ANTIGONISH, NS - X-Men soccer alumnus Jamar Dixon has been called up to represent Canada as part of the 23-man roster for the national team for a game against the USA on February 5th. The team is preparing for qualification for the World Cup in 2020 in Russia.

A 26 year old native of Ottawa, Dixon will make his debut with the Canadian national squad. The friendly game against the United States is scheduled for 10:30 pm EST in Carson, CA, just south of Los Angeles and will be broadcast live on TSN.

X-Men head coach Graham Kennedy, who coached Dixon during his time at StFX comments, "Jamar Dixon was on an upward trajectory after his freshmen year when he began taking his off-season time very seriously. He played in the Premier Development League in the summers and worked on his conditioning in the off-season and transformed his body from amateur to professional level."

"Over his four years at StFX he earned a lot accolades, but it was his junior year in 2010 when he scored eight goals for us and then was selected in 2011 as one of two All-Canadians on our team that I really believed that he had another level in him beyond the CIS."

Jamar Dixon played four seasons with the StFX X-Men from 2008 to 2011, during which he received AUS all-star recognition in each of his four years. In his final season in 2011 he was named a CIS second team All-Canadian.

Most recently, Dixon, a midfielder, has been playing professional soccer in Europe with FF Jaro, based in Jakobstad, Finland in the Tier 1 Veikkausliiga Finnish Premier League, comprising the top 12 clubs in the country.

"Jamar is perfect example of what happens when hard work and perseverance combine," says Kennedy. "He simply wanted this and would do whatever it took to get it. I'm thrilled for him, and so is everyone who played with him at StFX."

For the complete release from Soccer Canada, visit:
http://canadasoccer.com/canada-selects-23-players-for-usa-friendly-in-february-p159103.

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