US Club Soccer Announces Roster & Schedule for 2016 Spain Tour
Soccer News from US Club Soccer – US Club Soccer has selected the roster for the upcoming and very exciting 2016 id2 National Selection International Tour which will travel to Spain, Feb. 20-March 2.
US Club is well known for their id2 youth soccer program which is focused on providing amazing opportunities for elite players. Kicked off more than a decade ago in 2004, US Club Soccer’s id2 Program provides an opportunity for elite youth soccer players to be identified, developed, and even scouted by U.S. Soccer.
Unlike many other programs, there is no cost to players for trying out or participating in the id2 Program.
The cost of all id2 Training Camps — including all lodging, meals and training gear — are provided at no cost by US Club Soccer and Nike. Even if the selected player needs to travel, airfare is provided at no cost. And, unlike other identification programs, the id2 Program is open to all players regardless of U.S. Soccer affiliation or lack thereof.
The 2016 id2 National Selection International Tour will travel to Spain, Feb. 20-March 2 with a group of boys – 16 born in 2002 and two born in 2003 – from 18 different youth soccer clubs around the country. This player pool forms the id² National Selection team that will play against top LaLiga academies, watch a professional game and train in some of Spain’s best facilities.
Gerry McKeown, id² Boys Program Director and head coach of the id2 National Selection, bears the difficult task of gathering 18 players from 18 different clubs and making them a cohesive unit.
“It’s a great opportunity for our young players that we’ve selected from the camps,” McKeown said. “It’s a great chance to test themselves against the world’s greatest.”
The international tour will continue to be supported by Nike, and new to 2016, LaLiga is offering its resources to enhance the experience. Premier International Tours is also assisting with travel logistics.
Over the past six years, id² National Selection teams traveled to Germany and the Netherlands in 2010, England and Scotland in 2011, Spain in 2012 and 2013, Italy in 2014 and Argentina in 2015. Opponents have included FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus, Inter Milan, Atlético Madrid, Manchester City FC, Everton FC, Celtic FC, AFC Ajax, Borussia Dortmund and PSV Eindhoven.
U.S. Soccer Technical Advisor Todd Saldaña will accompany the group on the tour in order to scout players for potential inclusion in youth national team programming. Numerous id² National Selection alumni have been called into U.S. Soccer’s National Team programs.
Youth Soccer Player Roster for 2016 Spain:
| Number | Name | Position | Hometown | Club | Birth Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00 | Charlton Alonso | GK | Paramus, N.J. | World Class FC | 2002 |
| 2 | Erik Centeno | D | Stockton, Calif. | Earthquakes – East Valley FC | 2002 |
| 1 | Gandhi Cruz | GK | Aurora, Ill. | Chicago Magic PSG | 2002 |
| 11 | Jack de Vries | M | Wayne, Pa. | Philadelphia Union | 2002 |
| 9 | Cameron Dunbar | F | Chula Vista, Calif. | Albion SC | 2002 |
| 14 | Daniel Edelman | M | Warren, N.J. | PDA | 2003 |
| 10 | Max Goeggel | M | San Francisco, Calif. | Ballistic United SC | 2002 |
| 5 | Ryan Hikida | D | Issaquah, Wash. | Issaquah SC | 2002 |
| 6 | Bryang Kayo | M | Montgomery Village, Md. | Bethesda-Olney | 2002 |
| 17 | Kawika Kelii | F | Waianae, Hawaii | Maui United SC | 2002 |
| 12 | Wyatt McCarthy | M | New York, N.Y. | Manhattan SC | 2002 |
| 7 | Alfredo Moran Loera | F | Chula Vista, Calif. | Surf SC | 2002 |
| 16 | Thomas Musto | M | Makawao, Hawaii | Surf Hawaii SC | 2003 |
| 15 | Matthew Owusu | D | Finksburg, Md. | Baltimore Celtic SC | 2002 |
| 8 | Nicola Rosamilia | M | Roseland, N.J. | Ironbound SC | 2002 |
| 3 | Derrick Silva | D | Tucson, Ariz. | Tanque Verde SC | 2002 |
| 4 | Luis Toledo | D | Longmont, Colo. | FC Boulder | 2002 |
| 18 | Andrew Tong | D | Chelmsford, Mass. | GPS Massachusetts | 2002 |
Head of Delegation: Tim Lesiak (Maineville, Ohio)
Head Coach: Gerry McKeown (Summit, N.J.)
Assistant Coach: Jim Barlow (Montgomery, N.J.)
Goalkeeper Coach: Matt Bernard (Folsom, Calif.)
GAME SCHEDULE:
Tuesday, Feb. 23 vs. Valencia Infantil A (2002s), 6:45 p.m. CET at Paterna Training Ground
Thursday, Feb. 25 vs. Villarreal CF Infantil A (2002s), 7 p.m. CET at Villarreal Sports City
Monday, Feb. 29 vs. Espanyol Infantil A (2002s), 7 p.m. CET at Campo de juego Badalona
Tuesday, March 1 vs. FC Barcelona Infantil A (2002s), 7 p.m. CET at Ciutat Deportiva Joan Gamper
Players were selected based on extensive scouting and participation in the id2 Program cycle targeting boys born in 2002, which included several Player Development Program (PDP) events and four id² Training Camps held in 2015. With as many clubs represented as possible, the selected group will represent this country’s diversity of soccer styles. The id² Program is an Olympic Development Program approved by the United States Olympic Committee and U.S. Soccer Federation.
