SIGMA FC is pleased to announce that former player Jerome Baker has been named to the roster of the Canadian U20 National Team by Head coach Valerio Gazzola. The U20 squad will assemble in Amsterdam, Netherlands for a minicamp and tournament from May 12-24. During the teams trip to Holland they will be playing a series of friendly matches along with taking part in the prestigious "ICGT" tournament hosted in the small town of Uitgeest located between the cities of Amsterdam and Alkmaar. Baker (born 1991) and a current member of FC Energie Cottbus in Germany was a member of SIGMA FC from 2008 before SIGMA and SEG North America Director Constantine Smyrniotis arranged his move to the Vancouver Whitecaps. After 6 months in the Whitecaps Residency Program, Jerome transferred to German Bundesliga side Energie Cottbus after an impressive showing during the Residency team's two week trip to Germany where he scored six goals in four matches. Those goals included a hat-trick in a 5-2 friendly win over the U-19 Junior Bundesliga side of Hansa Rostock and both goals in the Residency's 2-2 draw with Hertha Berlin's U-19 Junior Bundesliga team.

One person who is especially pleased with Jerome's inclusion to the U20 Canadian squad is SIGMA FC Technical Director Bobby Smyrniotis, "I am very pleased for Jerome. It is a testament to his hard work and determination on and off the field. We made a plan for him a few years ago and everything is going well to date. He will now have the opportunity to compete in his national colors and test himself versus some strong national and club squads". SIGMA FC as an academy has set their sights high in the area of player development and look to continue this tradition going forward, "Jerome is just one of many boys who have moved on to a higher tier of the game from our academy. We have boys playing overseas and others playing at the highest University levels in the US and they are successful. We are all the more happy when we see them represent the national team and are confident more such talents will follow".

Jerome is a member of the first graduating class of SIGMA FC which had 12 players move off to the professional and top University level.

To view the full U20 roster visit: http://www.canadasoccer.com/news/viewArtical.asp?Press_ID=4239