TWO ENERGY FC PLAYERS EARN CALL-UP TO NATIONAL TEAMS

OKLAHOMA CITY – Energy FC goalkeeper Cody Laurendi and defender Atiba Harris have both earned another call-up to represent their respective national teams in the CONCACAF Nations League tournament this week, Head Coach Steve Cooke announced today. 

Laurendi and Harris faced one another in their first match of the competition, as Harris’ St. Kitts & Nevis side defeated Puerto Rico 1-0 on September 9, despite Laurendi having a man-of-the-match performance. In the second round of fixtures in October, Puerto Rico fell to Martinique, 1-0, while Harris scored his first-career hat trick, as St. Kitts & Nevis strolled to a 10-0 victory over Saint Martin. 

Laurendi is making his fourth appearance with the Puerto Rico national team. His debut came in 2017, when he represented the island nation in their 0-0 draw in an international friendly against Indonesia. With Energy FC, Laurendi is the team’s all-time leader in wins (24) and clean sheets (23). Puerto Rico travels to Belmopan to take on Belize on Friday, November 16. 

Harris has played for his country at the U-13, U-15, U-17, U-20, U-23 and full national team level. In all, he has represented his country 62 times and has scored 17 goals at the international level. With Energy FC in 2018, he appeared in 14 matches, played 1260 minutes and scored one goal. St. Kitts & Nevis will host Canada on Sunday, November 18 in Basseterre. 

The CONCACAF Nations League gives the federation’s members the opportunity to play in top-level matches as well as qualify for the 2019 Gold Cup. The new 16-team Gold Cup is the biennial soccer championship of the North, Central American and Caribbean region. The winner of the Gold Cup has the opportunity to qualify for the 2021 FIFA Confederations Cup. 

Harris and Laurendi will be back with OKC Energy FC for the 2019 season. Laurendi recently signed a new, two-year contract that will keep him at the club through the 2020 season. 

“Once again, we are delighted for Cody and Atiba to be given another opportunity to represent their countries at the national team level” said Cooke. “Their personal accomplishments and honors are testament to their daily professionalism, quality performances and outstanding contributions to their teams. All of us at Energy FC are incredibly proud of Cody and Atiba and wish them every success during these upcoming games, as they aim to qualify for the 2019 Gold Cup.” 

Energy FC has had four players receive international call-ups while with the club. In addition to Laurendi and Harris, Jaime Siaj has represented the Jordan national team, and Coy Craft represented the U.S. U-20 team.