Toronto FC stars called to national duty

A pair of Toronto FC players have been called to national duty by Canadian men’s national head coach Stephen Hart. Dwayne De Rosario and Julian de Guzman – both key players in Toronto FC’s hopes to repeat as national champions in the Nutrilite Canadian Championsip – will take part in the 24 May international match against Argentina in Buenos Aires, Argentina.



De Rosario and de Guzman will both stay in Toronto FC colours for this Saturday’s Major League Soccer match against Los Angeles Galaxy as well as next Wednesday’s Nutrilite Canadian Championship match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. De Rosario and de Guzman will leave their club on Thursday morning to join the national team in time to prepare for the Canada-Argentina match.



Last year, De Rosario was the key player in Toronto FC’s Nutrilite Canadian Championship season. He scored a hat trick in the final match to help clinch a first-place finish in the championship, winning Toronto FC both the Voyageurs Cup and a spot in the North American club championship, CONCACAF Champions League.



De Guzman, meanwhile, is taking part in his first Nutrilite Canadian Championship. He signed with hometown Toronto late last season after four seasons with Deportivo La Coruna in Spain.



De Rosario and de Guzman were both in the lineup for Toronto FC’s first two victories over Impact Montréal in the 2010 Nutrilite Canadian Championship – a 2:0 victory at BMO Field on 28 April and a 1:0 victory at Stade Saputo on 12 May. Toronto FC can actually clinch a second-straight national title with a victory over Vancouver on Wednesday night.



The 2010 Nutrilite Canadian Championship runs six consecutive Wednesday nights from 28 April to 2 June. Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver play four matches each – two at home and two on the road. All six matches in the championship are broadcast on Rogers Sportsnet. This Wednesday’s match will kickoff at 19.30 local time with a 23.00 ET / 20.00 PT broadcast time on Rogers Sportsnet East and Rogers Sportsnet West. The match will also be broadcast via webcast on Sportsnet.ca.