Memorial Day isn't just the unofficial start of summer. It also kicks off a busy period for some Major League Soccer players who will represent their countries in various international competitions.
Following Saturday's 2-1 loss to Chivas USA, Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul has left to join Senegal for African Word Cup qualification. He isn't expected to return until the Rapids' match against Columbus on June 28.
"I am excited to once again represent my nation," Coundoul said. "I am going to Senegal to try and be the starter."
Senegal is in Group 6 with Algeria, Liberia and Gambia. The Lions of Teranga will host Algeria on May 31, play at Gambia on June 8 and at Liberia on the 15 before playing host to the Liberians on the 21. The final two games of the group stage will be played in September and October.
Coundoul was called into the Senegal squad for the African Cup of Nations and started the squad's final match when starter Tony Sylva was suspended for breaking curfew. Coundoul made several big saves in a 1-1 draw against South Africa.
D.C. United striker Francis Doe left Sunday for Liberia's qualifiers. Liberia will play four qualifying matches over 20 days in June, beginning with a June 1 match versus Gambia. Five days later (June 6) they'll face off against Algeria before ending with the two games against Senegal.
Doe previously represented Liberia in 2006 World Cup qualifiers and also in the 2008 African Cup qualifying stages, notching two goals in the latter. He opened the scoring in a 3-2 victory against Rwanda on Oct. 8, 2006 and on March 28, 2007 against Cameroon, he scored the lone goal in the 3-1 loss.
Also competing in the African qualifiers will be New England Revolution forward Kenny Mansally, who left following the Revs' 2-1 win against the Columbus Crew Saturday and is expected to be gone for three weeks.
"It's great for Kenny," New England coach Steve Nicol said. "But it couldn't have come at a worse time for us."
Gambia is at Liberia on June 1 and hosts Senegal a week later. On June 14, Gambia is home to Algeria. The final two games of the group stage will be played in September and October.
Mansally was discovered by Nicol at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Canada last summer. He was signed soon after the tournament, along with fellow Gambian Sainey Nyassi.
New England will also be without two other starters next month, when Shalrie Joseph and Khano Smith begin the next stage of CONCACAF qualification. Joseph has been capped 11 times for Grenada, which will host a home-and-home with Costa Rica beginning June 14 in Grenada.
One of the most famous players in his country, Smith will represent Bermuda, which is at Trinidad and Tobago June 15 and returns home for the second leg June 22.
Toronto FC players will be busy over the next month in a host of competitions. Amado Guevara has been called into the Honduras squad for a friendly against Venezuela in Fort Lauderdale on Friday. The Honduran team will then return home for an aggregate qualifying series against Puerto Rico beginning June 4. The return match is slated for June 14.
TFC center back Marco Velez could also get the call for Puerto Rico, and could be joined by Chris Megaloudis, a New York Red Bulls developmental forward. The forward has four caps and has scored once for Puerto Rico.
Carl Robinson, another Toronto midfielder, will miss Wales' friendly against Iceland Tuesday, opting instead to play in TFC's CONCACAF Champions League qualifier against the Montreal Impact. Robinson, though, will represent Wales in a friendly against Holland June 1 in Rotterdam.
Toronto may also be without forward Jarrod Smith, who could play for New Zealand in its World Cup qualification bid. The All-Whites take on New Caledonia in a home-and-home in September. Smith made his national team debut against Malaysia on Feb. 23, 2006 and has been capped 11 times.
Two more TFC players, goalkeeper Greg Sutton and defender Jim Brennan, join four other MLS players on Canada's roster for a friendly against Brazil at Quest Field in Seattle, Wash. on May 31.
Dwayne De Rosario and Pat Onstad of the defending MLS Cup champion Houston Dynamo, Los Angeles Galaxy defender Ante Jazic and FC Dallas midfielder Adrian Serioux were also selected for Canada, which will also face CONCACAF rival Panama in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on June 4.
That match will serve as a tune-up for the second stage of CONCACAF World Cup qualification, against Saint Vincent & the Grenadines in a home-and-away aggregate series beginning June 15.
Normally teammates on the Los Angeles Galaxy, Landon Donovan and David Beckham will be opposing each other Wednesday when the United States meets England in a friendly at Wembley Stadium in London. Donovan is one of a handful of MLS players called into Bob Bradley's squad. Joining Donovan is Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan and Houston midfielder Ricardo Clark.
A number of other MLS players, though, are in the 33-man pool for three high-profile friendlies leading to the Americans' World Cup qualifications. Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Chris Seitz, Toronto FC midfielder Maurice Edu, Columbus midfielder Eddie Gaven, Colorado midfielder Pablo Mastroeni and Sacha Kljestan join forwards Jozy Altidore of the New York Red Bulls, Brian Ching of Houston, FC Dallas' Kenny Cooper and Robbie Rogers of the Crew as possibilities for Bradley in friendlies at Spain on June 4 and at Giants Stadium against world No. 1 Argentina on June 8.
The next round of qualification begins for the U.S. June 15 at the Home Depot Center in the opening match of an two-leg series against Barbados.
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
