Republic FC’s young players have shined in recent weeks, as they have represented the club on the national stage and in the Youth National Team ranks. After the U15, U16, and U17 squads showed strong at MLS NEXT Flex earlier in the month, U14 Goalkeeper Andy Castro and first team forward Da’vian Kimbrough each were invited to youth national team camps.
Kimbrough joined the Mexico U16 National team for its training camp in Mexico City in mid-May. The invite marked Kimbrough’s fourth by Mexico this year, including training camp invitations in January and February. In March, he was selected to the U16 roster for the East Mallorca Cup, where the Woodland native helped his squad reach the semifinals and scored four goals and three assists in a single match on March 29.
Kimbrough and U14 goalkeeper Andy Castro each earned invitations from the United States this past week, joining the federation’s U14 National ID camp in Chula Vista, California. The camp brought together 80 top players from around the country in preparation for their transition to the U15 MYNT next year. Kimbrough and Castro were among 20 players invited from the USYNT’s “West” Scouting region. It was both players’ second invite by the United States after being invited to the March U14 ID camp in Atlanta, Georgia. Castro has impressed all season for the club’s U14 academy squad, helping his team to 22 wins and nine clean sheets.
Republic FC’s homegrown players continue to earn youth national team program selections. Since the launch of the club’s Youth Academy in 2015, over 60 players have been selected to represent their respective nations on the international stage, showcase their talents in Youth National Team camps, or be invited to U.S. YNT Regional ID Center sessions alongside other top youth players. Kimbrough and Castro are among four homegrown Republic FC players to participate in national team programs this year, alongside U16 midfielder Brighton Utush, and first-team forward Chibi Ukaegbu.
