Danville, Calif.  —  Mustang SC Academy goalkeeper Dallas Jaye has been selected to play for Guam in the island territory’s Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifiers for the U-19 Men’s World Championships.

Now in a US Soccer Development Academy program with his hometown club Mustang SC in Danville, California, Jaye’s previous two years were spent at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida where he helped the U-16 team win the Development Academy Southeast Division Championship in 2008.

Chosen to represent his mother’s country of birth, Jaye is looking forward to his first taste of international experience. “I am honored to be selected to play internationally, and looking forward to improving my game,” said Jaye.

The young keeper attributes his success to playing in the US Soccer Academy the past three years, as well as working in the IMG system and with his goalkeeper coaches, Tim Mulqueen in Florida and Jason Batty in California.  “I am the luckiest keeper in the US to have Coach Mulqueen and Coach Batty training me,” said Jaye. “They are two of the best keeper coaches in the country, and they continue to push me to get better each session I work with them and take my game to the next level.”

Jaye likens his game to Brian Perk (US U-20 MNT and UCLA goalkeeper).  “I have watched Brian play in person and on video and studied what he does,” explained Jaye. “We have the same coach and he tells me about his incredible work ethic, leadership and training habits and I try to work those aspects into my game and daily routine so I can get to his level.”

Despite the fast start and international opportunities, Jaye enjoys playing with his hometown Mustang teammates and the support of head coach Carl Edwards and Mustang Academy Club Director Fred Wilson.

While his current focus is on the Asian qualifiers, the high school junior is sound academically and sports an impressive 4.25 GPA and membership in the National Honor Society. With a notable list of college choices, he is hoping to commit to a college in the near future, and perhaps even enter college early to get a jump on classes.

But before the pressure of college life, Jaye will experience pressure of a different kind when he make his way in October for a week’s training before the team embarks for China. Once there he and his new teammates will face the daunting task presented by the national teams of Korea, China, Myanmar, Philippines and Malaysia in group pool play. The qualifiers will be held in China’s impressive new 60,000-seat stadium, the ZIBO Sports Complex, where the atmosphere is sure to be both electric and educational from the young keeper’s point of view.