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Regional Camp SSA Players and Coach Attend
2014-03-31
SSA is proud to have recently welcomed home two players after each attended a Western Canadian training camp in Burnaby, BC.
Saskatchewan Soccer Association is proud to have recently welcomed home two players after each attended a Western Canadian training camp in Burnaby, BC.
Whitecaps FC Saskatchewan prospect Zac Edwards and Moose Jaw Storm player Mekonnen Cridland were selected by the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) to attend the week-long camp hosted by the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The event was part of a series of Canadian wide training camps conducted by the Canadian Soccer Association in conjunction with all of Canada's Major League Soccer(MLS) clubs, with the Western Camp hosted by the Vancouver Whitecaps FC out of the Fortius Centre. The Cap's assessed talent in partnership with the CSA at the Western Canadian camp, sending Coach Bryce Chapman of Saskatoon.
Cridland and Edwards had an opportunity to participate in a match between the Western Canadian prospects and Whitecaps FC Pre-Residency during their attendance which ultimately provided both with "a taste for the opportunities that are available to them" said Whitecaps FC Saskatchewan Academy Centre regional head coach Bryce Chapman, in a press announcement released by the Whitecaps FC Saskatchewan Academy prior to Edwards and Chapman leaving for camp. Each province sent a Coach to the camp as well, for the opportunity to learn and observe from CSA officials. Saskatchewan's official representative in attendance was Coach Jason Jones from Moose Jaw who received the opportunity to better understand what occurs at the national level, the opportunities available for Saskatchewan players and to better understand the impact that national activities have at the regional and local levels.
This camp is the first in a series of identification camps that will allow the Canadian Soccer Association to assess the best players from across the country as it pairs down to identify U15 players to compete on the national team. Two other camps in this series will also beheld, one in Central Canada, the other in Eastern Canada, with the ultimate goal of the camps to widen the talent pool that has been gathered. Twenty six players that were some of Western Canada's top U15 males attended the camp in Burnaby, with coaching staff that included Canada Soccer's Technical Director Tony Fonseca. Fonseca said "It is very rare these days for a player to reach the highest levels of football without exposure to a well-designed player development program. The game has evolved; players are quicker, faster and stronger, more tactically aware and more technically proficient." Competing in this identification camp may be the first step for many of these players on the road to representing Canada with the U15 national team competing at an international level. Eventually many players will continue to rise through the soccer ranks ultimately competing for places on the U17 national team in advance of FIFA U17 World Cup 2015 Qualifying and the U20 national team, which will feature primarily 1999-born players in advance of the FIFA U20 World Cup 2019.
Saskatchewan Soccer Association's High-Performance Stream Manager Terrol Russell comments "With the addition of Zac and Mekonnen to this National initiative new levels of success are being reached in Saskatchewan. Only two years into a five year plan, the Saskatchewan High-Performance Stream is exhibiting a positive developmental impact on Saskatchewan's High-Performance Athletes and Coaches". Saskatchewan Soccer Association is very proud of the hard work both Zac Edwards and Mekonnen Cridland have put forth to advance to this stage and congratulate them on this accomplishment. SSA also welcomes home Coach Jason Jones and acknowledges his contributions to soccer in and on behalf of the province.
Administration Office
1870 Lorne Street,
Regina, SK, S4P 2L7 Phone (306) 780-9225
Fax (306) 780-9480
Technical Office 150 Nelson Road
Saskatoon, SK, S7S 1P5
Phone (306) 975-0862
Fax (306) 975-0863
For further information please contact Andrea Orr, Coordinator of Communications and Funds Development at 306.780.9225 ext. 222 or a.orr@sasksoccer.com
Whitecaps FC Saskatchewan prospect Zac Edwards and Moose Jaw Storm player Mekonnen Cridland were selected by the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) to attend the week-long camp hosted by the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The event was part of a series of Canadian wide training camps conducted by the Canadian Soccer Association in conjunction with all of Canada's Major League Soccer(MLS) clubs, with the Western Camp hosted by the Vancouver Whitecaps FC out of the Fortius Centre. The Cap's assessed talent in partnership with the CSA at the Western Canadian camp, sending Coach Bryce Chapman of Saskatoon.
Cridland and Edwards had an opportunity to participate in a match between the Western Canadian prospects and Whitecaps FC Pre-Residency during their attendance which ultimately provided both with "a taste for the opportunities that are available to them" said Whitecaps FC Saskatchewan Academy Centre regional head coach Bryce Chapman, in a press announcement released by the Whitecaps FC Saskatchewan Academy prior to Edwards and Chapman leaving for camp. Each province sent a Coach to the camp as well, for the opportunity to learn and observe from CSA officials. Saskatchewan's official representative in attendance was Coach Jason Jones from Moose Jaw who received the opportunity to better understand what occurs at the national level, the opportunities available for Saskatchewan players and to better understand the impact that national activities have at the regional and local levels.
This camp is the first in a series of identification camps that will allow the Canadian Soccer Association to assess the best players from across the country as it pairs down to identify U15 players to compete on the national team. Two other camps in this series will also beheld, one in Central Canada, the other in Eastern Canada, with the ultimate goal of the camps to widen the talent pool that has been gathered. Twenty six players that were some of Western Canada's top U15 males attended the camp in Burnaby, with coaching staff that included Canada Soccer's Technical Director Tony Fonseca. Fonseca said "It is very rare these days for a player to reach the highest levels of football without exposure to a well-designed player development program. The game has evolved; players are quicker, faster and stronger, more tactically aware and more technically proficient." Competing in this identification camp may be the first step for many of these players on the road to representing Canada with the U15 national team competing at an international level. Eventually many players will continue to rise through the soccer ranks ultimately competing for places on the U17 national team in advance of FIFA U17 World Cup 2015 Qualifying and the U20 national team, which will feature primarily 1999-born players in advance of the FIFA U20 World Cup 2019.
Saskatchewan Soccer Association's High-Performance Stream Manager Terrol Russell comments "With the addition of Zac and Mekonnen to this National initiative new levels of success are being reached in Saskatchewan. Only two years into a five year plan, the Saskatchewan High-Performance Stream is exhibiting a positive developmental impact on Saskatchewan's High-Performance Athletes and Coaches". Saskatchewan Soccer Association is very proud of the hard work both Zac Edwards and Mekonnen Cridland have put forth to advance to this stage and congratulate them on this accomplishment. SSA also welcomes home Coach Jason Jones and acknowledges his contributions to soccer in and on behalf of the province.
Administration Office
1870 Lorne Street,
Regina, SK, S4P 2L7 Phone (306) 780-9225
Fax (306) 780-9480
Technical Office 150 Nelson Road
Saskatoon, SK, S7S 1P5
Phone (306) 975-0862
Fax (306) 975-0863
For further information please contact Andrea Orr, Coordinator of Communications and Funds Development at 306.780.9225 ext. 222 or a.orr@sasksoccer.com