Canadian Soccer Honours Top U-20 Players of '08

Nana Attakora-Gyan and Jonelle Filigno were named the Canadian Soccer Association's Under-20 players of the year on Tuesday.

Attakora-Gyan, from Orangeville, Ont., is a member of the Canadian U-20 team that will play in next year's CONCACAF men's U-20 championship. He also plays for Toronto FC of Major League Soccer, appearing in five games with the club last season.

Filigno, from Mississauga, Ont., split the 2008 season between the Canadian women's senior and U-20 teams. She helped the latter win the gold medal at the 2008 CONCACAF women's U-20 championship, scoring four goals in the tournament, including the winner in the semifinals against Mexico. She also played in the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Chile, scoring one goal in two matches after missing the opener because of a knee injury.
Filigno helped the senior national team win the Cyprus Cup in March, finish second at the Peace Queen Cup in June and reach the quarter-finals at the Olympics in August. She started 12 of her 20 games and scored her first-ever goal against Trinidad and Tobago in April.