Yallop Announces Florida Training Camp Roster

Ottawa, Ontario – Canadian Men’s National Team head coach Frank Yallop today named his 16-player roster for the upcoming training camp to be held in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida from January 13-22.

Yallop has selected the majority of his players from the Canadian A-League teams with five players from the A-League champion Montreal Impact, four from the Vancouver Whitecaps and two from the Toronto Lynx.

The Impact players include 2004 Olympic team players Adam Braz and Andrew Olivieri as well as defender Nevio Pizzolitto who was playing with San Diego of the MISL up until last week when the franchise folded. Sandro Grande, who appeared in four World Cup Qualifiers last year will attend the camp along with newcomer Patrick Leduc.

Yallop has called in Ali Gerba and Tyler Hughes from the Lynx for the camp. Gerba (who changed his last name from Ngon to Gerba) was Toronto’s leading scorer during the 2004 season and was capped six times with the Under-20 team between 1999 and 2001. Tyler Hughes has been on trial in England with Darlington. He spent the 2004 season with the Lynx and played for Canada during the development camp in Vancouver last summer.

The Whitecaps will send Alfredo Valente, who was also part of the development camp last summer, along with 2004 Olympic team member Kevin Harmse and defender Geordie Lyall. Striker Jason Jordan who was called in for game against Germany in 2003 but did not play, has also been selected.

Others invited to the camp include defender Winston Marshall, who played for Canada at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship and goalkeeper Kenny Stamatopoulos, who was capped against Malta in 2001. Midfielder Chris Pozniak from Haugesun in Sweden and striker Olivier Occean from Odd Grenland in Norway both played in Canada’s 1-0 win over Guatemala on November 17. Midfielder Robbie Aristodemo (who was capped seven times for the senior team between 1998 and 2000) has been given permission by the Cleveland Force of the MISL to join the camp as well.

“This camp will give me the opportunity to see some players for the first time in a training camp environment,” said Yallop. “I have seen most of them play with their club teams but it will be great to have them for a good period of time and see them up close.”

The team will play two to three exhibition games during the camp.

Canadian Roster For Florida Training Camp

NametPostClubtDOBtCapstGoals/Shutouts
Andrew OlivieritGKtMontreal Impactt3/27/81t0t0
Kenny StamatopoulostGKtEnkopping, Swedent8/26/76t1t0
Adam BraztDtMontreal Impact, A-Leaguet6/7/81t1t0
Nevio PizzolittotDtMontreal Impact, A-Leaguet8/26/76t6t0t
Kevin HarmsetDtVancouver Whitecaps, A-Leaguet7/4/84t0t0
Geordie LyalltDtVancouver Whitecaps, A-Leaguet9/15/76t0t0
Tyler HughestDtToronto Lynx, A-Leaguet11/11/80t0t0
Winston MarshalltDtWright State Universityt2/26/83t0t0
Chris PozniaktD/MtHaugesund, Swedish First Div.t1/10/81t9t0
Robbie AristodemotMtCleveland Force/Toronto Lynxt5/20/77t7t0
Alfredo ValentetMtVancouver Whitecaps, A-Leaguet11/6/80t0t0
Sandro GrandetMtMontreal Impact, A-Leaguet9/29/77t4t0
Patrick LeductMtMontreal Impact, A-Leaguet12/26/77t0t0
Ali GerbatFtToronto Lynx, A-Leaguet7/27/82t0t0
Olivier OcceantFtOdd Grenland, Norwegian Premiert10/23/81t7t0
Jason JordantFtVancouver Whitecaps, A-Leaguet5/30/78t0t0
Staff
Frank YallopttHead Coach
Mark WatsonttAssistant Coach
Stephen HartttAssistant Coach
Mike MorettottEquipment Manager
Kevin WagnerttPhysiotherapist
Morgan QuarryttManager