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Canadian Dual Nationals 2.0 Edition, Chase for the 5 stars


Dominic94

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https://www.instagram.com/chituru.odunze/

Found Chituru Odunze's Instagram and it has a Canadian flag emoji along with US and Nigeria, so it's possible he has acquired his Canadian citizenship. He also lists his current location as Vancouver and his hometown as Calgary.

It's rather likely he will be provisionally cap-tied by the US U17s at next year's CONCACAF U17 Championship, so he must have Canadian citizenship by that time in order to play for Canada later. He is already 6-foot-7 at age 16 and looks very promising. If Odunze were in the Canadian setup, I would guess he could be ranked as high as the #2 teenage keeper prospect behind Busti.

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On 11/24/2018 at 2:06 PM, Club Linesman said:

If those teams are truly interested he is no longer “our” starlet.  He signs for a team from that tier of club and it is highly unlikely that he plays for les rouges.

Make no mistake about it, he has 2026 mark down in his mind. Portugal is the no brainer but unless he feels strongly confident that he would go to 2022 and 2026, it's very hard for him to reject a "guaranteed" World Cup appearance in 2026 and he knows that.

He doesn't want to be "Cristante'd"

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Canada should do what Mexico's doing and poach some dual-nationals from the US. Plant some scouts south of the border and convince them to join a program on the upswing with potential to be a regional power and regular WC competitor vs one that's a big mess and completely directionless that can't have the guts to hire a coach.

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Here is today's full match of USA U17 against Turkey U17, with Vancouver Whitecaps GK Chituru Odunze (green shirt) in goal for the US, for those interested in watching his play. Born in England and spent brief time in some academies (including Chelsea, Cardiff, West Ham), moved to Calgary around age 11-12 and was further raised/developed there, but also has a US passport and was identified by US scouts about a year ago, and seems regarded well by the US. Born in October 2002, so he just turned 16 but is already 6-foot-7.

It's not entirely clear if Odunze has Canadian citizenship. If so, then a good chance Canada can get him by the 2026 WC or sooner -- he will be just age 23 or so and likely uncapped by the US at senior level yet, with other European-based US keepers (Zack Steffen, Ethan Horvath, Jonathan Klinsmann) in their prime. If he does not have Canadian citizenship yet, he needs to have it by the time the US provisionally cap-ties him at the CONCACAF U17 Championship next year, in order to be eligible to switch to Canada later. It should be noted that his Instagram bio has a Canada emoji and he lists his hometown as Calgary, so he may have it.

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The easiest way to convince him and other Canadian-American dual nats is tell him Canada has a coach, a functioning governing body that has none of the gross incompetence of USSF, and a real league system that works like the rest of the world and providing opportunities more in line with the world. Right now it isn't hard to choose which country one should play for considering the endless cycle of mediocrity the US is stuck in while Canada is genuinely improving. That goes for Akinola as well. Let him enjoy the ride with the US youth squads and when the right time comes kidnap and cap-tie him ASAP.

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So one of my classmates coaches in North York, Ontario. He came into contact with a kid who was good enough to go to Sporting in Portugal and was recently called up to their U15 squad. The thing is the league told the CSA about the kid and their response was "ok lol" so I'm not surprised we have a lot of kids who are playing with some really young NT squads of other countries. The CSA seems really lazy about getting them into the fold, especially at these ID camps for U15s and such.

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8 minutes ago, Vince193 said:

So one of my classmates coaches in North York, Ontario. He came into contact with a kid who was good enough to go to Sporting in Portugal and was recently called up to their U15 squad. The thing is the league told the CSA about the kid and their response was "ok lol" so I'm not surprised we have a lot of kids who are playing with some really young NT squads of other countries. The CSA seems really lazy about getting them into the fold, especially at these ID camps for U15s and such.

Is Lucas Dias the player that you are referring to?

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Watching the match by Odunze, he has some work to do on positioning and decision-making, but he seems to have secure hands and is completely aerially dominant -- no wonder, with that height and wingspan. Turkey didn't score and had little chance on set pieces. Obviously not Courtois, but his size/physique has the resemblance. Courtois is listed as 6-6 212 lb, Odunze is listed as 6-7 213 lb and could grow more. Like Akinola, he's a Canadian product, but who US Soccer scouts stumbled upon and recruited. Perhaps the #2 Canada-eligible youth keeper behind Busti.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Just checking in on a couple of Canada's brightest young dual nationals.

Ferdi Kadioglu (19) got his first minutes of the season in a cup game last week coming on as a substitute. His team Fenerbahce are having a horrible season and currently in the relegation zone. They have only finished lower than 2nd twice in the past 15 seasons. So like Besiktas seems to be a big change in the Turkish league. He is on the bench for back to back league games for the first time this year.

