Belated happy birthday James Cameron.
And it was quite the birthday present the pro-soccer player received.
The Vancouver Football Club鈥檚 defender, who turned 19 at the end of January, earned his first call up to Canada鈥檚 men鈥檚 U-20 national team, after Canada Soccer announced that the North Vancouver resident will be part of the Canadian squad that will compete at the 2024 Concacaf Under-20 Championship Qualifiers starting later this week.
鈥淚t is an incredible honour to be called upon to represent my country for the first time,鈥� said Cameron.
鈥淭his year has been full of chances and opportunities that have helped me develop both as a footballer and as a person, and I couldn鈥檛 be more excited to add this next opportunity to the list,鈥� he added.
Cameron joined Canada in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago last week, ahead of the three-game competition, which serves as a qualifier for the 2024 Concacaf U-20 Championship.
鈥淭hese last 12 months have been a whirlwind in the best way, and I am forever grateful for these experiences and the people who have helped to make them possible. I鈥檓 so excited to show what I can do for Canada,鈥� Cameron said.
The qualifying tournament, which will take place from Friday, Feb. 23 to Saturday, March 2, will see six groups of either four or five teams battle a round-robin-style competition, with the first-place team from each group advancing to the U-20 Championship, to be played in the summer of 2024.
Canada has been drawn into Group D, where it will face Dominica on Friday, Feb. 23, St. Vincent & The Grenadines on Sunday, Feb. 25, and Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday, Feb. 27.
鈥淚 am thrilled for James to be included in Canada鈥檚 U-20 national team,鈥� said Afshin Ghotbi, Vancouver FC鈥檚 head coach.
鈥淭o wear the crest of your country on your chest is an honour and dream of every football player, and James embodies all the great characteristics of a Canadian international,鈥� Ghotbi elaborated.
鈥淛ames鈥� rise to the U-20 national team is another example of Vancouver FC鈥檚 contribution to the development of the next generation of Canadian football players. I am certain James will represent Canada with pride, honour and spirit that will propel him to the Canadian senior national team.鈥�
Cameron had a breakout year in 2023 that began by joining Vancouver FC on a development contract in May out of open trials and turning professional by July under the Canadian Premier League鈥檚 (CPL) exceptional young talent (EYT) roster subcategory.
He finished the year by training with elite English Premier League (EPL) clubs such as Luton Town.
Cameron made 19 appearances for his hometown club throughout VFC鈥檚 inaugural season and scored his first professional goal in September in a game against Atl茅tico Ottawa, a game-winner that he produced in injury time.
The 1,504 total minutes he logged in CPL play ranked fourth in the league amongst domestic U-21 players.
He finished the 2023 season leading Vancouver鈥檚 squad in total tackles with 70 and duels won with 129, finishing second in tackles won with 43, and third in aerial duels won with 19. His total tackles and tackles won ranked Cameron second and fifth, respectively, in those categories league-wide.
He also collected two CPL Gatorade team of the week honours in 2023, and earned a nomination for the best Canadian U-21 player award in October 2023.
Canada could make its 25th appearance at the Concacaf Under-20 Championship if the team wins its group, having previously won the tournament twice in 1986 and 1996.
Following the qualifiers, Cameron will return to Vancouver, where he will join his teammates at the Willoughby Stadium in 91原创 for VFC preparation for the 2024 CPL season, his second with the club.
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