For most players on the New England Revolution, MLS Cup on Sunday (3 pm ET on ESPN, UniMas, UDN, TSN1 and RDS2) will mark the end of their 2014 campaign, win or lose.
Not for Revs Homegrown star Diego Fagundez.
The 19-year-old winger was named on Friday to a 27-man preliminary roster by Uruguay Under-20 coach Fabián Coito to begin training on Wednesday, December 10 in Montevideo in preparation for the South American Under-20 Championship to be played in Uruguay from Jan. 14 through Feb. 7. The coach will need to make four cuts for his definitive 23-man tournament squad.
The four best teams at the South American Under-20 Championship will qualify to the 2015 FIFA Under-20 World Cup and the top team (excluding Brazil) will also earn a direct ticket to the 2016 Olympics. The second best team will qualify to an Olympics play-in series against a CONCACAF nation.
"It's going to help me because I'm not playing much here and I'd love to go and enjoy it," Fagundez told FutbolMLS.com at Revs training on Saturday at StubHub Center. "Three or four months ago they told me that they wanted me to be there. We have to keep working and I have to be ready."
After starting 18 straight games to begin the 2014 MLS season, Fagundez only made seven starts in the next 20, including the playoffs, losing his place to Teal Bunbury and Kelyn Rowe. It's a scenario that doesn't exactly help him in his quest to be part of that Uruguay youth team.
"I have to play for my life," Fagundez said. "I'm a new player. The others [Uruguayan U-20s] have played together for a while. I have to play my game and God willing, I'll be part of the team and give my all for the shirt."
