Alberta Soccer Association

John Pegg (Edmonton, Alberta), a freshman on the Seattle University men's soccer team, has been selected to join the Canadian national U-20 team that will complete at the Francophone Games from Sept. 27 to Oct. 6 in Beirut, Lebanon.

Pegg joined the national team for a five-day training camp in Larnaka, Cyprus, in preparation for the Francophone Games, a competition held every four years for French-speaking nations. The team concluded the training camp with an exhibition match against local club Anorthosis FC, and Pegg scored a goal to help Canada earn a 2-0 victory.

"I'm very proud to have been selected to play for my country in the Francophone Games," Pegg said Thursday. "We have had a good training camp in Cyprus and travel today to Lebanon where we hope to represent Canada well and hopefully win the tournament. We have a tough group with Congo, France, and Morocco, but I'm sure we can do very well in this competition."

Pegg and his Canadian teammates will face Congo on Saturday, Sept. 26, followed by matches against France on Monday, Sept. 28, and against Morocco on Wednesday, Sept. 30, before moving into bracket play. Pegg will miss three more Seattle University matches while playing for the national squad, but he is expected back in time for the start of Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) play on Oct. 16.

The Seattle University men's soccer team heads to Corvallis, Ore., for the Hensor/Zaher Memorial Classic, hosted by Oregon State at Lorenz Field. The Redhawks (1-4-1) will face Marist (3-2-1) Friday, Sept. 25, at 5:30 p.m., followed by a contest against Northern Illinois (3-3-1) Saturday, Sept. 26, at 11:00 a.m. SeattleU's next home match is Saturday, Oct. 3, against Simon Fraser beginning at 2:30 p.m. at Championship Field.

Canada’s men’s U-20 team began training in Larnaka, Cyprus this week before the 2009 Francophone Games in Lebanon. Coach Tony Fonseca has selected 20 players for the tournament which runs 26 September to 6 October. Canada will face Congo, France and Morocco in the opening round.

'These games provide a platform from which youth from around the world rally to unite culture and sports,' said coach Tony Fonseca. 'The games stand for its core values: diversity, excellence and solidarity.'

Canada will train in Cyprus from 19-23 September. The team then departs for Lebanon on 24 September and resumes training immediately. The team plays Congo on 26 September (21.00 local), France on 28 September (18.00 local), and Morocco on 30 September (18.00 local).

'In line with its values, the games provide a great opportunity to develop and promote new talents on the international scene,' said Fonseca. 'We are all looking forward to the games.'

All 20 Canadian players were born 1989 or later, thus making them eligible for the next Men’s Olympic Football Tournament cycle which runs through 2012. The Francophone Games roster features four returning players from the 2009 CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 Championship from earlier this year: Philippe Davies, Derek Gaudet, Paris Nakajima-Farran and Alex Surprenant. Along with Davies, three other players have experience from the 2007 CONCACAF Men’s Under-17 Championship: Alex Semenets, Mohamed Sylla and Jarek Whiteman.

The three youngest players on the team are Gino Mauro, John Pegg and Roberto Stillo. All three were born in 1991 and are eligible for the 2011 CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 Championship.

This is Canada’s sixth participation in the Francophone Games. Canada was champion of the inaugural Football Tournament back in 1989.

CANADA

1- G- Michal Misiewicz | ENG / Sunderland AFC
2- D- Shawn Kodejs | CAN / Halifax Dunbrack SC
3- D- Alex Surprenant | CAN / Impact de Montréal
4- D/M- Taylor Lord | CAN / Portugal FC
5- D- Gino Mauro | ITA / AS Pro Belvedere Vercelli
6- M- Agustin De Medina | CAN / Brampton Lions FC
7- M- Mozesh Gyorio | USA / San Jacinto College
8- M- Philippe Davies | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
9- F- Reda Agourram | CAN / Attak de Trois-Rivières
10- M- Derek Gaudet | CAN / Halifax Dunbrack SC
11- M- Mohamed Sylla | sans club / unattached
12- F- Mackenzie Wilde | CAN / Toronto Lynx
13- D- Goran Vlaski | CAN / Serbian White Eagles
14- D- Paris Nakajima-Farran | DEN / Næstved BK
15- M/F- Jarek Whiteman | CAN / North York Astros
16- M- Milos Scepanovic | SRB / Red Star Belgrade
17- F- John Pegg | USA / Seattle University
18- M/F- Alex Semenets | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
19- F- Vladimir Vukovic | BIH / FK Laktasi
20- G- Roberto Stillo | ITA / Genoa CFC

Head Coach: Tony Fonseca
Assistant Coach: Valerio Gazzola
Goalkeeper coach: Djamel Laarabi
Equipment Manager: Ryan Bedic
Therapist: Véronique Cormier
Head of delegation: Francis Millien