February 25, 2011--Canada Coming Together (from TorontoFC.ca)

Canada Coming Together
U17 national coach praises TFC and other professional clubs.
February 25, 2011

Canada's recent qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup has been a group effort, or in truth a national effort on behalf of all the coaches, clubs, districts, provincial associations and national training centres across Canada. After qualifying on Wednesday, coach Sean Fleming, his staff and all the players took a moment to pay tribute to everyone that helped Canada achieve its goal.

"I think they are all part of our success," said Fleming. "We have a good crop of players in this age group, but it is also no secret that our players are in good soccer environments back home."

Canada qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Mexico 2011 after a 2-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in the quarter-final stage of the CONCACAF Men's Under-17 Championship. Canada next faces Panama in the semi-final stage on Friday 25 February (4 p.m. ET on CONCACAF.com). Should Canada win, it will advance to the championship final on Sunday 27 February (7 p.m.. ET also on CONCACAF.com).

"For a player's development to be at its best, the player needs to be training in a good environment," said Fleming. "That environment may not be the same for all players and there are different circumstances in different places from coast to coast.

"We have to always ask ourselves what is best for the players. It may not be just one model. There is some great dialogue going on with all parties involved through the Wellness to World Cup working group (the Canadian Soccer Association's Long-Term Development Program). When everyone is working together, that helps our success on the international stage."  

Canada's men's U-17 team features players born 1994 or later. Every player has come through the Canadian system with 19 of 20 currently training on Canadian clubs (including professional clubs Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Toronto FC and Impact Montréal). Furthermore, 17 of 20 players on this particular team have also come through one of Canada's five National Training Centres.

Every player also committed himself to multiple camps with the national team. The team had 56 camp days before the CONCACAF competition from April 2010 to February 2011. Those national camps combined with international competition are essential to the player's development as an international player.

"We took a moment to thank all the coaches for the part that they played in our success," said Fleming. "It is important that they are recognized in the celebration following our qualification. This is Canada's team."

After the CONCACAF championship, coach Fleming will continue to develop and expand the program's player pool en route to the FIFA U-17 World Cup Mexico 2011. The team will also be ensured some high-quality international opponents which will further develop Canada's youth players as they climb the ladder up to the Canada's full national team in years to come.

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