BC Soccer News, Monday, December 14, 2015

WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS

WFC2 fullback Kadin Chung named 2015 Canadian U-17 Player of the YearWhitecaps FC
The 17-year-old Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency and WFC2 fullback earned the honour after a year in which he made his professional debut with WFC2 (see clip below) and impressed at the Residency and international levels.

Caps’ wealth of goalkeeper riches costs them Callum IrvingThe Province
The highest-rated Canadian in January’s MLS draft will be a goalkeeper from Vancouver who came through the Whitecaps youth program and was, until recently, still part of the club. Callum Irving, a senior for the University of Kentucky Wildcats, was a surprising name this week as MLS listed its 59 invitees for the player combine in Florida.

Robinson’s growing reputation an issue Whitecaps must address Red Nation Online
Carl Robinson is under contract with the Whitecaps for two more years. Could he be tempted to depart Vancouver for a green grass pitch in the Premier League or Sky Bet Championship? Yes, of course he could.

Is Russell Teibert’s time up in Vancouver? AFTN
With reports this week from the Vancouver Province’s Marc Weber suggesting that Vancouver Whitecaps defensive midfielder Gershon Koffie could be sold this offseason to a team in Europe, it’s left a lot of people asking who would replace Koffie in the ‘Caps starting XI.

Montreal Impact re-sign Hassoun Camara, Vancouver Whitecaps sign Pa Modou Kah to one-year extensionMLS
Two veteran defenders were re-signed Friday by their 2015 clubs. The Montreal Impact announced that they have come to terms on a new deal with Hassoun Camara, while the Vancouver Whitecaps announced they had signed Pa Modou Kah to a one-year extension.

Three priorities for the Impact’s offseasonGoal
Montreal is coming off a thrilling end to the 2015 campaign, but there is work to be done to extend that form into next year, writes Nick Sabetti.

MLS Combine to be held across three islandsAntigua Observer
The third consecutive MLS sponsored Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Combine will be held across three countries instead of one central venue as in previous years. It will begin in St Kitts from December 13-16, while the other venues are Curacao (December 17-20), and Martinique (January 1-4).

FC Dallas select Maximiliano Urruti with No. 1 pick in Re-Entry Draft MLS
The Portland Timbers striker was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in Stage 1 of the Re-Entry Draft. Urruti joined Toronto FC in 2013 before being traded to Portland shortly after.

Portland sells Jorge Villafana to Santos LagunaGoal
The Portland Timbers announced the sale of left back Jorge Villafana to Liga MX side Santos Laguna. Villafana, 26, moves to Mexico after a stellar postseason for the MLS Cup champions. The Torreon-based club paid a reported fee of around $1 million.

2016 MLS Trade TrackerMLS
There are 12 different ways for your team to sign a new player, but one of the most frequently used is via trade – below is a list of all trades for the 2015 MLS season.

Jermaine Jones handed six-game banSoccer America
MLS suspended New England Revolution midfielder Jermaine Jones for the six games of the 2016 regular season and fined him an undisclosed amount for referee assault. The suspension would rule Jones, out of contract with the Revs, out of the USA’s two March World Cup 2018 qualifiers against Guatemala if he remains in MLS.

MLS looks inevitable for SacramentoSacramento Bee
The possible became probable and the probable now appears to have evolved into a foregone conclusion. Before you know it, and hopefully before the rest of the polar ice caps melt, we’ll have big-league soccer in Sacramento.

Fire Academy Director Sunderland leaving the ClubChicago Now
The Chicago Fire Academy has been one of club’s biggest positives over the last several years. While the first team has foundered, the Academy has been able to find success on the field. The Homegrown player pool has produced some talent with more prospects on the way and several in collegiate soccer. Fire Confidential has learned that Academy Director Larry Sunderland is set to leave the club to accept a similar position with the MLS Cup Champion Portland Timbers.

Philadelphia Union hope nearly completed training complex signals “new chapter”MLS
This spring, they’re slated to open a new, 16,000-square-foot, two-story complex. It will include, among other things, a 3000-square-foot weight room, a film room with stadium seating for 33 people, a physical therapy area and health center, a locker room, a players’ lounge, a café, and finally, offices and conference rooms for Stewart and the coaches that will overlook the training fields.

