US Soccer announced the roster for the U15 national team's latest camp. Among the names are Freddy's little brother and someone I'm assuming is the brother of Quentin Westberg of the 17s. The U15s are 88s, 'cept for Fredua, who was born in like 1993!! GOALKEEPERS (4): Francisco Hernandez (Fresno, Calif.), Evan Newton (Virginia Beach, Va.), Bryant Rueckner (Fontana, Calif.), Kevin Sweetland (Hartford, Conn.); DEFENDERS (11): Chris Cano (Staten Island, N.Y.), Richard Edgar (Mechanicsville, Md.), Jesse Henderson (West Bloomfield, Mich.), Eric Lichaj (Downers Grove, Ill.), Ofori Sarkodie (Huber Heights, Ohio), Jeffrey Scannella (Alpharetta, Ga.), Kenneth Walker (Wickliffe, Ohio), Taylor Waspi (Deer Park, Ill.), Sam Westberg (St. Cloud, France), Mark Wiltse (Belle Mead, N.J.), Christopher Ye (Englewood, Calif.); MIDFIELDERS (12): Fredua Adu (Potomac, Md.), Anthony Ampaiptakwong (Dallas, Texas), Joe Castaldo (Atlanta, Ga.), Michael Dalpra (Bronxville, N.Y.), Juan Guzman (Charlotte, N.C.), Bret Merchant (Modesto, Calif.), Kyle Nakazawa (Palos Verdes East, Calif.), Bahram Sajjadi (Arlington, Texas), Tommy Stackhouse (Flemington, N.J.), Blake Wagner (Tampa, Fla.), Jonathon Villanueva (Dallas, Texas), Drew Yates (Pasadena, Calif.); FORWARDS (5): Jose Angulo (Clifton, N.J.), Bruce Ayala (Maspeth, N.Y.), Cameron Jordan (Ft. Wayne, Ind.), Quavas Kirk (Aurora, Ill.), Ryan Soroka (Langhorne, Pa.). BTW, there are some names here I just love! Anthony Ampaiptakwong - I really hope this kid makes it big in a few years just to watch announcers stumble on it and folks here on BS try to spell it. I'd also like to see a play in a couple years where Double A hooks up with Ofori Sarkodie and Bahram Sajjadi. Taylor Waspi - I know US Soccer has a rep for being lilly white, but this is taking it to an extreme. Having said that Francisco Hernandez, Juan Guzman, Jonathon Villanueva, Jose Angulo and Bruce Ayala make it seem like progress is being made in scouting the Latino community.
Imagine if they are our starting forward pair in 10 years or so. I think our heads (and the announcers) would explode.
Guys, I don't actually think Fro was born in 1993. I was just being sarcastic and I'm sorry if I wasn't clear enough and some of you may have misinterpreted it. I am pretty sure, based on media reports, that Fro is younger than Freddy. And I am sure that Freddy was born in 1989 (shaddup!!) so I "think" that Fro, at the very least, was born in 90 and is thus at the oldest 13 and thus at least two years younger than the rest of the kids in this pool.... assuming that all of them were born in 88. Sorry for the confusion. Hopefully someone like GersMan who has a good working relationship with Clan Adu can clarify this.
A while back I remember a report running around on CNN that Freedy's younger brother was 11 at the time (not but a few months ago)
Freddy's stated birthdate of 1989 is neither supported nor contradicted by direct evidence, and so therefore the matter may fairly be said to be unproven. But perhaps your certainty is tongue in cheek? At any rate, since Fro is a U11, his stated birthdate must be 1991 or 1992. Karl Keller can tell you for sure, but I believe that Taylor Waspi may in fact be black. Which would follow the old sports rule - Bud Black white Frank White black Carlos Bocanegra white etc.
