February 28, 2011 MLS--TFC Calls Keven Aleman To Camp (from TorontoFC.ca)
TFC Calls Keven Aleman To Camp
Impressive U17 tournament earns 16-year old high praise.
TorontoFC.ca
February 28, 2011
Toronto FC’s new management team is showing its commitment to developing young talent once again. Four players from Toronto FC Academy have already been included in preseason training and given an opportunity to earn a professional contract. Now, a fifth player is being called up to train with the First Team as the Reds follow through on their philosophy of promoting from within and playing a leading role in developing players for both club and country.
Head Coach and Technical Director Aron Winter is rewarding midfielder Keven Aleman for his outstanding performances for Canada in the CONCACAF Under 17 Championship by inviting him to join the team in Charleston for the final stage of preseason training.
Aleman, who turns 17 next month, was one of four Toronto FC Academy players in the line-up for Canada in the final of the CONCACAF U17 tournament in Jamaica on Sunday night and was one of the standout players in the tournament. He scored Canada’s second goal in the 2-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago at the Quarter Final Stage last week in the match that booked Canada’s place at the U17 World Cup.
“It is another sign of the fantastic job being done in our Academy,” said Toronto FC’s Director of Player Development Paul Mariner. “We have been watching the progress of the boys very carefully. We feel that the future is definitely the Academy boys. Keven has been doing very well and will now be joining us in Charleston.”
“If the players do well, the need to know that they will be rewarded. It is all about progression. If you look to the great programs in the world like Ajax and Barcelona, the boys have come through the youth system. We have only started recently but the fruits of the labour are already there for all to see.”
Aleman will link up with the squad in South Carolina on Wednesday.
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