Meanwhile Stephen Eustaquio (22) has been a consistent starter for Chaves, regularly playing 90 and has 1 goal he got in a 1-1 draw with Porto. They are also having a tough season, currently last in the Portugese league. 

Both of them have been playing for their respective youth national teams, but don't seem to be anywhere close to a men's team spot. In Eustaquio's case he actually turned 22 this week so in no longer eligible for u21. Both are ones Herdman should be giving a call up if they are interested.

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4 minutes ago, Stryker911 said:

Just checking in on a couple of Canada's brightest young dual nationals.

Ferdi Kadioglu (19) got his first minutes of the season in a cup game last week coming on as a substitute. His team Fenerbahce are having a horrible season and currently in the relegation zone. They have only finished lower than 2nd twice in the past 15 seasons. So like Besiktas seems to be a big change in the Turkish league. He is on the bench for back to back league games for the first time this year.

Meanwhile Stephen Eustaquio (22) has been a consistent starter for Chaves, regularly playing 90 and has 1 goal he got in a 1-1 draw with Porto. They are also having a tough season, currently last in the Portugese league. 

Both of them have been playing for their respective youth national teams, but don't seem to be anywhere close to a men's team spot. In Eustaquio's case he actually turned 22 this week so in no longer eligible for u21. Both are ones Herdman should be giving a call up if they are interested.

I'm not sure on the dates but the way the youth teams in Europe work is if the person is the appropriate age at the start of youth qualifiers, so turning 22, doesn't necessarily exclude Stephen from playing for the U21s.

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On 12/1/2018 at 8:46 AM, ChuckMe92 said:

Here is today's full match of USA U17 against Turkey U17, with Vancouver Whitecaps GK Chituru Odunze (green shirt) in goal for the US, for those interested in watching his play. Born in England and spent brief time in some academies (including Chelsea, Cardiff, West Ham), moved to Calgary around age 11-12 and was further raised/developed there, but also has a US passport and was identified by US scouts about a year ago, and seems regarded well by the US. Born in October 2002, so he just turned 16 but is already 6-foot-7.

It's not entirely clear if Odunze has Canadian citizenship. If so, then a good chance Canada can get him by the 2026 WC or sooner -- he will be just age 23 or so and likely uncapped by the US at senior level yet, with other European-based US keepers (Zack Steffen, Ethan Horvath, Jonathan Klinsmann) in their prime. If he does not have Canadian citizenship yet, he needs to have it by the time the US provisionally cap-ties him at the CONCACAF U17 Championship next year, in order to be eligible to switch to Canada later. It should be noted that his Instagram bio has a Canada emoji and he lists his hometown as Calgary, so he may have it.

The word on this board was, "he's working on it".

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  • 4 weeks later...
2 hours ago, toontownman said:

Wow. That is unexpected and surely a boost for the chances of him suiting up for us. 

One can only hope this is a sign of which country he wants to represent.  Far less travel and time zone changes for Canadian NT from Mexico then from Europe.  Cruz Azul is a great club with great history but I would love to see him ply his trade in Europe in the future again.

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Yeah without getting hopes up too high its a big risk leaving not so much Portugal but Europe. None of the current Portuguese squad or recent call ups ply their trade outside of Europe. He is potentially leaving himself a bit off the grid with this move, which would be fine for an established squad member but a huge gamble for someone that would be depth at best at this point of his career, if he does want to represent Portugal not Canada. 

So..

  • Moving to a league closer to Canada and away from Portugal
  • Coupled with the previous rumours he might well appear for us by the Gold Cup..

--> Setting myself up for a mammoth fall. ?

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On 11/26/2018 at 11:00 PM, soccer.shocker said:

When is Piatti getting a passport? In time for Gold Cup 2019?

Has any journos asked Piatti if he was interested in playing for Canada?

If its possible for 2019 - I think there should be sincere interest to have him in the squad depth to do something special at the GC. 

Im being greedy. 

 

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@Jahinho GuerroHe arrived in Canada August 2014 so the earliest he could be eligible (if at all) is August 2019 but he could be ready for nations league.  Our attack would be frightening if we added that piece.. in my mind the CSA should be pitching him his minute. 

Where would we even play him?  He’s best at left wing but we already have Davies and Hoilett for the wing.. attacking mid behind Cavallini?  Scary stuff. 

 

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1 hour ago, Jahinho Guerro said:

Play where is the question. He wouldn't be a starter. Theres some competition for places in CDM. 

He has been starting every game for CD in the Portugese First division and now moving to a top club in Liga MX. Not sure we can say that he would not start for us. Yes we do have  3 very good CDMs but this Gold Cup will be  Hutch's last appearance for the CMNT and then the battle for the position is on. Besides we may use 2 CDMs?

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  • Dominic94 changed the title to Canadian Dual Nationals 2.0 Edition, Chase for the 5 stars

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