KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Western Michigan midfielder Darren Jones has been selected as one of 21 players to represent Canada on its Under-20 National Soccer Team. Jones, who is headed into his sophomore season at WMU, is a Victoria, British Columbia, native.

“I am delighted for Darren to receive this call up to represent his country's national team,” said WMU head coach Stu Riddle. “It is well deserved after an impressive first season for the Broncos. There is no doubt that this experience will make Darren a much better player. The important thing is that he makes sure that this is just the starting point of his international career and not just a one off selection.”

Canadian coach Valerio Gazzola announced his U20 roster on May 10 and the team will compete in the upcoming International Cor Groenewegen Tournament, May 12-25, in Uitgeest, Holland. Gazzola will be evaluating players during this camp as the team prepares for next year's 2011 CONCACAF Men's U20 Championship, which serves as a qualification route for the FIFA U20 World Cup in 2011.

“This camp will provide the staff an opportunity to evaluate the players,” said Gazzola in a Canadian release. “This will be the first of several camps that we have. There will be a lot of games in this camp, so there will be a chance to see and evaluate everyone.”

Jones is one of only three players on the roster currently playing in the United States and just one of two who are competing collegiately (joined by Florida Gulf Coast's Jelani Smith). The majority of the roster is comprised of professional players who compete with futbol clubs throughout Europe and Canada.

The Canadians begin play with three scrimmages, facing Cruz Azul, Japan and South Korea. They then set into the Cor Groenewegen Tournament, which is divided into two rounds and features 12 teams. The first round is split into two groups of six, with wins earning three points and ties resulting in one point. The teams will then be seeded 1 through 6 in round two and face the corresponding number from the opposite group (ex: Group one #1 vs. Group two #1). The top team gets the right to the Henk Zevenberg Cup (Fair Play Cup).

“This is not only pleasing for Darren and his family but also for us as a program here at Western Michigan,” added Riddle, who also is in his second season at WMU's helm. “If someone had said a year ago that at the conclusion of the 2009-10 school year the men's soccer program would have an NCAA champion in goals per game (Saeed Sulemana Baba) and a U20 national team call up most people would have laughed.
 
“To us these are both prime examples of what someone can get out of this program if they are willing to buckle down, work hard and do whatever it takes to achieve to their maximum level.”

Jones played in 16 of 17 games in his first season at Western Michigan, starting 12. He was second on the squad with six assists and fourth in points with eight, also scoring one goal, the first in a 2-1 win at Florida Atlantic. Jones ranked fifth in the Mid-American Conference and 55th in the nation in assists per game, averaging 0.38. Western Michigan finished the year third in the conference with a 6-10-1, 3-2-1 MAC record, doubling its overall win total from the previous year.

Canada's Fixtures
May 16 v Cruz Azul (Scrimmage)
May 18 v Japan (Scrimmage)
May 20 v South Africa (Scrimmage)
May 22 v Korea (Cor Gronewegen Tournament)
May 22 v Cruz Azul (Cor Gronewegen Tournament)
May 22 v Senegal (Cor Gronewegen Tournament)
May 24 v FC Twente (Cor Gronewegen Tournament)
May 24 v Uitgeest (Cor Gronewegen Tournament)
May 24 v TBA (Cor Gronewegen Tournament)