Volume 2,Issue 10, Caribbean Football Union Newsletter

OCTOBER 2014, VOLUME 2, ISSUE 10, CARIBBEAN FOOTBALL UNION NEWSLETTER
Under-17 Championship
Pro soccer league needed
for Caribbean
Cup comes to Montego
Bay
C
ARTICLES
2 Haiti cop 2014 CFU
3 CFU Men’s Caribbean
CONCACAF Symposium
aribbean Football
Union
(CFU)
President
Gordon
Derrick believes that
the time is now for a
professional
football
league in the region.
Derrick was speaking at
the Soccerex Americas
Forum held at the
Lloyd Erskine Sandiford
Centre in Barbados last
month.
7 Soca Princesses still on
“We’re pushing it and
the task force has to do its job, but we definitely need to do this because we need a
sustainable league so that our future generation of kids will always have something to
aspire to and develop their football skills,” said Derrick.
The CFU boss also called for regional governments to get involved and push to have a
league of their own which would make Caribbean players proud.
4 CFU Men’s Cup
Fixtures
5 CONCACAF U-20
Championship kicks off
January 9 in Jamaica
6 17 CFU refs attend
Gordon Derrick
track for 2015 World Cup
8 Cayman Islands’
Alfredo Whittaker
assumes FIFA post
9 Sealey back as BFA
boss; James breaks new
ground
10 British Virgin Islands
FA gets Goal
Project
“Governments have to be involved as they have to be critical facilitators of such a move,”
said the CFU President. “They have to give us all the necessary legislation and provide
some funding, but we can’t rely on governments to be the main funders because it will
not work.
“You will need the corporate Caribbean to get involved. There are so many large
corporations across the CFU who I believe know football, enjoy football, understand its
contribution to society and would be willing to invest in a Pro league,” he added.
The CFU chief suggested that 2016 is a foreseeable year for this project to come to fruition
once the necessary paperwork and procedures are done.
Cont’d page 2
Pro Soccer league......contd
“Realistically I would like to see this by 2016 at the latest but,
that’s not for me to say as we have to wait for the task force
when it makes its presentation,” Derrick said.
David John Williams (Owner/President, W Connection Football
Club, Trinidad and Tobago); Decio de Maria (President, Liga
MX); Yves Jean-Bart (President, Haitian Football Federation)
and Randy Harris (President, Barbados Football Federation).
In November 2013 CONCACAF announced a task force
comprising of Dr. Keith Mitchell (Prime Minister of Grenada);
Damien Hughes (General Secretary, Caribbean Football
Union); Simon Firth (Partner, Maples and Calder, Cayman
Islands); Don Garber (Commissioner, US Major League
Soccer); . Edward Seaga (former Prime Minister of Jamaica
and Chairman of Jamaica’s Premier League Clubs Association);
The Soccerex Americas is the leading event provider for the
global football industry. The Soccerex Americas forum was
held in Barbados from October 21-22 and was attended by a
host of dignitaries from the Caribbean, including guest speaker
Jeffrey Webb who is a vice-president of FIFA and president of
the CONCACAF.
Haiti cops 2014
CFU Under-17
Championship
A
double strike from prolific striker Jacques Saul
Metellus propelled Haiti past Jamaica, 2-0, to take
first place honours at the 2014 Caribbean Football Union
(CFU) Men’s U-17 Qualifiers.
Playing in front of nearly 10 thousand cheering fans at
the Sylvio Cator Stadium in Port-au-Prince, Metellus
scored in the 20th and 75th minute.
Haiti CFU U-17 champs
After the finals various awards were handed out as follows:
The Fair Play Award went to Guadeloupe; the Golden Gloves
to Emmanuel Chery of Haiti; the Golden Boots to Nicholas
Nelson of Jamaica, and the Most Valuable Player to Jamaica’s
Alex Marshall.
Cuba blanked St Lucia 2-0 in the third place play-off contested
earlier at the same venue.
The atmosphere was electrifying as the two rivalling football
powerhouses (Haiti and Jamaica) matched their skills in the
region’s most prestigious youth competition.
Eight teams contested the Final Round of the tournament
- Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados,
Guadeloupe, St Lucia and Martinique - and competed in two
groups, A and B.
