Sporting Kansas City Academy forward Gage Akalu and defender Nati Clarke have joined the United States Boys' U-15 National Team for a training camp through Sunday at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center in Chula Vista, California.
Thirty-six players, all born in 2005, will attend the team’s first event of the year under U-15 head coach and former MLS veteran Gonzalo Segares.
Akalu (above right) and Clarke (above left) played leading roles for USA last October at the U-15 UEFA Development Tournament in Poland. The duo appeared in all three matches of the competition as the USA defeated Iceland 2-1 on Oct. 21 before taking penalty shootout losses to Poland on Oct. 23 and Russia on Oct. 25. Akalu scored two goals against Poland, while Clarke donned the captain’s armband versus Iceland and Russia
Akalu, a native of Kansas City, Kansas, joined the Sporting KC Academy in 2017. The 14-year-old has bagged four goals in nine league appearances for the Sporting KC U-15s during the 2019-20 Development Academy campaign.
A native of Topeka, Kansas, Clarke has also played nine league matches for the Sporting KC U-15s this season as an integral member of the backline. The 15-year-old joined the Academy in 2016.
U-15 USBNT ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB):
GOALKEEPERS (4): Elijah Berumen (Dallas Texans), Victor Gomez (FC Dallas), Emmanuel Ochoa (San Jose Earthquakes), Aaron Salinas (FC Dallas)
DEFENDERS (9): Nati Clarke (Sporting Kansas City), Iyke Dafe (Houston Dynamo), Hudson Davis (RCD Espanyol/ESP), Pranav, DuBroff (FC Dallas), Edwin Leyva (Monarcas Morelia/MEX), Nolan Norris (FC Dallas), Mateo Pinilla (Houston Dynamo), Diego Rosales (Los Angeles Football Club), Oliver Stafford (New York City FC)
MIDFIELDERS (13): Reed Baker-Whiting (Seattle Sounders FC), Julio Benitez (Real Salt Lake), Robert Deziel Jr. (Celta de Vigo/ESP), Darsein Gabriel (New York Red Bulls), Diego Hernandez (FC Dallas), Arvid Lindquist (D.C. United), Diego Lopez (Real Salt Lake), Bryan Moyado (Los Angeles Football Club), Sergio Oregel (Chicago Fire FC), Anthony Ramirez (FC Dallas), Damon Rouse (New York City FC), Nikolas Tsakiras (San Jose Earthquakes), Obed Vargas (Seattle Sounders FC)
FORWARDS (10): Gake Akalu (Sporting Kansas City), Isaiah Chisolm (D.C. United), Ricardo Garcia (Houston Dynamo), Josh Hardin (Seattle Sounders FC), Italo Jenkins (Atlanta United FC), Isaie Louis (New England Revolution), Serge Ngoma Jr. (New York Red Bulls), Felipe Valencia (Inter Miami CF), Marcus Vazquez (Real Salt Lake), Robert Willcot (Los Angeles Football Club)
