|
|
Posted by
Steve Bottjer,
March 17, 2013 |
|
Email Steve Bottjer
Twitter @BottjerRNO |
|
Read this on your iPhone/iPad or Android device
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fresh off the first three matches of his professional career, Toronto FC rookie Kyle Bekker will now be trading in one red kit for another for the next ten days.
Following the announcement from the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) last week that the Oakville, Ontario native has been called up to represent Canada in International friendlies against Japan on Friday, March 22nd and Belarus on Monday, March 25th, the young attacker midfielder is off to Qatar for his second national team training camp of 2013.
As an up and coming player and relative newcomer to the Men’s National Team, the 22 year old is looking at the training camp and the two matches as an excellent opportunity to learn and continue his development as a player.
During his first national team call-up back in January, Bekker was part of a Canadian squad that primarily consisted of young players and newcomers to the setup, with many of Canada’s most experienced midfielders unavailable and not called up.
Thus, this time around the Boston College Eagles product will get his first chance to train and play with national team stalwarts such as Julian de Guzman, Atiba Hutchinson and Will Johnson.
“I just want to learn as much as I can. There are a lot of quality players in the side, who are seasoned veterans who have been in the national side for many years and who have a number of caps,” Bekker told RedNation Online following Toronto’s loss to the Montreal Impact on Saturday. “I just want to go in and learn as much as I can from guys like Julian (de Guzman) and Atiba (Hutchinson).”
With the CSA also having announced last week that Tony Fonseca, Technical Director for the Canadian Soccer Association, will act as the interim head coach for both matches and the training camp, Bekker will be reunited with the coach that lead him and his Canadian U-23 National Team teammates to an impressive performance at last year’s CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament in the United States.
“I have a great amount of respect for Tony. He has taught me a lot, so to be able to work with him again is an honour,” Bekker added. “I’m really looking forward to it.”
The former Sigma FC player is also looking forward to the learning opportunities inherent in playing against quality International opposition. Japan is currently ranked 26th in the FIFA World Rankings, while Belarus currently sit 62nd.
“They are high quality teams. It is going to be a good test. Japan and Belarus won’t be easy sides to play against,” Bekker said.
“If I get a chance (to play in either match), I want to do my best and get as much from the games as I can. These matches will be good tests for Canada, that’s for sure.”
|