Both teams approached the game with confidence, having
topped their respective groups with a maximum nine points to
reach the final. However, it was the hosts who drew first blood
and held their 1-0 lead going into the half.
The Young Reggae Boyz came out fighting in the second half
but were thwarted by the Haitians who soaked up the Jamaican
attack and when the opportunity arose for a counter attack
made the best of it in the 75th minute essentially putting the
game out of reach of the Jamaicans.
Earlier in the evening Cuba scored twice in the first half to
secure third place with goals coming from Carlos Cebranco in
the 16th minute and Raycharle Herrera in the 37th.
Jamaica was placed second
Cont’d page 3
2
Haiti Champs......contd
Based on performance and placement, five teams qualified to advance to the CONCACAF FIFA World Cup Qualifiers scheduled
for next year. The teams are Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, St Lucia; and best third-placed team, Trinidad & Tobago.
Cuba was placed third
St Lucia U 17 team placed fourth
Trinidad Tobago was placed fifth
CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup
comes to Montego Bay
T
he city of Montego Bay will come to life from November
11-18 when the Reggae Boyz tackle their Caribbean rivals
in their bid for regional supremacy during the Finals of the
Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Men’s Caribbean Cup.
All games will be staged at the Montego Bay Sports Complex.
Eight teams have been placed into two pools (A&B) with Pool
A comprising of defending champions Cuba, Curacao, French
Guiana and Trinidad & Tobago; while Pool B will feature host
Jamaica Antigua & Barbuda, Haiti and Martinique.
All teams, with the exception of defending champions Cuba
and host Jamaica, went through an exciting play-off test at the
preliminary, first and second round qualifying stages.
Trinidad & Tobago topped Group 7 with maximum nine points,
while Antigua & Barbuda earned four points to take second
place. The Dominican Republic had four points as well, but had
an inferior goal average, while St Lucia failed to gain a point
after all three games.
When the music stops on the evening of November 18, the top
four teams from the tournament will qualify for the prestigious
CONCACAF Gold Cup scheduled for 2015.
In Group 8, Haiti won with five points, one ahead of French
Guiana, who earned four points. St Kitts and Nevis also
notched four points (but had an inferior goal average), while
Barbados ended with three points.
The fifth-place team will compete in a home-and-away playoff series against a fifth-place team from the Unión Centro
Americana de Fútbol (UNCAF), with the winner advancing to
the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Martinique topped Group 9 with seven points. Curacao were
next with four points, while hosts Guadeloupe and St Vincent
and the Grenadines earned three each.
Meanwhile, for the very first time, the CFU Caribbean Cup
winners will secure an automatic berth into the prestigious
Copa América Centenario scheduled to be played in 2016.
Fixtures Next page
3
2014 CFU MEN’S CARIBBEAN CUP MATCH FIXTURES
CFU MEN’S CARIBBEAN CUP
MATCH DAY
November 11
November 13
November 15
C F U MEN’S
MATCH DAY
November 12
November 14
November 16
C F U MEN’S
FINAL ROUND
Match No.
TEAM A
TEAM B
1
Curacao
2
Cuba
French Guiana
5
Trinidad & Tobago
French Guiana
6
Curacao
Cuba
9
French Guiana
Curacao
10
Cuba
Trinidad & Tobago
FINAL ROUND
Match No.
TEAM A
3
Haiti
4
Jamaica
Martinique
7
Martinique
Haiti
8
Jamaica
Antigua & Barbuda
11
Antigua & Barbuda
Martinique
12
Jamaica
Haiti
MATCH DAY
Match No.
November 18
1
November 18
2
Time
VENUE
TEAM B
8:00PM
5:30PM
MONTEGO BAY
SPORTS COMPLEX
8:00PM
JAMAICA
5:30PM
8:00PM
GROUP STAGE
Time
Score
POOL B
VENUE
Antigua & Barbuda 5:30PM
8:00PM
5:30PM
MONTEGO BAY
SPORTS COMPLEX
8:00PM
JAMAICA
5:30PM
8:00PM
FINAL ROUND
TEAM A
Score
POOL A
Trinidad & Tobago 5:30PM
CARIBBEAN CUP
CARIBBEAN CUP
GROUP STAGE
3RD PLACE & FINALS
TEAM B
Time
Runner-Up Pool A
Runner-Up Pool B
5:00PM
Winner Pool A
Winner Pool B
4
8:00PM
Score
VENUE
MONTEGO BAY
SPORTS COMPLEX
JAMAICA
CONCACAF U-20
Championship
kicks off January 9
in Jamaica
T
he 2015 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship kicks off
in Jamaica on January 9, at the Montego Bay Sports
Complex, in Montego Bay, St James with twelve teams
competing for four places in the FIFA World Cup.
