U.S. Paralympic National Team prepares for training camp in Carson, Calif.
CHICAGO (Via U.S. Soccer) – U.S. Paralympic National Team head coach Stuart Sharp has called in 17 players for the team’s second domestic training camp of 2015. The camp will run from April 29-May 6 at U.S. Soccer’s National Training Center in Carson, California.
“This camp is extremely important as it will serve as the final opportunity for players to make an impression before we select our squad for the World Championships which are taking place in June,” Sharp said. “The squad is carrying a few injuries into camp and some key players are missing due to college finals but this will provide an excellent opportunity for our trialists and peripheral players to step up and claim a place in the final squad.”
The USPNT returns to the NTC for the first time since Sharp first held training camp with the team back in January 2014.
The PNT is coming off a third-place finish at the FOOTIE 7-Povoa Tournament, which took place in late March in Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal. Ten players from that roster are a part of the group for this training camp.
“It has been a quick year with the World Championships taking place so early”, Sharp continued. “But I am confident off the back of some good results during last month’s competition in Portugal, that the team will be ready to perform when the whistle goes to begin our first group stage match against Venezuela. “
The 17-player roster includes two new players for 2015: defender Pablo Duque and forward Joshua Brunais. It also includes a first time participant with the PNT under Sharp’s tenure in defender Vincent Juarez.
For the USA, the camp will continue to serve as preparation for the 2015 Cerebral Palsy Football World Championships, which will run from June 16-28 at St. George’s Park in Staffordshire, England.
Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Alex Hendricks (Columbus, Ohio), Daniel Hoffman (Reisterstown, Md.), Keith Johnson (Houston, Texas)
DEFENDERS (5): Chris Ahrens (Baldwinsville, N.Y.), Bryce Boarman (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Pablo Duque (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Kevin Hensley (Memphis, Tenn.), Vincent Juarez (San Jose, Calif.)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Mason Abbiate (San Diego, Calif.), David Garza (Chula Vista, Calif.), Jarrett Razon (Niceville, Fla.), Gavin Sibayan (Colorado Spring, Colo.), Marthell Vazquez (Long Beach, Calif.), Jordan Weise (Jacksonville, Fla.)
FORWARDS (3): Joshua Brunais (Washington, D.C.), Michael Moore (Plano, Texas), Rene Renteria (San Fernando, Calif.)
