Toronto FC Assistant Coach Mike Matkovich will be away from Toronto FC training for this week, on assignment elsewhere. He'll be in Somerset, N.J., serving as one of the assistant coaches with the United States Under-17 Boys National Team Training Camp.
This camp serves as the final step for the players to get chosen for the U.S. Residency program in Bradenton, Fla. Thirty-six players will be put through training at the Player Development Academy in New Jersey, and those selected will begin to take the next step in their soccer careers.
The next camp will get underway in July at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., and the whole process will start all over again.
Under Head Coach Jim Barlow, Matkovich will join other assistant's Tony Lepore, Charlie Inverso, and Gerry McKeown. Being part of this elite youth camp helps allow Matkovich to watch and monitor upcoming talent that will one day be part of MLS. Former players that have participated in the U.S. Residency program in Bradenton include Real Salt Lake's Freddy Adu, Los Angeles Galaxy's Landon Donavon and Reading's (England) Bobby Convey.
Matkovich will re-join the team for their game in New England on Saturday June 23rd.
