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Former CPLers Joel Waterman, James Pantemis named to Canada’s World Cup squad – Canadian Premier League


The Canadian males’s nationwide group introduced its closing 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar on Sunday, and the Canadian Premier League didn’t go unrepresented.

A pair of gamers with CPL expertise, Joel Waterman and James Pantemis, acquired the decision from coach John Herdman, making historical past as they turn into the primary ever former CPLers to look on a World Cup roster.

Waterman, a 26-year-old Langley, B.C. native, at the moment performs his membership soccer for CF Montréal in Main League Soccer, however his first foray into the skilled recreation was in 2019 with Cavalry FC.

He was chosen within the second spherical of the inaugural CPL-U SPORTS Draft out of Trinity Western College, and he went on to ascertain himself as a high centre-back within the CPL. Waterman performed 25 video games for Cavalry in 2019, serving to them seize the Spring and Fall season titles and defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps within the Canadian Championship.

After that breakout season within the CPL, Waterman signed in early 2020 with CF Montréal, and he went on to make his MLS debut in February 2020. Since then, he has established himself as a secure defender alongside fellow World Cup-bound Canadians Kamal Miller and Alistair Johnston in Montréal’s backline.

Waterman made his senior nationwide group debut simply days previous to this announcement, beginning for Canada of their pleasant on Friday in opposition to Bahrain.

James Pantemis.
James Pantemis.

In the meantime, James Pantemis earned the decision to Qatar after establishing himself between the pipes for CF Montréal. The 25-year-old from Kirkland, Québec, spent most of his youth soccer within the Montréal academy system, however he spent a quick stint in 2020 on mortgage within the CPL with Valour FC.

Pantemis was Valour’s beginning goalkeeper for the Island Video games competitors in Prince Edward Island, taking part in each minute of the Winnipeg membership’s seven matches.

Following that stint, Pantemis continued to develop as a powerful ‘keeper on the MLS stage. His first ever nationwide group call-up was in 2017 for a pleasant in opposition to Curaçao, however he has but to make his debut on the pitch.

In fact, Pantemis and Waterman’s inclusion within the squad does come on the expense of a number of gamers who will sadly miss out on the World Cup. Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau was injured throughout the MLS Cup closing, that means Pantemis joins the squad because the third goalkeeper.

Within the defensive group, each Scott Kennedy and Doneil Henry will each be unable to make the journey to Qatar, the latter having picked up his damage in warmups previous to the Bahrain pleasant final week.

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