Home »

Jan. 24, 2008

CALLED IN: Altidore to train with U-23 team

Red Bulls forward Jozy Altidore has been called into the U.S. Under-23 team to prepare for the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament.

Altidore was one of 23 players who will train in the team's second training camp of the year at the IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla. Jan. 26-Feb. 2.

The week-long camp will be coach Peter Nowak's final chance to train and evaluate players before selecting the team that will compete in the qualifying tournament in Los Angeles, Tampa and Nashville March 11-23. The U.S. will play their three games of the group stage in Tampa against Cuba March 11, Panama March 13 and Honduras March 15. The eight-team tournament will send the two finalists to the Olympic Games in Beijing.

"With the qualifying tournament approaching quickly, this is an important camp for us to train and evaluate players," Nowak said. "Having another chance to train in Bradenton will be valuable as we prepare for very challenging Olympic qualifying games in nearby Tampa."

Other familiar names called in included former Red Bulls defender Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC), former MetroStars midfielder Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew) and former Seton Hall standout midfielder Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA) and Westchester Flames forward Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF).

The U.S. plays in the late game in each of the three doubleheaders at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, playing Cuba at 8 p.m. ET on March 11, Panama at 8 p.m. ET on March 13 and finishing the round-robin tournament against Guatemala on at 7 p.m. ET Saturday, March 15.

Group B, which will begin on March 12, features Canada, Guatemala, Haiti and Mexico, and will be played at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

After group play, the top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals which will be played on March 20 at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn. LP Field will also be the location for the third-place and championship matches on Sunday, March 23.

The roster:

Goalkeepers (3): Dominic Cervi (Chicago Fire), Tally Hall (Esbjerg fB), Chris Seitz (Real Salt Lake). Defenders (8): Kamani Hill (Vfl Wolfsburg), Patrick Ianni (Houston Dynamo), Chance Myers (Kansas City Wizards), Michael Orozco (San Luis), Mike Randolph (LA Galaxy), Nathan Sturgis (Real Salt Lake), Anthony Wallace (FC Dallas), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC). Midfielders (6):Arturo Alvarez (FC Dallas), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Dax McCarty (FC Dallas). Forwards (6): Josmer Altidore (New York Red Bulls), Chad Barrett (Chicago Fire), Adam Cristman (New England Revolution), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Robbie Findley (LA Galaxy), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew).