Abe Donzo training with Everton (youth) for 2-months

[Sigma]

16-year old who left an African refugee camp four years ago to settle in Ottawa. Abe previously played with the Ottawa Fury.

Apparently he has scored 13 goals in 5 games for Everton so far. Including, four goals against Wolves before being taken off after 45 minutes.

"The heart of the youth academy at Everton is summed up in four Latin words that make up its motto: Nil Satis Nisi Optimum.

"Nothing but the best is good enough" for the kids of the English Premier League club, which has produced a steady stream of top level professionals for at least a decade. England's very best, Wayne Rooney, is the brightest

example.

So when academy boss Ray Hall tells the legal guardian of a 16-year-old from Canada that inside the penalty area the kid is the best he has seen since Rooney, it's a pretty awesome moment.

"He told me they were extremely happy with him and inside the box they did not have a youth player that good," Phil Roberts said. "Ray told me Wayne Rooney was the closest they could compare Abe to."

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/...763/story.html

A little more info about him.

http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/loca...ome#TopVideoAn

[yomurphy1]

Does anyone know if he's eligible for Canada?

[bettermirror]

If he was given Canadian citizenship or if his parents are now Canadian citizens then yes he would be. But after being here 4 years, he shouldn't have it himself. What African country is he from? Sounds like maybe he is from Liberia into Nigeria for a camp and then to Canada? I've met quite a few who have gone that route....but certainly there are other African refugee camps, I know.

[jpg75]

Nice story, but unless things don't workout for him at Everton and he comes back to Canada and spends 5 years here consecutively after the age of 18 he won't be playing for us.

[Bertuzzi44]

Nice story, but unless things don't workout for him at Everton and he comes back to Canada and spends 5 years here consecutively after the age of 18 he won't be playing for us.

What if he is a Canadian citizen?

[jpg75]

What if he is a Canadian citizen?

Doesn't matter, it's much easier to attain citizenship than to meet the new residency requirements. Under the new rules you can't have someone show up in your country and just hand them citizenship and stick a uniform on them anymore. It was too easy for the gulf states to hand citizenship to all the Brasilians playing there and making a mockery of international football. And remember that this is what will prevent our young players from going over to Europe and getting poached. Under the new rules Jonathan de Guzman would have had to have waited until his 23rd bday (if he was still playing in Holland at that point). If Junior Hoilett wants to play for anyone other than Canada or Jamaica he has to wait it out for 5 years.

The only loophole i can think of in this situation is that Abe Donzo has a legal guardian. I wonder where his parents are, are they still alive? If not, and his legal guardians adopt him before he turns 18 are they then considered his parents in the eyes of FIFA? If so, was Phil Roberts or his wife or either of their parents born in Canada? If this is allowed it would raises a serious loophole where clubs could buy players from their parents and have them adopted by locals so that they can be signed as underaged players (clubs would not have to wait until the player turns 18). Hmmmm....

[yomurphy1]

I believe FIFA can make a decision on a case to case basis. If that's the case his guardianship and refugee status would be benefical to us.

[Grizzly]

I think where his permanent residence is located would also play a role especially when he is still a minor. I would suspect that being in a foreign soccer academy might be treated like studying at a foreign university but maintaining your permanent residency in the country where your parents live.

[sloth8]

Here is an older article about Donzo from the Ottawa Citizen published in November, 2009.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/...744/story.html

According to the article, he was born in Guinea and lived in a UN Refugee camp in Liberia before coming to Ottawa. Apparently, Donzo got his chance with Everton in 2007 because he won a TV contest. Phil Roberts, who is one of the football coaches for the uOttawa Gee-Gees, is his legal guardian.

[sloth8]

Also found this, "April 16, 2009: Athlete of the Week: Soccer player Abe Donzo" on CTV Ottawa:

http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/loca...ome#TopVideoAn

Scroll down to find the short 1min30sec video. There is an interview with him and with Phil Roberts. This report contradicts the Citizen articles by stating that he was born in Liberia but stayed in UN camp in Guinea.