CSA Names Junior Players Of The Year

Attakora, Stewart named Canadian U-20 Players of the Year
The Canadian Soccer Association announced today that Nana Attakora and Chelsea Stewart have been named Canadian U-20 Players of the Year for the 2009 soccer season. The two stars were honoured in a vote shared by national-team coaches (50%) and Canadian coaches who have taken the Canadian Soccer Association’s national course at the B and A levels (50%).

Stewart split her 2009 international season between Canada ’s national and U-20 teams. She made six appearances at the national level under new head coach Carolina Morace, making her debut on 5 March 2009 at the Cyprus Women’s Cup. At the women’s U-20 level, she made four appearances as Canada began preparations for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Germany 2010. She served as a team captain at the U-20 level.

The defender/midfielder from The Pas, MB split her club season between Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Vanderbilt University . She played in 10 W-League games for the Whitecaps and 18 college games for Vanderbilt. She scored three goals for Vanderbilt.

As for Attakora, the North York , ON defender is now a two-time winner of the Canadian U-20 Player of the Year award. Like Stewart, he served as a Canadian captain at the U-20 level. In March, he represented Canada at the 2009 CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 Championship. He made his 20th appearance at the U-20 level on 9 March 2009, a 2:0 victory over Mexico .

At the club level, Attakora played 20 games for Toronto FC during the 2009 Major League Soccer season. He recorded two goals and four assists. He also played in four Nutrilite Canadian Championship games, helping Toronto FC win the 2009 Voyageurs Cup.

Teibert, Raymer named Canadian U-17 Players of the Year
Canadian teenagers Russell Teibert and Abigail Raymer have been named Canadian U-17 Players of the Year for the 2009 soccer season. The two stars were honoured in a vote shared by national-team coaches (50%) and Canadian coaches who have taken the Canadian Soccer Association’s national course at the B and A levels (50%).

Raymer is a member of Canada ‘s women’s U-17 team. She took part in the Canadian team’s first camp in October as the team began preparations for the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship in March. She started the 2009 season as a member of the Canadian Soccer Association’s National Training Centre in British Columbia , but also as part of Gordon Head Gold in the Lower Island Soccer Association’s 2008-09 Premier League. For the 2009-10 season, she joined the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Prospects development team.

In July, the Victoria , BC striker won a bronze medal with British Columbia at the 2009 BMO National Championships Nutrilite All Stars U-16 girls competition in Richmond , BC . It was her second medal at the national championships, having previously won a gold at the 2007 Nutrilite All Stars U-14 competition in Longueuil , QC .

As for Teibert, the Niagara Falls , ON midfielder is now a two-time winner of the Canadian U-17 Player of the Year award. He split the 2009 season between the national U-17 team and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency side. He served as Canada ’s captain at the 2009 CONCACAF Men’s Under-17 Championship in Tijuana , Mexico . He scored Canada ’s first goal of the opening match, a 1:1 draw with Honduras . At the club level, he took part in Whitecaps Residency trips to USA (Dallas Cup), Germany and Spain . Teibert also scored one goal and added four assists in 14 matches during the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development season. He scored his first PDL goal on 5 June against the Seattle Wolves.

Tomorrow, the Canadian Soccer Association will announce the 2009 Canadian U-20 Players of the Year. On Thursday (male) and Friday (female), the Association will announce the 2009 Canadian Players of the Year.