009

Attakora-Gyan, Filigno named Canadian U-20 Players of the Year

Nana Attakora-Gyan & Jonelle Filigno

The Canadian Soccer Association announced today that Nana Attakora-Gyan and Jonelle Filigno have been named Canadian U-20 Players of the Year for the 2008 soccer season. The two stars were honoured in a vote shared by national-team coaches (50%) and Canadian coaches who have taken the Canadian Soccer Association’s national course at the B and A levels (50%).

Attakora-Gyan is a member of the Canadian U-20 team that has begun preparations for next year’s CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 Championship. He took part in all three U-20 camps, the first of which featured the anniversary rematch against Argentina at BMO Field in Toronto (a 1:1 draw on 11 May).

The Orangeville, ON defender is also a member of Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC. In 2008, he played five games with the big club, making his MLS debut on 5 August 2008. He also took part in the inaugural 2008 Nutrilite Canadian Championship, although he did not feature in Toronto FC’s four games.

Filigno, meanwhile, split the 2008 season between the senior and U-20 teams. With the women’s U-20 team, whose title sponsor is Winners, she helped Canada win a gold medal at the 2008 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship. She scored four goals in the tournament: a hat trick against Costa Rica in the group phase and the winning goal in the semi-final against Mexico. She then helped Canada win the Torneo 4-Naciones in Chile, scoring the lone goal in the final match of the round-robin tournament. Finally at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Chile 2008, she scored one goal in two matches after missing the opener because of a knee injury.

With the Canadian national team, whose title sponsor is Winners and whose presenting sponsor is Teck, Filigno made 20 appearances as a 17-year old rookie. She helped Canada win the Cyprus Cup in March, finish second at the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualification Tournament in April, finish second at the Peace Queen Cup in June (albeit she left midway to join the U-20s), and reach the quarter-final stage of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament. She started 12 of her 20 games and scored her first-ever goal against Trinidad & Tobago in April.

Yesterday, the Canadian Soccer Association announced that Russell Teibert and Monica Lam-Feist were both named the Canadian U-17 Players of the Year. Later this week, the Canadian Soccer Association will announce the 2008 adidas Canadian Players of the Year.

Fan voting for the 2008 CanadaSoccer.com Fan’s Choices, meanwhile, runs through 9 January 2009. Fans can still make their two selections (one male, one female) to rscott@soccercan.ca.

FINAL LIST

Male Nominees (born 1989 or later) / Nominés masculins (né en 1989 ou après)

1. Nana Attakora-Gyan (25.5)

2. Brandon Bonifacio (17.4)

3. Ethan Gage (15.0)

4. Adam Street (13.6)

5. Shaun Saiko (9.7)

6. Marcus Haber (8.2)

7. Derek Gaudet (2.1)

7. Adam Straith (2.1)

9. Mozesh Gyorio (0.4)

Female Nominees (born 1988 or later) from the Winners – Women’s U-20 team / Nominées féminines (né en 1988 ou après) de l’équipe féminine Winners U-20

1. Jonelle Filigno (30.4)

2. Allysha Chapman (20.7)

3. Kaylyn Kyle (16.9)

4. Sophie Schmidt (9.3)

5. Erin McNulty (6.7)

6. Jodi-Ann Robinson (5.6)

7. Myriam Bouchard (4.4)

8. Chelsea Stewart (4.3)

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^ No kidding, and considering Julius James has the first touch of an Elephant I have to wonder what the hell they were thinking.

From watching him all year, I don't think he was quite ready to start every game but was definately good enough to be the first option off the bench. This year, I think he should expect at least that much burn.

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quote:Originally posted by bettermirror

Yet Canada's best u20 player can't get a proper look at in a struggling MLS squad! C'mon TFC, give yer head a shake.

I think that's a bit harsh - he played in a bunch of games this year, far more than he did the year before, and that number would have been larger had he not been injured. I think he's getting a proper look and will continue to do so. I might not say that about many young Canadians at TFC, but I would with Nana.

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