If this statement represents how your “thinking” "race=social construct=meaningless! there, how's that." Then why did you write this? "carlos is hispanic. with a name like "bocanegra" how could you not catch that. come on now..." But then again, try and convince MALDEF and the NAACP that "race=social construct=meaningless! there, how's that." Is true! Read and enjoy!!! HeHeHe Are Chicanos the same as Mexicans? Here is a "taxonomy" that may be a useful reference for this topic: "Spanish people" This term is used frequently in the United States to refer indiscriminately to any person that speaks Spanish. As such, it is imprecise and often inappropriate in that it includes people from more than two dozen countries, spanning all of the American continent, the Caribbean and Spain. The term does apply specifically, however, as the proper name for the native people of Spain, and for this reason it is as incorrect to use it to refer to any and all Spanish-speakers as the term "English" would be to refer to citizens of New Zealand, Australia or the United States. Hispanics This term is often used to refer collectively to all Spanish-speakers. However, it specifically connotes a lineage or cultural heritage related to Spain. As many millions of people who speak Spanish are not of true Spanish descent (e.g., native Americans), and millions more live in Latin America (cf., "Latino" below) yet do not speak Spanish or claim Spanish heritage (e.g., Brazilians) this term is incorrect as a collective name for all Spanish-speakers, and may actually be cause for offense. Latino This term is used to refer to people originating from, or having a heritage related to, Latin America, in recognition of the fact that this set of people is actually a superset of many nationalities. Since the term "Latin" comes into use as the least common denominator for all peoples of Latin America in recognition of the fact that some romance language (Spanish, Portuguese, French) is the native tongue of the majority of Latin Americans, this term is widely accepted by most. However, the term is not appropriate for the millions of native Americans who inhabit the region. Mexican Specifically, the nationality of the inhabitants of Mexico. Therefore, the term is used appropriately for Mexican citizens who visit or work in the United States, but it is insufficient to designate those people who are citizens of the United States (they were born in the US or are naturalized citizens of the US) who are of Mexican ancestry. The various terms used to properly designate such people are described below, however, it is important to explain why these people feel it is important to make such a distinction. US citizens who are troubled by this often point out that most immigrants do not distinguish themselves by point of origin first, (i.e., German-American), but simply as "Americans" (another troublesome term, but we won't get detoured by that here). Here are some reasons why many US citizens of Mexican extraction feel that it is important to make the distinction: *Not "Americans" by choice A scant 150 years ago, approximately 50% of what was then Mexico was appropriated by the US as spoils of war, and in a series of land "sales" that were coerced capitalizing on the US victory in that war and Mexico's weak political and economic status. A sizable number of Mexican citizens became citizens of the United States from one day to the next as a result, and the treaty declaring the peace between the two countries recognized the rights of such people to their private properties (as deeded by Mexican or Spanish colonial authorities), their own religion (Roman Catholicism) and the right to speak and receive education in their own tongue (for the majority, Spanish) [refer to the text of the treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo]. Therefore, the descendants of this population continue to press for such rights, and many hold that theirs is a colonized land and people in view of the fact that their territory and population was taken over by military force. *Mexicans first, "Americans" second? Another and more numerous class of US citizens of Mexican extraction are either descendants of, or are themselves, people who conceive of themselves as temporarily displaced from Mexico by economic circumstances. As opposed to the waves of European migrants who willingly left their countries due to class and religious discrimination, and sought to make their lives anew in the "new world" and never to return to the "old land," these displaced Mexicans typically maintain strong family ties in Mexico (by visiting periodically, and by investing their incomes in homes or kin in Mexico), and usually intend to return to Mexico provided they can become economically secure. Therefore these people maintain and nurture their children in their language, religion and customs. However, There is great tension within this population between those of Mexican birth who conceive of themselves as temporary guests in the US, and their descendants who are born in the US, are acculturated with the norms of broader US society in public schools, and are not motivated by the same ties that bind a migrant generation of Mexicans. This creates a classic "niche" of descendants of immigrants who are full-fledged US citizens, but who typically do not have access to all the rights and privileges of citizenship because of the strong cultural identity imbued in them by their upbringing and the discriminatory reaction of the majority population against a non-assimilated and easily identified subclass. This group of people feels a great need to distinguish itself from both its US milieu and its Mexican "Mother Culture," which does not typically welcome or accept "prodigals." This is truly a unique set of people, therefore, in that it endures both strong ties and strong discrimination from both US and Mexican mainstream parent cultures. The result has been the creation of a remarkable new culture that needs its own name and identity. Mexican-American This term is commonly used to recognize US citizens who are descendants of Mexicans, following the pattern sometimes used to identify the extraction of other ethnic Americans (e.g., "African-American). This term is acceptable to many Mexican descendants, but for those who do not identify with a Mexican heritage, but rather with a Spanish heritage, it is unacceptable (cf., "Hispano," below). Also, for those who do not view themselves as "Americans" by choice, this term is problematic, and for others the implication that the identity of the bearer is unresolved, or in limbo, between two antipodal influences, belies their self-concept as a blend that supersedes