OCTOBER 2014, VOLUME 2, ISSUE 10, CARIBBEAN FOOTBALL UNION NEWSLETTER

2 Haiti cop 2014 CFU Under-17 Championship

3 CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup comes to Montego Bay

4 CFU Men’s Cup Fixtures

5 CONCACAF U-20 Championship kicks off January 9 in Jamaica

6 17 CFU refs attend CONCACAF Symposium

7 Soca Princesses still on 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

ARTICLES

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Caribbean 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.

“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.

“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.

Pro soccer league needed for Caribbean

Gordon Derrick

2

Haiti cops 2014 CFU Under-17 Championship

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).

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.

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.

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);

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Jamaica was placed second

Cuba was placed third

Haiti CFU U-17 champs

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3

The 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

The fifth-place team will compete in a home-and-away play-off series against a fifth-place team from the Unión Centro Americana de Fútbol (UNCAF), with the winner advancing to the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

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.

Haiti Champs......contd

Fixtures Next page

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2014 CFU MEN’S CARIBBEAN CUP MATCH FIXTURES

CFU MEN’S CARIBBEAN CUP FINAL ROUND GROUP STAGE POOL A

MATCH DAY Match No. TEAM A TEAM B Time Score VENUE

November 11 1 Curacao Trinidad & Tobago 5:30PM

MONTEGO BAY SPORTS COMPLEX

JAMAICA

2 Cuba French Guiana 8:00PM

5 Trinidad & Tobago French Guiana 5:30PM

6 Curacao Cuba 8:00PM

9 French Guiana Curacao 5:30PM

10 Cuba Trinidad & Tobago 8:00PM

C F U MEN’S CARIBBEAN CUP FINAL ROUND GROUP STAGE POOL B

MATCH DAY Match No. TEAM A TEAM B Time Score VENUE

3 Haiti Antigua & Barbuda 5:30PM

MONTEGO BAY SPORTS COMPLEX

JAMAICA

4 Jamaica Martinique 8:00PM

7 Martinique Haiti 5:30PM

8 Jamaica Antigua & Barbuda 8:00PM

11 Antigua & Barbuda Martinique 5:30PM

12 Jamaica Haiti 8:00PM

C F U MEN’S CARIBBEAN CUP FINAL ROUND 3RD PLACE & FINALS

MATCH DAY Match No. TEAM A TEAM B Time Score VENUE

1 Runner-Up Pool A Runner-Up Pool B 5:00PM MONTEGO BAY SPORTS COMPLEX

JAMAICA 2 Winner Pool A Winner Pool B 8:00PM

November 13

November 15

November 12

November 14

November 16

November 18

November 18

5

The 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.

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).

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.

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.

CONCACAF U-20 Championship kicks off January 9 in Jamaica

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.

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.

Jeffrey Webb President of CONCACAF

“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

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Seventeen 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

17 CFU refs attend CONCACAF Symposium

“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.”

17 Referees from the CFU were at the CONCACAF Symposium

7

Despite 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.

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.

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 prevailed 3-0 via the dreaded penalty shoot-out route.

The Trinidadians were at it again when they confronted the Mexican Women in third and fourth place play-off. Both teams were locked at 2-2 in regulation time, but the Caribbean side succumbed 4-2 during extra time.

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.

Soca Princesses still on track for 2015 World Cup

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 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.

However, the Mexicans equalized just a minute later when Mayor sent a right-sided 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 second-placed Costa Rica at the upcoming tournament scheduled for next year in Canada.

“The T&T lasses face a two-way play-off

against Ecuador in a home and away series

next month..”

Trinidad Women Senior in USA

8

Former 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.

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.

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 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.

“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.

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 thirty-two.

While playing for the Cayman Islands team, Whittaker also played local league football for Scholars International FC and the Cayman National Bank.

After his retirement he strutted his trade in midfield as an attacking player for a short while and was encouraged to take up refereeing.

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 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.

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.

“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.

Whittaker was also asked to describe what it was like to be at the helm of the CIRA.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

Whittaker added that the standard that refereeing in the

Cayman Islands’ Alfredo Whittaker assumes FIFA post

Alfredo Whittaker

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Anton 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.

Anya James was elected to the position of Executive Vice-President. 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.

“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.

“The election of Anya James to the position of Executive Vice-President 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.

“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.

Sealey back as BFA boss; James breaks new ground

His executive further comprises of vice-presidents Stanley Darville and Bruce Le Fleur; and newly-elected vice-presidents Kevin Davies, Antoine Dias and Jason McDowall.

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.

He was also head coach of the Bahamas National Men’s team and the New Providence Football team.

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.

The BFA is an affiliate member of the CFU, the CONCACAF and the FIFA.

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.

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.

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.

Meanwhile, the BEACON also spoke to former referee Richard Humphreys about Whittaker’s accomplishment.

“This is great news for Alfredo. We’re very proud of his accomplishment throughout the years in refereeing,” said Humphreys.

“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.

“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.

Whittaker ... FIFA......contd

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No sooner had the British Virgin Island Football Association (BVIFA) completed a successful month-

long 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.

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 signing of the contracts, which took place at the end of September, marks the formal commencement of the BVIFA’s collaboration with the world governing body for football, FIFA, the BVI Olympic Committee and the Government of the BVI to start working on the building of a new facility for the sport, as well as netball courts, a running track and ancillary-related amenities.

An elated BVIFA head, Andy Bickerton, said: “This enables us to formally commence the Project and submit the detailed architectural/engineering drawings to the next meeting of the Town & Country Planning Department later this month.

“The Government will now commence clearing the site of the existing buildings etc., including the East End sewage project sand/and related equipment being moved to a new location.”

Bickerton said FIFA is expected to approve a contract with the Project Manager and that the BVIFA will then commence

British Virgin Islands FA gets Goal Project

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 scope of work under the Development Agreement includes a regulation size football pitch complete with associated facilities; a six-lane 400-metre grass track; netball

and volleyball courts; a parking lot for some 200 cars and a 1,500 capacity seat stadium.

The project, once completed, will be available to local schools and the community on a whole and will also act as a kick-start for increased Football Sports Tourism, the hosting of international type matches and the further development of hotels, restaurants and entertainment in the East End area.

The BVIFA’s participation in the Goal Programme was approved by the Development Committee of FIFA at a meeting, chaired by FIFA Vice-President Issa Hayatou in the presence of the chairman of the FIFA Audit and Compliance Committee, Domenico Scala, in Zurich back in March 2014. This brings to 668 the number of supported projects across 202 member associations since the programme’s inception in 1999.

“The scope of work under the Development

Agreement includes a regulation size football

pitch complete with associated facilities;...”

Andy Bickerton President of the BVIFA

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For further information please contact the CFU General Secretariat, Communications DepartmentThe Towers - 10th Floor • 25 Dominica Drive, Kingston 5. JamaicaTel: +1(876) 754-4411 / 4657 • Fax: +1(876) 906-2973Email: media@cfufootball.org, info@cfufootball.org