The chatter around goalline cameras in MLS TSN
With approval for David Beckham’s proposed downtown Miami stadium, the league expanding to a possible 28 clubs and an upgrade to the targeted allocation money treasure chest hogging the headlines following last Saturday’s Board of Governor’s meeting – almost completely lost was news that Major League Soccer was moving forward with its desire to become the first domestic league in world football to permit video technology.

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BC SOCCER NEWS

Highlanders bring PDL back to VictoriaTimes Colonist
After one season in the Pacific Coast Soccer League, the club is returning to the United Soccer League’s Premier Development League for 2016.

VISL Week 14 Results & Standings VISL
Week 14 results – the last set of games before Xmas, saw a huge upset as Gorge FC defeated the previously undefeated Cowichan 2-1 on Friday under the lights at Hampton Park.

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CANADA SOCCER NEWS

Petrasso, Fleming named 2015 Canadian U-20 Players of the YearCSA
Michael Petrasso and Jessie Fleming have been named 2015 Canadian U-20 Players of the Year. Canada’s two footballers won the honour from a vote shared by national team coaches (50%) as well as Canadian clubs and coaches (50%).

Chung, Faulknor named 2015 Canadian U-17 Players of the Year CSA
Kadin Chung and Kennedy Faulknor have been named 2015 Canadian U-17 Players of the Year. Canada’s two footballers won the honour from a vote shared by national team coaches (50%) as well as Canadian clubs and coaches (50%).

Christine Sinclair ties Mia Hamm on all-time goals listCBC
Canada’s Christine Sinclair pulled even with Mia Hamm for second place on women’s soccer’s all-time international goals list when she scored in the 85th minute of Sunday’s match against Trinidad and Tobago at the International Tournament of Natal in Brazil.

Canada’s 4-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago is one for the record books CSA
There was a lot of anticipation going into Sunday’s Women’s National team match against Trinidad and Tobago in Natal, but by the last whistle world records would be tied, Canadian records toppled, and first appearances had been made.

Canada wins CONCACAF silver in San Pedro Sula CSA
Canada won a silver medal at the 2015 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship, finishing runners up to USA after a narrow 0:1 defeat in the 13 December Final Match.

Canada’s women’s U20 fall to U.S. in finalTSN
It wasn’t the medal they were aiming for, but the Canadian women’s under-20 soccer team still achieved everything they set out for in Honduras.

Pickett’s penalty perfection: Canada qualifies for the Women’s U-20 WC the11.ca
Canada was perfect in the penalty shootout, triumphing 5-4 over Mexico in the semifinal’s of the CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship. As a semifinal winner, Canada booked its place in Papua New Guinea. Playing in the final is gravy.

Buchanan Named Hermann Trophy Finalist Big 12 Sports
West Virginia University women’s soccer junior defender Kadeisha Buchanan (Brampton, Ontario) is one of three finalists for the 2015 Missouri Athletic Club’s (MAC) Hermann Trophy. The award represents the highest level of individual achievement in women’s soccer.

Lou Marsh choice is as difficult as everToronto Star
The final choice is either applauded or negatively critiqued, with the assumption of many being that the decision should have been obvious. Take my word for it; figuring out the winner of the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s athlete of the year is almost never obvious.

Lifting Lansdowne’s veil: Lawsuits tell story of escalating costs, unpaid bills, business failureOttawa Citizen
The firm that built the signature wooden ‘veil’ on TD Place stadium went bankrupt. Other contractors are suing for millions. James Bagnall reveals the legal scars left by Lansdowne Park’s facelift.

Scotiabank comfortable with CONCACAF progress but reserves right to end tiesReuters
Canada’s Bank of Nova Scotia is comfortable with progress CONCACAF has made after pushing the regional soccer body to make several changes but reserves the right to pull its sponsorship if it does not see complete transparency, a source familiar with the company’s thinking said on Friday.

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WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS

U.S. women: Competition for roster spots heats upSoccer America
The USA improved to 7-0-1 on its post-Women’s World Cup Victory Tour with a 2-0 win over China in front of 19,066 fans at University of Phoenix Stadium, a record crowd to watch a women’s game in Arizona. Crystal Dunn and Christen Press scored as they underscored the competition for spots on next year’s team that is expected to seek to defend its Olympic title in Rio de Janeiro.

