Music: {allcanada} Making moves

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

{allcanada} Making moves

TORONTO -- Midfielder Keven Aleman, one of the leading lights for Canada at the recent CONCACAF U-17 championship, has been summoned to Toronto FC's training camp.

Aleman, who turns 17 next month, is the fifth member of the TFC Academy invited to take part in the senior side's pre-season preparations. He is due to join the squad in South Carolina on Wednesday.

"If the players do well, the need to know that they will be rewarded," Paul Mariner, Toronto FC's director of player development, told the club website. "It is all about progression. If you look to the great programs in the world like Ajax and Barcelona, the boys have come through the youth system. We have only started recently but the fruits of the labour are already there for all to see."

In other news, Toronto waived Gambian defender Emmanuel Gomez.

The 20-year-old made six starts in nine league appearances during two seasons.

He signed for Toronto in March 2009 from Samger Football Club in his native Gambia. But he missed the entire 2010 season with a knee injury.

Gomez will be eligible for selection in Major League Soccer's waiver draft Wednesday.