Mark-Anthony Kaye further proved his staying power on the international level Saturday as Canada Soccer announced another call up for the Louisville City FC midfielder.
He’s among the 24 players selected to Canada’s squad for a Sept. 2 friendly against Jamaica. Toronto, Kaye’s hometown, is the game’s host city with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
“It’s about dedication to hard work,” said Kaye, who will report following LouCity’s Aug. 26 game against Orlando City B. “I really need to thank all the players here at Louisville City FC and the coaches for putting me in the best position to be able to do that when I go to camp.
“This kind of tops off my year with the national team — to be able to go home and play in front of friends and family in my home city. This one just feels good.”
The upcoming meeting will mark the sixth international game between Canada and Jamaica in Toronto. Canada posted a 3-1 win on Sept. 9, 2014, last time they met there. More recently, Jamaica beat Canada 2-1 on July 20 in a CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal.
Canada Soccer coach Octavio Zambrano said that “when we play at home, we want to play good football and we want to pick up from where we left off at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.”
“We’re delighted for Mark,” LouCity coach James O’Connor said of the midfielder’s call up. “He has made big strides this season, and it’s a testament to his hard work.”
Kaye earned his first cap June 13, appearing in another international friendly, a 1-0 Canada Soccer win over Curacao played as a warmup for this summer’s Gold Cup. The midfielder saw the pitch in two Gold Cup games — one of them a start and 90-minute performance — before returning to LouCity in solid form.
With his club short on available personnel, Kaye went the distance July 22 in a 4-1 win at Saint Louis FC fewer than 48 hours after Canada’s exit from the Gold Cup. And entering Sunday’s LouCity game at Bethlehem Steel FC, Kaye has scored in consecutive games, last weekend helping put the finish on a 5-0 win over rival FC Cincinnati.
Kaye, in his second year with LouCity, signed after stints with Toronto FC’s academy and a season at Toronto FC II, another United Soccer League side. He has appeared in nine games this season having also missed time while playing for Canada’s U-23 squad. Kaye’s 78.7 percent passing accuracy is on par with LouCity’s other wingers and, on the attack, he has placed six of 11 shots on target.
FULL CANADA SOCCER SQUAD FOR JAMAICA FRIENDLY
1- GK- Simon Thomas | NOR / FK Bodø/Glimt
2- FB- Nik Ledgerwood | CAN / FC Edmonton
3- CB- Manjrekar James | HUN / Vasas Budapest
4- FB- Michael Petrasso | ENG / Queens Park Rangers
5- CB- Dejan JakoviÄ | USA / New York Cosmos
6- M- Samuel Piette | CAN / Impact Montréal FC
7- FB- Samuel Adekugbe | SWE / IFK Göteborg (on loan from Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
8- M- Will Johnson | USA / Orlando City SC
9- F- Tosaint Ricketts | CAN / Toronto FC
10- M- David Junior Hoilett | WAL / Cardiff City FC
11- F- Cyle Larin | USA / Orlando City SC
12- M- Alphonso Davies | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
13- M- Atiba Hutchinson | TUR / BeÅiktaÅ JK
14- M- Mark-Anthony Kaye | USA / Louisville City FC
15- CB- Amer Didic | USA / Sporting Kansas City
16- F- Anthony Jackson-Hamel | CAN / Impact Montréal FC
17- FB- Marcel de Jong | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
18- GK- Jayson Leutwiler | ENG / Blackburn Rovers
20- M- Raheem Edwards | CAN / Toronto FC
21- M- Jonathan Osorio | CAN / Toronto FC
22- GK- James Pantemis | CAN / Impact Montréal FC
23- M- Tesho Akindele | USA / FC Dallas
24- M- David Choinière | CAN / Impact Montréal FC
25- M- Jay Chapman | CAN / Toronto FC
