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Ochieng, Duk & Velela Called to National Teams

Three Cosmos players are wearing their countries’ colors in early October.
Published Oct 4, 2016

Cosmos center back David Ochieng, forward Yasmani Duk and fullback Alexis Velela have been called into their respective national teams.

Ochieng, 23, was a second-half substitute for Kenya’s 1-0 away win in an international friendly against the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday. The Cosmos defender came on in the 58th minute to help preserve the shutout, and the Harambee Stars prevailed via a 65th-minute strike from Michael Olunga.

Duk, 28, is with the Bolivian national team for a pair of World Cup qualifiers. First La Verde match up with Brazil in Natal on Thursday, October 6 at 8:45 p.m. ET. Next Tuesday, October 11, they return to Estadio Hernando Siles in La Paz to host Ecuador at 4 p.m. ET. Duk and Bolivia earned crucial back-to-back results a month ago, defeating Peru at home and drawing with Copa América champions Chile in Santiago.

Velela, 18, is off to Chula Vista, Calif. for a U.S. Under-19 National Team domestic training camp, running through October 10. The U.S. U-19s are set to take on the Xolos reserves in a doubleheader on Friday, October 7 at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET. They’ll also play another match October 9, with the opponent yet to be determined.

The Cosmos begin a two-match road trip this Sunday against Ottawa Fury FC. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. ET.