[NIKE INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES] Emerson Hyndman, the grandson of current FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman and a member of the Fulham under-18 academy team, is one of the 20 U.S. under-17 national team players called up for the 2012 Nike International Friendlies thatbegin Wednesday at Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.

Two other players have been selected from outside the current U-17 residency program: FC Dallas academy defender Jordan Cano and Indiana Fire Academy midfielder Cameron Lindley, who had been in Bradenton last spring as an eighth grader.

U.S. U-17 coach Richie Williams‘ team includes many of the players from the team that won the 2011 Nike Friendlies, including  Rubio Rubin, the 2012 U.S. Soccer Young Male Athlete of the Year, and Junior Flores.

U.S. U-17 Roster:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Paul Christensen (Seattle Sounders Academy), Evan Louro (New York Red Bulls Academy)
DEFENDERS (6): Jordan Cano (FC Dallas Academy), Conor Donovan (NC Alliance), Elijah Martin (Cal Odyssey), Shaquell Moore (Unattached), John Requejo Jr. (Real So Cal),Peter Schropp (Omaha FC)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Mukwelle Akale (Minnesota Thunder Academy), Junior Flores (McLean Youth Soccer), Emerson Hyndman (FulhamAcademy/ENG), Christopher Lema (New York Red Bulls Academy), Cameron Lindley (Indiana Fire Academy), Rolando Munoz (LA Galaxy Academy), Ben Swanson (Crew Soccer Academy)
FORWARDS (5): Corey Baird (San Diego Surf), Sebastian Elney (Boca United), Rubio Rubin (Portland Timbers Academy), Ahinga Selemani (CSA Wolves), Alan Winn (SolarChelsea FC)

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1 Comment

  1. I think its a question of opportunity. I know and coach many young players with the potential to be great pros, however I am in a working class community in a rural suburb of San Diego County. No money or no connections equates to less/no opportunity. This pay to play thing is ridiculous.

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