Isaac Kannah Chosen for U.S. U-18 Men’s National Team

Minnesota Thunder Academy’s (MTA) Isaac Kannah has been selected for the first time to represent the US for the U-18 Men’s National Team.

Kannah, who is a senior at Prairie Seeds Academy High School, helped his team to the Class A State Boys High School Soccer championship last fall. He will be attending Northern Illinois University this fall.

The U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team head coach Mike Matkovich has named Kannah and 23 other players who will train in Portland, Ore., from April 16-24, on the Nike Campus. The team will play two games while in camp, one against University of Portland and another against the University of Washington.

Tony Sanneh, acting as a scout for U.S. Soccer, recently watched Kannah in an MTA U-18 Development Academy game against Sporting KC.

“He’s one of the top players in MN, and in my opinion in the country,” Sanneh told IMS recently. “He has a good understanding for the game and is also versatile.  He’s a very team-oriented player and has great speed as well. Technically I like what he does too. I would just like to see him be a little more selfish around the goal. He’s a leader for his team but my hope is that he will also lead with production by scoring more goals.”

“He is one of those driven kids who wants to improve in every aspect of his life,” said Youssef Darbaki, Isaac’s high school coach and coach of the NPSL Twin Stars. “He proved that several years ago when he improved his GPA from 1.6 to 3.5. He earned a full ride scholarship to NIU. With Isaac, the quality shows. He dedicated, he listens and he follows directions very well. He’s definitely earned this call up to the Men’s National Team.”

U.S. U-18 MNT Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Jeff Gal (Sockers FC; Bartlett, Ill.), Jon Kempin (Sporting Kansas City; Leawood, Kans.)
DEFENDERS (8): Jonathan Campbell (NC Fusion; Greensboro, N.C.), Matt Jeffery (PDA; Freehold, N.J.), Mitchell Lurie (Concorde Fire; Alpharetta, Ga.), Timothy Parker (Albertson SC; Hicksville, N.Y.), Grant Silvester (CDA; Sacramento, Calif.), Scott Thomsen (New York Red Bulls Academy; Brick, N.J.), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders Academy; Seattle, Wash.), Walker Zimmerman (Furman University; Lawrenceville, Ga.)
MIDFIELDERS (10): Stefano Bonomo (De Anza Force; Hillsborough, Calif.), Seth Casiple (CDA; Sacramento, Calif.), Daniel Cuevas Granados (CDA; Sacramento, Calif.), Miguel Lopez, Jr. (Classics Elite; Alton, Texas), Victor Pineda (Chicago Fire; Bollingbrook, Ill.), Marcus Salandy-Defour (D.C. United Academy; Kensington, Md.), Christopher Somerville (Baltimore Bays Chelsea; West Chester, Pa.), Gabe Stauber (FC Westchester; Waccabuc, N.Y.), Will Trapp (Crew Soccer Academy; Gahanna, Ohio), Cooper Vandermaas-Peeler (CASL Chelsea SC; Cary, N.C.)
FORWARDS (4): Villyan Bijev (Cal Odyssey; Fresno, Calif.), Isaac Kannah (Minnesota Thunder Academy; Plymouth Minn.), Luis Rendon (FC Richmond Magic; Chesterfield, Va.), Khiry Shelton (Lonestar SC; Leander, Texas)