Jeffrey Webb President of CONCACAF
This realization is as a result of the draw done by CONCACAF
which was held at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort Hotel, in
Montego Bay, St James on Thursday, October 30.
FIFA Vice President and CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb
opened the event. In his short but informative address to the
audience he wished all the teams success and praised Jamaica
for the grand opportunity of hosting this youth competition
which included top teams from the
region.
The twelve teams were sorted into
two groups of six. This exercise
was conducted by CONCACAF’s
Director of Marketing and
Communications Jurgen Mainka
and Jamaica’s Former national
players Aaron Lawrence and
Ricardo Gardener (members of the
1998 World Cup team).
“The National Stadium
in Kingston and the
Montego Bay Sports
Complex will each play
host to Group A matches”
Aaron Lawrence, Ricardo Gardener
and Jurgen Mainka
The top team from each group after
round-robin play advances to the World
Cup, and the second and third place
nations from each group advance to
the final day knockout phase, with the
chance to dispute one of a pair of play-in
matches which will determine CONCACAF’s other two World
Cup spots.
Group A features hosts Jamaica,
Trinidad & Tobago, Aruba, Panama, United States and
Guatemala while the Group B teams are Haiti, Canada, Mexico,
Cuba, Honduras and El Salvador.
In an effort to favor development and competition, the new
CONCACAF u-20 tournament format has increased the
number of guaranteed games for each participant to five,
up from two in the previous editions. Mexico is the two-time
defending CONCACAF Under-20 champion, having claimed
the title at home in Puebla in 2013, and in Guatemala City two
years earlier.
The Caribbean Football Union (CFU) has five teams in
contention for this prestigious championship namely Jamaica,
Haiti, Cuba, Aruba, Trinidad & Tobago.
The National Stadium in Kingston and the Montego Bay
Sports Complex will each play host to Group A matches, with
the opening date to be played in Kingston on January 9. The
Montego Bay Sports Complex hosts all the action in Group B,
and the final phase on January 24, when the Confederation
crowns the champion. 5
17 CFU refs attend
CONCACAF
Symposium
S
eventeen prospective candidates for the next FIFA
Referees List from the Caribbean region, along
with other prospects from CONCACAF, attended the
CONCACAF International Referee Symposium held
recently in Costa Rica.
The referees who attended were; Kerry Kadie Skepple
(Antigua & Barbuda), Ricangel E.N.De Leca (Aruba), Rhomie
Blanc and Charvis Delsol (Dominica), Gladwin Charles, Shavin
Dexroy Greene (Guyana),Karl Tyrell and Veralton Nembhard
(Jamaica), Jose Raul Torres Rivera (Puerto Rico),Trevester
Allister Richards ( St Kitts and Nevis), Kim Charlery (St Lucia),
Kenran E D Daniel and Koyana Shekiza Horne (St Vincent and
the Grenadines), Suelle Lindsay Sheppard (Suriname), Merville
Preston Wallace, Crystal Nnenia Tahirah Sobers (Trinidad and
Tobago) and Gianni Ascani Turks & Caicos Islands.
The two-day event was presented
by Comex Futline in collaboration
with CONCACAF, and took place
at the Costa Rican Football
Federation Goal Project and the
Marriott San Jose.
17 Referees from the CFU were at the CONCACAF Symposium
In addition to health and nutrition, the participants had the
opportunity to learn about the characteristics of successful
referees; match preparation and management; the evolving
role of the referee in the modern game and next career steps.
Some of CONCACAF’s most accomplished referees made
presentations during the conference, including those who
have officiated on the greatest stage in the sport – the FIFA
World Cup.