USA qualifies for U-20 WWC and takes Concacaf crownSoccer America
The USA kept intact its streak of qualifying for every U-20 Women’s World Cup since the biennial tournament’s launch in 2002 thanks to a 7-0 win on Friday over host Honduras in the semifinals of the 2015 Concacaf U-20 Women’s Championship, which the USA won on Sunday with a 1-0 victory over Canada.

Mexico complete PNG line-upFIFA
Mexico will be CONCACAF’s third and final representative at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup next year in Papua New Guinea after winning their play-off against Honduras on Sunday.

Westfield W-League Round 9 Review Westfield W-League
Leaders Melbourne City made it eight wins from eight starts, but they were made to work overtime in collecting a 1-0 win at Newcastle Jets in front of over 3,000 fans on Sunday.

Nicola Hobbs Signs New Deal – The Footy Site
Doncaster Rovers Belles will be in safe hands next season – after No1 shot-stopper Nicola Hobbs extended her stay with the club.

Brighton & Hove Albion cruise to Plymouth Argyle victoryThe FA
Brighton & Hove Albion notched their 12th win of the season as they saw off Plymouth Argyle 3-0 in the Southern Premier League.

FIFPro announces plans for women’s world XI The Equalizer
FIFPro, world soccer’s players union, unveiled plans Saturday for a world best XI for women’s players. FIFPro says it has collected votes from several hundred players worldwide and the results will be made public at the end of January.

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NASL & USL NEWS

From the eye of a storm: Deklan Wynne looks to move forward from a whirlwind 2015Whitecaps FC
One minute, you’re performing in front of 25,000 delirious fans, then you’re in the eye of an international controversy the next. That’s just part of a whirlwind 2015 for Deklan Wynne, one of 13 core players coming back to Whitecaps FC 2 next year.

NASL Ticker: Heinemann signs with Rowdies, Minnesota United adds PinhoSBI
After a 2015 NASL season that saw him score a brace in the NASL final, Tom Heinemann will move from the Ottawa Fury to the Tampa Bay Rowdies on a two-year contract.

FC Edmonton headed to Scotland for 2016 preseason FC Edmonton
FC Edmonton is heading to Scotland. The North American Soccer League (NASL) team has announced plans for an immersive, 14-day, four-match preseason trip, Mar. 10-23, 2016.  The Eddies will face Scottish clubs Partick Thistle, Airdrie, Queens Park FC as well as England’s Newcastle United U-21 squad.

Canada high for diamonds Airdrieonians FC
Airdrieonians FC are delighted to announce that we will face Canadian NASL side FC Edmonton in a glamour friendly at the Excelsior Stadium on Tuesday March 15 next year.

FCE to head to Scotland; here’s why it makes perfect cents (sense)the11.ca
FC Edmonton coach Colin Miller enjoyed a long and productive playing career in Scotland. So, maybe, it’s not a big surprise that FCE announced that it will spend two weeks of its preseason training in Scotland. The team will be across the Atlantic from March 10th till the 23rd, and will play Partick Thistle, Airdrie (former club of ex-Eddie David Proctor) and Queens Park FC. They’ll also get a game in against the U-21 side of English Premier League side, Newcastle United.

HOK, USL Excited for Partnership’s Future USL
The USL announced its partnership with HOK in May this year, with the goal of placing all of the league’s current and future clubs in soccer-specific stadiums by the end of the year. After a productive seminar on Wednesday at the USL Winter Summit, USL President Jake Edwards reiterated his happiness at the deal struck by the league with the world-class architecture firm.

New City Islanders president: Stadium remains a priority; affiliation can waitPennLive
Roy Mehl assumed the role of City Islanders president Dec. 7 with two significant questions looming over the USL franchise: Will the team build a new stadium and will it find an MLS organization to partner with?

TFC2 make off-season moves 24th Minute
Toronto FC II made a few roster moves yesterday. Since the moves happened as most were focused on MLS’ new Targeted Allocation Money rules, which were released at the same time, it slipped the notice of most.

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WORLD SOCCER NEWS

Chelsea matched with PSG, Arsenal draws Barca in UCL drawSBI
The UEFA Champions League Round of 16 is always bound to provide one or two scintillating matches, but Monday’s draw provided several must-see games for the upcoming knockout stages.

