Canada updates roster for weekend friendly with Bermuda

OTTAWA (ONTARIO) – Three players were added to Canada’s men’s national team in Hamilton, Bermuda. Adam Braz, Olivier Occean and Josh Simpson joined their Canadian teammates yesterday for the week-long camp leading up to the 25 March international friendly.



Four other players were unable to attend the camp: Ante Jazi (knee), Gabe Gervais (groin), Iain Hume (ankle) and Tam Nsaliwa.



Defender Braz, 25, is a veteran of 10 international caps with the senior men’s team, plus another nine at the U-23 (Olympic) level and eight at the U-20 level. He played in three Gold Cup games two years ago in 2005. Forward Occean, 25, has 12 caps with the senior men’s team and one with the U-23 team. He played in two Gold Cup games back in 2005. At last, forward Simpson, 23, has 15 caps with the senior team, three with the U-23 team and 17 with the U-20 team. Like Braz, he played in all three Gold Cup games back in 2005.



Canada’s senior team has faced Bermuda seven times including their first encounter in World Cup Qualifying back on 6 October 1968 in Toronto (4:0 win). Canada and Bermuda last faced off against each other on 11 January 2000 in Hamilton, Bermuda (Canada 2:0 win on two Martin Nash goals). Canada has three wins and four draws in seven matches against Bermuda.



The 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup takes place 6 to 24 June in the United States. Games will take place in Miami, FL (Orange Bowl, including the final), East Rutherford, NJ (Giants Stadium), Carson, CA (Home Depot Center), Houston, TX (Reliant Stadium), and Foxborough, MA (Gillette Stadium).



In FIFA’s February 2007 world rankings, Canada was the ninth-ranked country in the CONCACAF conference. Canada will look to improve its standings this summer when it takes part in the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The tournament will feature its biggest prize pool ever since CONCACAF has announced prizes have more than doubled for all winners and qualifiers in the 12-team tournament. From the tournament’s 16-year history (eight finals), Canada were Gold Cup champions in 2000.