MONTREAL – Impact U18 defender Thomas Meilleur-Giguère and midfielder Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla were called up by Canada’s U18 national team to play in the Slovakia Cup, from April 15 – 25.
Canada will train in Austria and Slovakia, before playing against Slovakia, China and Poland in the tournament.
Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla (previously with Panellinios) participated in the CONCACAF U17 Men’s Championship in Honduras in March, helping his team finish second in its group. They lost 3-0 in the following phase against Costa Rica. Tabla was named best U17 Canadian player in 2014.
Thomas Meilleur-Giguère (previously with L’Assomption) also has experience with the Canadian team, having been called up for a camp in France in October 2014.
“The most important thing when you are called up is the opportunity to represent your country,” explains Impact U18 head coach Jason Di Tullio. “These guys work hard and we are a club that expects its players to be part of the national team. Jean-Yves has just arrived at the Academy, but we know him well, having explosive attacking qualities. Thomas has good defensive qualities with a professional approach to the game.”
Impact U18 midfielder Pierre Lamothe (previously with Longueuil) was also called to the camp, but an injury forced him to stay in Montreal.
“I feel for Pierre because he has worked really hard to get this call up,” said Di Tullio. “I’m confident he will continue to work even harder so when he is healthy again, he will be ready to seize his chance.”
Full roster
CANADA
GK- Marvis Kreitling | GER / Niendorfer TSV U-19
GK- Dayne St. Clair | CAN / Vaughan SC
D- Eric Davies | USA / FC Dallas Academy
D- Marcus Godinho | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
D- Mackenzie Harrington | USA / Sacramento United
D- Aaron Hidalgo-Mazzei | USA Real Salt Lake - AZ Academy
D- Thomas Meilleur-Giguere | CAN / Académie Impact de Montréal
D- Mateo Restrepo | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
M- Vana Markarian | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
M- Shamit Shome | CAN / FC Edmonton Reserves
M- Thomas Shores | CAN / FC Edmonton Reserves
M- Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla | CAN / Académie Impact de Montréal
M- Luca Uccello | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
M- Patrice Walker | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
F- Gloire Amanda | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
F- Aymar Sigue | USA / University of Tulsa
F- Rahim Thorpe | CAN / Toronto FC Academy
F- Dario Zanatta | unattched / sans club