Wenger, PSG and the Champions League draw winners and losersGoal
Arsenal and Chelsea have both been handed tough draws while Manchester City will be confident of a quarterfinal spot.

Group-by-group breakdown of Euro 2016TSN
TSN’s Kristian Jack takes a look at all six groups that were chosen in Saturday’s Euro 2016 draw.

Tigres beat Pumas 4-2 on penalties to win 2015 Liga MX Apertura finalsESPN FC
Israel Jimenez scored the winning penalty for Tigres to take the Liga MX Apertura 2015 championship on Sunday, after a final against Pumas that will go down as a classic.

Newcastle clears relegation zone, Spurs blow opportunity, more EPLSI.com
Newcastle’s problems and potential were illustrated at White Hart Lane on Sunday in a performance that was as starkly contrasting as black and white.

United heads to Denmark in Europa draw TSN
Dumped out of the Champions League, Manchester United’s next European match will be a trip to western Denmark. United was paired with Danish champion Midtjylland on Monday in the round of 32 of the Europa League.

Man United humiliated in 2-1 loss to Bournemouth as problems stack up for manager Van GaalCanada.com
First it was criticism of Manchester United’s playing style. Then came the team’s limp exit at the Champions League group stage. On Saturday, it was a loss to tiny Bournemouth in one of the Premier League’s biggest-ever mismatches.

Messi hungry to lift Club World Cup once moreGoal
Barcelona and Lionel Messi are hungry to add Club World Cup glory to their 2009 and 2011 successes in FIFA’s global club football showpiece.

Juventus feel the force to appease talk of crisis and re-enter Scudetto race The Guardian
Juve recorded their sixth consecutive Serie A victory with a win over Fiorentina on Sunday to leave the Bianconeri firmly in the mix for the title come new year.

Bulgarian champions could quit league BBC Sport
Bulgarian champions Ludogorets say they could quit the league after claiming that referees are favouring title rivals Levski Sofia.

Caf Awards: Yaya Toure in running for a fifth crownBBC Sport
The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has named the final three for its 2015 Player of the Year award.

CONCACAF Appoints Fmr Red Bulls Exec to Deputy General SecretaryEmpire of Soccer
A familiar name will be taking on a major role within CONCACAF. Former New York Red Bulls Director of Communication and current CONCACAF Director of Marketing and Communications Jurgen Mainka has been promoted to Deputy General Secretary of the region.

Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini expected to receive lengthy bans from footballThe Guardian
Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini are likely to escape lifetime bans for corruption but investigators expect the pair to receive lengthy suspensions of at least seven years when their hearings take place this week, according to insiders.

US prosecutors threaten to hit banks next in corruption scandal Inside World Football
US prosecutors have used a leak to the Financial Times newspaper to pile pressure on the banks, central to the FIFA corruption scandal, to provide more information of use to their corruption probe.

Harvard prof to craft FIFA human rights standardsSportsnet
FIFA has tasked a Harvard professor with formulating human rights requirements for World Cup hosts and commercial partners at the scandal-tarnished governing body.

China football revolution can be a financial game changer BBC
When Chinese investors recently decided to acquire a 13% stake in Manchester City’s parent firm, it put the country’s renewed interest in football firmly in the spotlight.

College Cup: US national team forward Jordan Morris scores two goals to lead Stanford to first NCAA national titleMLS
US national team forward Jordan Morris capped the best season of his stellar college career in fine fashion, bagging two goals – including the opener less than two minutes after the opening whistle – to lead Stanford to their first men’s soccer national title with a 4-0 victory over Clemson in the 2015 NCAA College Cup final Sunday afternoon at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas.

Unpaid Bolton players could opt to leave, says Neil LennonBBC Sport
Bolton manager Neil Lennon is worried that some players could choose to leave if they are not paid this month.

State of the Union : Report on youth soccer coaching in the USAProven Quality
Like it or not, soccer is widely considered to be a predominantly middle class sport in America. There is a simple explanation for this and it is to the detriment of soccer development: soccer in Louisiana (and the majority of the USA for that matter) at the youth level requires astronomical levels of dedication and deeply lined pockets.

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