“Some of CONCACAF’s most
accomplished referees made
presentations during the
conference, including those
who have officiated on the
greatest stage in the sport –
the FIFA World Cup.”
On day one, the Representative
of the Comex Futline, Francisco
Bolívar, Manager of Sponsorships
and Marketing for Comex
Futline, in his keynote address,
emphasized the key factors of
professional success to the fifty (50) men and women present
as part of their preparation to taking the next step in their
officiating careers.
The presenters were Arturo Angeles,
USA (1994); Armando Archundia,
Mexico 2006, 2010); Carlos Batres,
Guatemala (2002, 2006); Arturo Brizio,
Mexico (1994, 1998); Mark Geiger, USA
(2014); Brian Hall, USA (2002); Peter
Prendergast, Jamaica (2002); Marco
Rodriguez, Mexico (2006, 2010; 2014),
Bernie Ulloa, Costa Rica (1986, 1990),
On day two, Prendergast and Julio
Gioscia conducted a field training
session which focused on personality and decision-making.
CONCACAF’s Deputy General Secretary, Ted Howard, a
member of the FIFA Referees Committee; FIFA fitness
instructor Allan Brown; 1998 World Cup referee Javier Castrilli
of Argentina and Alfredo Whittaker, the CONCACAF and
Caribbean Football Union’s head of refereeing, were also on
hand to share their experiences and expertise.
He pointed out the importance of Referee’s Physical
care, Nutrition and Hydration as important factors in the
performance of Referees on the field of play.
6
Soca Princesses
still on track for
2015 World Cup
D
espite not qualifying among the top three teams,
Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca Princesses shone
brightly at the CONCACAF Women’s Championship
and still have a chance of copping a place in the FIFA
World Cup in Canada next year.
The T&T lasses face a two-way play-off against Ecuador
in a home and away series next month. Four teams from the
Caribbean region entered the CONCACAF Championships. The
teams are Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Haiti and Martinique.
Trinidad Women Senior in USA
T&T equalized in the 57th minute when forward Ahkeela
Mollon crossed the ball from the right side and Kennya Cordner
headed past goalkeeper Pamela Tajonar for her third goal of
the competition.
The Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Women champions
won two out of three of their games - 1-0 against Haiti and
2-1 against Guatemala. Jamaica won one of three games,
beating Martinique 6-0. Haiti won one game as well, clipping
Guatemala 1-0, while Martinique lost all three games.
The Soca Princesses took the lead in the 78th minute with
a left-wing delivery from Cordner bounced off teammate
Brianna Ryce in front of the goal and fell to Mariah Shade, who
slotted home for a 2-1 advantage.
With six points in hand, the Soca Princesses earned a place in
the semi-finals where they met Costa
Rica. After playing to a 1-1 draw in
regulation and extra time, the latter
“The T&T lasses
prevailed 3-0 via the dreaded penalty
shoot-out route.
face a two-way play-off
The Trinidadians were at it again
when they confronted the Mexican
Women in third and fourth place playoff. Both teams were locked at 2-2 in
regulation time, but the Caribbean side
succumbed 4-2 during extra time.
against Ecuador
in a home and away series
next month..”
Mexico scored first in the 24th minute
when Sandra Stephany Mayor converted Veronica Corral’s
left-sided cross from 12-yards for her second goal of the
tournament.
7
However, the Mexicans equalized just a
minute later when Mayor sent a rightsided cross to an unmarked Monica
Ocampo, who headed home for a 2-2
tie.
Veronica Charlyn Corral was the hero
for Mexico as she netted twice to land
her team safely into the 2015 FIFA
Women’s World Cup (WWC). Mexico
join champions USA and secondplaced Costa Rica at the upcoming
tournament scheduled for next year in
Canada.
Cayman Islands’
Alfredo Whittaker
assumes FIFA post
F
ormer Cayman Islands FIFA referee Alfredo “Fredo”
Whittaker was recently appointed by FIFA as a member of
the World’s governing body Referees Committee. Whittaker
is currently the head of referees in the CONCACAF region, as
well as in the CFU.
