BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University men's soccer midfielder Raheem Somersall will join his national team and participate in the U20 CONCACAF Championship for the World Cup.
Somersall arrived in Costa Rica two weeks before the main event, preparing by playing two friendly matches against professional club Saprissa and another under-20 team that qualified. The sophomore then opened up competitive play against Haiti on Feb. 18 where the team fell 5-1 but will have a second match against Panama on Tuesday, Feb. 21. The final group stage match will be against the United States on Friday, Feb. 24.
"I am honored to be a part of my national team at the youth level and to be able to participate in a World Cup Qualifiers," Somersall said. "This is important for me because I have been selected as one of 22 members to represent my country and I feel like every footballer dreams of playing professionally or being able to represent their country."
This is the second time that St. Kitts and Nevis have qualified to the U20 CONCACAF Championship for the World Cup. The team is locally based with 19 amateur players that play in the SKNFA Premier League in St. Kitts & Nevis and one player that plays overseas: Somersall. A talented team, many of their players have been chosen to practice in Brazil and represent the Caribbean Football Union team that played in Texas last year.
"I am very excited for Raheem to get another opportunity to represent his country in a World Cup qualifying event," Appalachian head men's soccer coach Jason O'Keefe said. "We are proud of him and know he will continue to represent his family, App State and his country of St. Kitts & Nevis in a great way. It is a tremendous achievement for Raheem and our program. He is an inspiration to everyone in our locker room and future Mountaineers that you can achieve all your dreams from the environment here at App State."
If St. Kitts & Nevis qualify, Raheem will be with the U20 team until the first week of March.
"This is a challenge for me as I will be playing against top players from North, Central & South America, and I'll also be tested on my ability to focus on school while being away from school," Somersall continued. "I just want to thank God for bringing me this far and blessing me with this opportunity, Coach O'Keefe for making sure that I'm laser focused at all times, my advisor Cliff Poole, my professors for allowing me to be away for this period of time, my strength coach and my teammates who push me to get better every day and in every way possible."
Newcomer Zeiko Harris is also playing in the U20 Championship in Costa Rica representing his home country of Bermuda. They tied Trinidad 1-1 on Sunday and will face El Salvador on Wednesday, Feb. 22 and Costa Rica on Saturday, Feb. 25.
To follow Somersall and Harris and the St. Kitts & Nevis and Bermuda U20 national teams, head to www.concacaf.com.
