NASL FC Edmonton

FCE Young Eddie Makes Senior Canadian National Team

October 3, 2014 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
FC Edmonton News Release


EDMONTON, AB (October 2, 2014) - FC Edmonton is excited to announce Hanson Boakai's first senior call-up to the Canadian Men's National Team. Today the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) announced the roster that will be participating in the CanMNT match against Colombia on October 14, 2014.

"I've been waiting for this moment my entire life," said Boakai after he got the news. "Every kid in Canada wants to play for the national team. I am so excited that I got this opportunity and I am going to make the best of it."

Boakai joined FC Edmonton in February 2013 with the 2014 season being the break-out year for this young Eddie. Notching up 269 minutes in the North American Soccer League (NASL) so far this season, Boakai came to life in the 2014 Amway Canadian Championship where he played 325 minutes, earned four assists and scored once in the Eddies run to the semi-finals.

"This is a landmark moment for Hanson's development and the progress that he's made at FC Edmonton," said FC Edmonton head coach Colin Miller. "I am delighted that the CSA have been watching what we're doing with him here in Edmonton and the qualities that he possesses. I think that he is a potential match winner, whether that's now or in two of three years time, he is a player that will give our national team something different."

Canadian National head coach Benito Floro has selected 23 players that will start with a camp in Cancun, Mexico, before making the way up to the northeast of the United States for the final few days of camp in advance of the game.

"The match against Colombia will be very difficult for us, due to the quality of the opponent. At the same time, the game will be a very interesting test for us as we need to see our competitive level and our spirit against top teams," said Floro, who guided Canada to a 3:1 victory over Jamaica last month. "The most important question for us is the attitude and at the same time to keep confidence in our capacity to create chances in the attack."

In selecting his squad, Floro has continued selecting a veteran core of players along with a healthy mix of players who will be in the running for the U-23 squad that will be trying to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games.

It's all part of the many projects that Canada will have to juggle in the coming few years with the CONCACAF Gold Cup coming up next year and FIFA World CupTM Qualifiers and hopefully Olympics still to come for the program.

Canadian fans wishing to support the team can join the Voyageurs in the official Canadian supporters section at Red Bull Arena. Ticket information is available HERE.

The Canada-Colombia match will be streamed live on Sportsnet.ca (kickoff at 21.15 ET / 18.15 PT). Fans can also follow the match live on Twitter @CanadaSoccerEN and visit canadasoccer.com for post-match report and players reactions.

CANADA

GK- Lars Hirschfeld | NOR / Valerenga

GK- Milan Borjan | BUL / Ludogorets Razgrad

GK- Quillan Roberts | CAN / Toronto FC

D- Nik Ledgerwood | GER / Energie Cottbus

D- Jeremy Gagnon-Laparé | CAN / Impact de Montréal

D- Andre Hainault | GER / VfR Aalen

D- Doneil Henry | CAN / Toronto FC

D- Adam Straith | unattached / sans club

D- Karl W. Ouimette | CAN / Impact de Montréal

D- Luca Gasparotto | SCO / Glasgow Rangers

M- David Edgar | ENG / Birmingham City

M- Julian de Guzman | unattached / sans club

M- Pedro Pacheco | POR / Santa Clara

M- Kyle Bekker | CAN / Toronto FC

M- Manuel Aparicio | CAN / Toronto FC

M- Issey Nakajima-Farran | CAN / Impact de Montréal

M- Marcel de Jong | GER / Augsburg

M- Dylan Carreiro | SCO / Dundee (on loan at Arbroath)

M- Hanson Boakai | CAN / FC Edmonton

F- Tosaint Ricketts | ISR / Hapoel Haifa

F- Cyle Larin | USA / University of Connecticut

F- Marcus Haber | ENG / Crewe Alexandra

Check out the FC Edmonton Statistics



North American Soccer League Stories from October 3, 2014


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