The United States U-14 boys national team has called in Seattle Sounders Academy product Sota Kitahara for its first camp of the year.
The young Sounder will travel to Carson, Calif., for a week-long camp from Nov. 13-20 at U.S. Soccer’s national training center. Kitahara is one of 48 players called in by head coach Clint Peay, and will look to take his excellent form for the Rave Green to the international level.
Kitahara is just the latest product of the Sounders Discovery Program to make a name for himself on the national stage. Danny Robles, an attacking midfielder for the U-16s and fellow SDP alum, won the Youdan Trophy MVP in the summer and recently traveled to Bradenton, Fla., for a U-15 United States YNT camp.
Despite being one of the youngest members of the squad, Kitahara has already started 16 matches for the Sounders U-14s, primarily as a No. 6 or a box-to-box midfielder. This is even more impressive when one considers that the U-14s play a year-up in the Far West Regional League.
The diminutive midfielder has turned plenty of heads with his ability to read the game that belies his age. His quick feet and composure in possession help the Rave Green dominate possession against older opposition. Kitahara has also added an increased ability to tackle and win possession as he develops into a dominant holding midfielder.
Kitahara’s technical ability and movement off the ball allow him to play all over the pitch. His aptitude for taking up dangerous positions in space has seen him thrive in the Sounders’ midfield, as well as on the wings. It was this innate positional sense and intelligence that led to his best performance of the year in a 3-2 win over Real Salt Lake in a recent U.S. Soccer showcase.
Kitahara’s invitation to U.S. camp continues a trend in 2016 of Sounder Academy products receiving national team call-ups at every age level.
The full list of players invited into camp can be found here.
