Ben Mckendry (Vancouver Whitecaps)

Yeah maybe so but it pays to keep him in the loop... never say never!

I agree - just because the guy is loosely eligible to play for NZ, doesn't means he wants too - we'd be very much a Plan B. He's Canadian, he wants to play for Canada is how I'd read this

Both his parents are NZ born so it's a bit more than 'loosely' eligible. However I agree he's definitely set himself to represent Canada.

Here's a great article on him.

Think he still needs to work on goal celebrations though.

Ben McKendry played full 90 for first team against Toronto FC in second first team start last night in front of 20,000 in Toronto. Named player of match for Vancouver.  

see http://www.whitecapsfc.com/

Whilst this was a first team appearance, it was in the Canadian Championship, missing several of their top players. He's yet to make his MLS debut, although he was on the bench in their last game v New England so he's getting closer...

Agreed - still good experience against a strong TFC including the likes of Giovinco, Johnson and Cheyrou for the lad.

We should be trying to get him across through using the Confed Cup as a teaser.

I can't help but think that if he was going to play for us, he would have appeared in PNG although he could be doing a Tommy/Winnie and is waiting until we qualify for something decent like the World Cup. 

I still think we'll never see him wearing the Fern and that his eyes are set firmly on representing Canada and probably never playing at the WC or Confed Cup, not that anyone outside of Oceania gives a T**s about the later anyway.

I hope whilst NZF are in the States they can find time to send someone to talk to Ben and hopefully persuade him to come over to the All White.. In fact it would be great to get him in the squad for these games. They're friendlies so wouldn't tie him to NZ...

Quality post. Agree an informal invite for him to be part of the squad for a training session, meet the guys, see the shirt in person etc would go well. Not sure what his club would say though. Is it only qualifiers and tournament games that determine eligibility? 

Gotta be worth a shot given where the friendlies are. He started against Crystal Palace in recent friendly and looked good by all accounts. Maybe Deklan Wynne at Whitecaps FC2 could twist his arm especially as he likely on fringes of Canadian setup as I read it.

Canada soccer reporting Ben McKendry invited to Canada Mens camp in Africa but unavailable through injury

http://www.canadasoccer.com/canada-soccer-announces-men-s-national-team-squad-for-october-p159959

McKendry's season has come to an end. He mostly featured for Whitecaps 2 where he played on 20 occasions scoring twice and getting four yellow cards. He played 1,423 minutes in the USL. McKendry didn't feature in the playoffs at all.

He didn't play an MLS game this season despite being on the bench on several occasions.

He played twice in the Canadian Championship for a total of 162 minutes.

Sounds like the sort of player we'd normally go after.

No point talking about Ben when he probably won't play for New Zealand

Canada seems very much like to CONCACAF All Whites.

He was named in the Canadian squad but pulled out due to injury, obviously he has decided to playing for Canada not us.

Maybe he was never contacted by NZF? BTW, I see he is up for a goal of the year:

http://www.whitecapsfc.com/post/2016/11/11/vote-mckendry-vs-greig-wfc2-el-jimador-shot-year-final 

Fixed

Has made one appearance for Canada. 

Source is here: 

http://canadasoccer.com/?gid=1429&t=match

Obviously more committed to Canada than NZ. 

Although he has played for Canada, still eligible for NZ as the match he played in was only a friendly in a 4-2 win over Bermuda.

https://www.whitecapsfc.com/post/2017/05/23/ben-mc...

After watching this video, it's obvious he sees himself as a Canuck.

Can I suggest that this thread now be removed from 'Kiwi Players Overseas'  (aka Liam Jordan).

Well done to Deklan Wynne on his first team debut

Still in Canada but now with FC Edmonton in the NASL league (2nd tier). 

Not sure if just a loan deal. Anyway he's not a Kiwi.

He's not not a kiwi yet and this move surely moves him further away from the Canadian national team.  Hudson should go all out and sweet talk him into the kiwi fold.

If he's not good enough for Canada, he's not good enough for us. If he doesn't want to make himself available for us fudge him.

I see McKendry now playing in Finnish top flight (Veikkausliiga) for TPS (Turun Palloseura) - now 25 and seems to be getting full 90 every game

Hi only cap for Canada came in a friendly so I guess he's still eligible.

Go McKendry.

So he's playing at a level that Niko Boxall was at about 18 months ago. Similar ages - McKendry (25) & Boxall (26).

It's likely that Boxall junior will spend his career as a fringe AW (unless his club career takes off) - only being called up when most of the first choice players are unavailable, eg Canada game & India tourney.

However get the feeling N Boxall would give his right arm to play for the AWs again - whilst McKendry is a Canadian.

https://www.whitecapsfc.com/post/2017/05/23/ben-mc...

McKendry quite different pedigree to Boxall the younger I think. McKendry was ranked top 7 overall in NCAA Div 1 at one point and went straight to MLS before finishing College. I heard injuries and big competition in central midfield at Whitecaps, and in Canada generally, lead to the sideways move to Finland. Was just rated top tackler in Viekkausliiga. A useful attribute for AWs I suspect!

Sideways?

;-) Ok maybe an exaggeration! Perhaps a stepping stone in Europe a better characterisation. Point is, Canada seems crowded in that crucial role (Atiba Hutchison,  Johnson, Piette, Teibert etc etc). NZ not so much.....

Think Finnish league might sneak into top 100 leagues in the world. MLS is top 20 by any number of measures.

Thought USL would be a better option than Finland tbh.

McKendry been there, as well as NASL. Many of the younger guys in North America, and Canada in particular,  are trying hand in Europe where they play more technical football, on grass, in reasonable temperatures and where salaries comparable or more than USL. Reality is that with few exceptions, the road to MLS does not pass through USL any more. 

Finland ranked 59 currently in FIFA and 38/55 Uefa Coefficient. Not bad for a country comparable in size to NZ and dominated by ice hockey. Young Canadians I know targeting Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Germany (probably related to lenient rules around work permits). A few young kiwis in Sweden for sure (e.g. Francis de Vries)