FC Edmonton's Lance Laing Receives Call-Up To Jamaican National Team
FC Edmonton has announced that midfielder Lance Laing will suit up for Jamaica in the 30-man preliminary roster leading into the Copa America tournament that kicks off June 11 in Chile and concludes July 4. This will be the second appearance with the senior national squad for Laing, who last competed for his home country in 2012.
“I think it’s a huge credit to Lance and the work that he’s put in this season,” FC Edmonton head coach Colin Miller said. “This is fantastic reward he has gotten, and I think that everyone has benefited from his performance. In the form that he’s been in, any national team would take notice. We are all very happy for him, even if we’ll lose him for a few games. We wish him the very best luck - except when he plays against Canada.”
Laing has developed into a consistent threat on offense for Edmonton since making the transition to midfield, recording three goals and five assists through seven matches in both NASL and Amway Canadian Championship competition this season. Laing began his NASL career with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in 2011, where he played for two seasons before signing with the Eddies in 2013.
Copa America is the oldest international soccer competition when it comes to men’s national teams, with the original tournament taking place in 1916 in Buenos Aires. The winner of the tournament, or highest finishing CONMEBOL team if CONCACAF guests Mexico or Jamaica win, will earn a berth in 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Jamaica opens the tournament against Uruguay, June 13 at 12 p.m. ET. at Estadio Regional Calvo y Bascuñán in Group B action. The team will also face Paraguay and Argentina in round-robin action leading up to the quarterfinal round that begins June 24. Jamaica has never competed in the tournament and will be the first Caribbean nation to do so.
FC Edmonton will host San Antonio Scorpions on May 24 at 4 p.m. ET before welcoming the Vancouver Whitecaps for the second leg of the Canadian Championship on May 20.
