CARSON, Calif. (Monday, Oct. 15, 2007) - Two players from Chivas USA's Under-18 Team, defender Omar Elmasri (Arcadia, Calif.) and forward Mario Ledezma (Sylmar, Calif.), have been called up to the U.S. Under-18 Men's National Team for the upcoming Limoges Tournament in Limoges, France. From Oct. 27 to Nov. 4., U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team head coach Thomas Rongen will lead an 18-player roster to the prestigious international tournament, as he begins preparations for the 2009 FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
Elmasri and Ledezma, both Southern California products, play for Chivas USA's U-18 Team, which is a member of U.S. Soccer's Development Academy project aimed at enhancing the U.S. Soccer Federation's player development efforts. Both players recently represented the Red-and-White at the Development Academy's inaugural Fall Showcase Weekend, Oct. 6-7 at The Home Depot Center. They are two out of only four players chosen by Rongen from Development Academy rosters; the other two are D.C. United U-18 players Shane Cooke and Chris Hegngi.
For the complete 18-player roster for the U.S. U-18 National Team's Oct. 27 - Nov. 4 trip to the 2007 Limoges Tournament in Limoges, France, please visit www.ussoccer.com.
"We would like to congratulate Omar and Mario on being named to the U.S. U-18 roster for the Limoges Tournament," said Chivas USA Director of Soccer Dennis te Kloese. "Since Year One, Chivas USA has been working tirelessly with the aim of establishing one of the premier youth development programs not only in Southern California, but in all of the United States. We are happy to see that, through Chivas USA's involvement in the U.S. Soccer's Development Academy, two talented local products are being given an important opportunity to further their development by gaining valuable experience with the U.S. National Team."
In France, the U.S. will play games against three international opponents: France (Oct. 29), Turkey (Oct. 31) and Scotland (Nov. 3). Rongen's roster also includes 11 players from the recent FIFA Under-17 World Cup in South Korea, where the U.S. advanced to the Round of 16, including Mykell Bates, the U-17's leading scorer in South Korea.
For more information on Chivas USA's youth development program, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit www.cdchivasusa.com.