Alfredo Whittaker
Whittaker took refereeing very seriously and did so well that at
age thirty-five he was on the FIFA list and doing exceptionally
well before his retirement fifteen years later. Members of the FIFA Referees Committee are mandated
to implement and interpret the Laws of the Game and may
propose amendments to the Laws of the Game to the FIFA
Executive Committee.
In reminiscing on one of the best games he ever officiated
during his tenure, Whittaker said: “One of the most memorable
games that I have done in my time was a game between
Jamaica and Peru which was played in Kingston, Jamaica.
This arm of the FIFA is also responsible for the appointment
of referees and assistant referees for matches in competitions
organized by the world governing body.
“The Coach was Carl Brown and the game ended 1-1. The
atmosphere was fantastic. The game was very challenging but
at the end both teams were pleased and the positive energy
that came from spectators and players that afternoon was
particularly captivating,” he recalled.
The CFU BEACON caught up with Whittaker and asked him
how he felt about his new appointment at this lofty level.
“I’m indeed humbled by this new appointment to the FIFA
Referees Committee,” he said. “I’m very proud and fully
prepared for the challenges that come with it.
Whittaker was also asked to describe what it was like to be at
the helm of the CIRA.
“While performing my duties at the highest standard, I intend
to display credibility, accountability and give reassurance to the
CONCACAF and the Caribbean Region that I will represent...,”
he added.
“It was very challenging at first as at that time refereeing in the
Cayman Islands was experiencing some drastic changes when
most, if not all, of the senior referees were retiring.
Whittaker, a former Cayman Islands Senior Men’s Team
goalkeeper and former president of the Cayman Islands
Referee Association (CIRA) for four years, started his football
career at age eight as a goalkeeper and retired at age thirtytwo.
“This was happening at a time when there was a significant
increase in the growth of competitions and additional clubs
in the horizon. CIRA found it virtually impossible to cope with
the increase in games and there were less referees to do these
games.
While playing for the Cayman Islands team, Whittaker also
played local league football for Scholars International FC and
the Cayman National Bank.
“However, we were able to resolve the situation with the
efforts of the now deceased Fred Spiers, the first Referee
Instructor for the Cayman Islands.
After his retirement he strutted his trade in midfield as an
attacking player for a short while and was encouraged to take
up refereeing.
“We launched a massive recruitment drive and trained new
football officials and with the help of sponsors, the Cayman
Islands Football Association’s (CIFA) executive members
extended the membership and became a respectable group of
referees to date,” he said.
Through the inspiration of referees Bernie Ulloa from Costa Rica
and William Humphrey from the Cayman Islands, Whittaker, at
the age of 32, took the bold step to begin officiating in the the
game he loved so well.
Whittaker added that the standard that refereeing in the
Cont’d page 9
8
Meanwhile, the BEACON also spoke to former referee Richard
Humphreys about Whittaker’s accomplishment.
Whittaker ... FIFA......contd
Cayman Islands has reached is not where he would like it to
be, but that it is a work in progress and they will eventually get
there.
“This is great news for Alfredo. We’re very proud of his
accomplishment throughout the years in refereeing,” said
Humphreys.
Regarding officiating in the CONCACAF and CFU regions,
Whittaker declared that having been at the head of referees
for both organizations for the past two years, the major
challenges faced are the levels of credibility of referees and
the organization of a proper development and monitoring
program, as well as the inability of Member Associations to
assist with the personal development of referees.
“Personally speaking, he has risen through the ranks as a
player and as a referee… I might have had some part to play in
his development, but without his commitment and dedication
to the understanding of the rules and the laws of the game it
would not be a reality,” he added.
“I just want to congratulate him on a well-deserved
appointment and to wish him all the best life has to offer him.
He said he received great support from his peers to improve
the programs he implemented, adding that they are excited
about his new ideas and approach to the development of
referees. “Thank you, Alfredo, for having me as your inspiration, and
I will always be there for you lending a helping hand for the
development of other referees like yourself,” Humphreys
gushed.
Sealey back as BFA boss;
James breaks new ground
A
nton Sealy begins his sixth term as President of the
Bahamas Football Association (BFA) after he was elected
unanimously at their Quadrennial Congress at the Super Clubs
Breezes, Cable Beach in Nassau, Bahamas.