its origins and is stronger, richer and more dynamic than either of its cultural roots. Hispano This term is preferred by that subpopulation, located primarily in the US southwest, who identify with the Spanish settlers of the area, and not with the Mexican settlers (specifically, the Creole Spanish-Native American race). There is in fact an important number of these people located along the Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico and in the northern Sangre de Cristo mountain range of the same state. This group has been traditionally a very closed and conservative one, and recent evidence provides important explanations for this: they seem to be descendants of persecuted Jews who fled Spain during the 16th and 17th centuries and sought refuge in what were then the farthest reaches of the known world. They survived by minimizing their contact with outsiders and by hiding or disguising their religious and cultural identities as much as possible. Historical researchers call them "cryptic Jews." Chicano A relatively recent term that has been appropriated by many Mexican descendants as unique and therefore reflective of their unique culture, though its first usage seems to have been discriminatory. The most likely source of the word is traced to the 1930 and 40s period, when poor, rural Mexicans, often native Americans, were imported to the US to provide cheap field labor, under an agreement of the governments of both countries. The term seems to have come into first use in the fields of California in derision of the inability of native Nahuatl speakers from Morelos state to refer to themselves as "Mexicanos," and instead spoke of themselves as "Mesheecanos," in accordance with the pronunciation rules of their language (for additional details, refer to the file MEXICO on this same subdirectory). An equivocal factor is that in vulgar Spanish it is common for Mexicans to use the "CH" conjunction in place of certain consonants in order to create a term of endearment. Whatever its origin, it was at first insulting to be identified by this name. The term was appropriated by Mexican-American activists who took part in the Brown Power movement of the 60s and 70s in the US southwest, and has now come into widespread usage. Among more "assimilated" Mexican-Americans, the term still retains an unsavory connotation, particularly because it is preferred by political activists and by those who seek to create a new and fresh identity for their culture rather than to subsume it blandly under the guise of any mainstream culture. Finally a Spanish proverb states: a dog does not yelp unless the rock hits.
Btw, anyone see Fro in person? Has he hit puberty yet? Not to open the age discussion again, because regardless of the answer its not conclusive. But Id think most U-15s in a national program would have hit puberty (thats a guess though, and would be pretty suprising if a pre-pubescent boy could physicly keep up with kids that much bigger/stronger). If he is still on the short side of puberty then to be named to the team early is very impressive. This age group is a really dicey one, because your talking about an age group where in terms of physical development some kids could be way ahead of others.
i bet things would be much simpler if i had just put a smiley in my post. i am just responding to other posts, and btw i am hispanic (or am i latino ), and i also did not bother to read all that stuff you posted b/c i didn't see your point. i don't really care to understand it either, i am just replying in jest to others' posts.
A friend of mine's little brother is a U-15 and has played against the a that Fro is on. He said that yeah, Fro is a great player, but there is no way in hell he is as young as they claim. I don't want to start another debate about this, but I just wanted to pass along what he said.
Fro's Size Lurking - No way a boy who hasn't hit puberty can compete on a U15 national team. Fro is 5' 10" so, yeah, I'd say that he's well into puberty. But really, he'd have to be. Youth national teams aren't for late bloomers.
Btw, anyone see Fro in person? Has he hit puberty yet? Not to open the age discussion again, because regardless of the answer its not conclusive. But Id think most U-15s in a national program would have hit puberty (thats a guess though, and would be pretty suprising if a pre-pubescent boy could physicly keep up with kids that much bigger/stronger). If he is still on the short side of puberty then to be named to the team early is very impressive. This age group is a really dicey one, because your talking about an age group where in terms of physical development some kids could be way ahead of others. I've seen him play, one of the less gifted players on hid 88 Potomac team. He is 11 but looks 13-14. I am amazed he is/has been called into this camp. He is simply average
When did you see him play? If he was going through a growth spurt, he could be clumsy. The same thing happens just about everybody when they hit puperty, the sudden growth throws of timing and other aspects that are critical to doing well in sports.
Is it just me, or does the players listed cluster in certain areas a bit too much? Is this a common pattern with this level of the youth national team?
If you are talking about geographical areas, I would tend to agree (though I haven't done a scientific analysis). This seems to be the case with the pre-U17 teams -- it becomes less of an issue as the players age. I'm guessing it's because the scouting isn't as developed at those levels...
That entire post has got to be the biggest waste of space I have ever seen on big soccer. I read about three lines and just said forget it. Why you would feel the need to post something that long and ridiculous about race in a thread about Fro and the U15 team is beyond me. Think about it this way man, the 20 min you spent typing that are 20 min you can never get back. You seriously should get an award for that post. Unfreakingbelievable
I refereed one of his high school junior varsity games about 2 years ago -- the week after September 11. He was pretty tall for his age (if you go with the fact that he's about 2 years younger than his classmates). He doesn't seem to have the out and out ability to beat players off the dribble or produce highlight reel moves that his brother does but played a nice holding midfielder role with a very keen positional awareness and an ability to possess and distribute under pressure. Not afraid to defend and tackle either -- in fact, I think I booked him for a professional type foul that stopped a counterattack. He definitely seemed to have skills, controlled play and a knowledge of the game that is beyond his peers.