His
executive
further
comprises
of
vice-presidents
Stanley Darville and
Bruce Le Fleur; and
newly-elected vicepresidents
Kevin
Davies, Antoine Dias
and Jason McDowall.
Anya James was elected to the position of Executive VicePresident. James is the first female in the history of the FA to
be elected to the Executive Committee of the BFA which was
founded forty-seven years ago.
An elated Sealey told the BEACON he was very humbled by
the expression of confidence in his leadership of the BFA by
the clubs.
Davies is the son of former president of the BFA, Roscow A L
Davies (1980-1991).
Sealey was first elected president of the BFA in 1996. He
played club football for Poinciana FC and later for United FC
and Cavalier FC, where he also served as coach.
“I’m especially pleased with the team of executives elected
along with me as they are all individuals who have been
involved in the development of football in the Bahamas for a
number of years, and in particular, youth football,” he said.
He was also head coach of the Bahamas National Men’s team
and the New Providence Football team.
“The election of Anya James to the position of Executive VicePresident represents a significant step forward for Bahamian
football as it is the first time in our history that a female will
serve on the executive committee.
Sealey has been chairman of the CFU Beach Soccer & Futsal
Committee since 2012. He is the Deputy Chairman of the
National Sports Authority and the Director of Insurance
Management (Bahamas) Ltd.
“James is a uniquely talented individual who brings her
business acumen to the association. I am excited to have her
as a part of the team, as we move Bahamian Football to the
next level,” Sealey added.
The BFA is an affiliate member of the CFU, the CONCACAF
and the FIFA.
9
British Virgin Islands
FA gets Goal
Project
N
o sooner had the British Virgin Island Football
Association (BVIFA) completed a successful monthlong celebration of its 40th Anniversary when it received
exciting news with the signing of a Development
Agreement for a Multi-Purpose Sporting Facility.
This was done by the Governor, his Excellency John S.
Duncan and Premier the Honorable Dr. D. Orlando Smith.
Andy Bickerton President of the BVIFA
The location of the Multi-Purpose Sporting Facility is in Long
Look East End and was made possible through a 25-year Lease
Agreement for the use of the property, making the realization
of the FIFA “Goal Project” a reality.
the tender process for the moving of the fill from the Upper
Greenland field and the leveling of the field. He noted that
once the site is cleared, then construction work could begin as
early as November.
The signing of the contracts, which took place at the end of
The scope of work under the Development Agreement
September, marks the formal commencement of the BVIFA’s
includes a regulation size football pitch complete with
collaboration with the world governing body for football,
associated facilities; a six-lane 400-metre grass track; netball
FIFA, the BVI Olympic Committee
and volleyball courts; a parking
and the Government of the BVI to
lot for some 200 cars and a 1,500
start working on the building of a new
capacity seat stadium.
“The scope of work
facility for the sport, as well as netball
courts, a running track and ancillaryThe project, once completed, will
under the Development
related amenities.
be available to local schools and
Agreement includes a
the community on a whole and will
regulation size football
An elated BVIFA head, Andy Bickerton,
also act as a kick-start for increased
said: “This enables us to formally
Football Sports Tourism, the hosting
pitch complete with
commence the Project and submit
of international type matches and
associated facilities;...”
the detailed architectural/engineering
the further development of hotels,
drawings to the next meeting of the
restaurants and entertainment in the
Town & Country Planning Department
East End area.
later this month.
The BVIFA’s participation in the Goal Programme was approved
“The Government will now commence clearing the site of the
by the Development Committee of FIFA at a meeting, chaired
existing buildings etc., including the East End sewage project
by FIFA Vice-President Issa Hayatou in the presence of the
sand/and related equipment being moved to a new location.”
chairman of the FIFA Audit and Compliance Committee,
Domenico Scala, in Zurich back in March 2014. This brings to
Bickerton said FIFA is expected to approve a contract with
668 the number of supported projects across 202 member
the Project Manager and that the BVIFA will then commence
associations since the programme’s inception in 1999.
10
For further information please contact the CFU General Secretariat,
Communications Department
The Towers - 10th Floor • 25 Dominica Drive, Kingston 5. Jamaica
Tel: +1(876) 754-4411 / 4657 • Fax: +1(876) 906-2973
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
11