WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS
Who might Whitecaps FC select in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft? – Whitecaps FC
Let the speculation begin. The 2016 MLS Player Combine is set to get underway on Thursday – one week ahead of the MLS SuperDraft. You know what that means: it’s mock draft season.
Rosters named for 2016 adidas MLS Player Combine in Ft. Lauderdale – Whitecaps FC
The sides have been picked for the upcoming 2016 adidas MLS Player Combine that will be held from Jan. 7-12 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Suns owner Robert Sarver, Steve Nash buy Spanish soccer club – SI.com
Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver and former NBA star Steve Nash have purchased a controlling share of Spanish second division soccer club Mallorca.
Jordan Morris to train with Werder Bremen amid making club decision – SI.com
The MLS-or-Germany story involving 21-year-old U.S. national team forward Jordan Morris has taken another turn. Morris is set to travel to Germany and spend time with Werder Bremen after he attends the Hermann Award trophy gala in St. Louis on Friday, SI.com has learned.
Sources: Dax McCarty signs new deal with Red Bulls – Goal
The New York Red Bulls have signed captain Dax McCarty to a new four-year contract, sources have confirmed to Goal USA’s Ives Galarcep.
Report: NYCFC, Flamengo competing for Teixiera’s signature – Empire of Soccer
New York City FC is continuing to court Standard Leige defender Jorge Teixiera, Voetballprimeur reports. Although Teixiera is considered a part of the team’s core and has publicly said he is happy with the Belgian club, Leige are prepared to look for a replacement in light of foreign interest.
Former MLS players Brad Friedel, Omid Namazi named US youth team head coaches – MLS
Two former MLS players have been named head coaches as the US national team continues to expand the youth level ranks. US Soccer on Monday announced that Brad Friedel has been appointed head coach of the Under-19 national team, and Omid Namazi is head coach of the U-18 national team.
Follow @bcsoccerweb on Twitter Today!
BC SOCCER NEWS
Complete results for the VISL Cup Draws – VISL
Cowichan FC will begin the defense of their Jackson Cup title against 2nd Division Powell River in February.
Kelowna keeper to stay at home with Heat – Kelowna Capital News
Keeper Nicholas Reitsma, out of Kelowna’s Aberdeen Hall Prep School, is the newest recruit to join the UBC Okanagan Heat men’s soccer program.
Abbotsford’s Spring, four others join UFV soccer – Abbotsford News
Five new recruits have signed on the dotted line with the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades women’s soccer team for 2016.
Kicking in for Kenya: Nelson Youth Soccer make big donation – Nelson Star
Soccer saved Kelvin Opiyo. Now he’s hoping it can save others as well. Opiyo, a recent Selkirk College graduate, travelled to Kenya in December with a hefty donation of equipment from Nelson Youth Soccer.
Game supports cancer research – Powell River Peak
Less-than-ideal weather conditions and a necessity to change format did not dampen the spirit of an annual event honouring a pioneer of Powell River soccer.
Send your Soccer News to BC Soccer Web! – BC Soccer Web
BC Soccer Web is the hub for soccer in British Columbia. We want to share your soccer news with the entire province, and you can help by letting us know! We want your match reports, club news, league standings, and info on upcoming tournaments and clinics. Whether you submit links to existing news on the web, or your own original writing, we want to share it with the soccer community in B.C.
CANADA vs. MEXICO, March 25, 2016 @ BC PLACE STADIUM. Buy Tickets Today!
CANADA SOCCER NEWS
Canadian officials appointed to 2016 FIFA List of Referees and Assistant Referees – CSA
Canada Soccer is proud to announce that 15 officials have been named to the 2016 FIFA List of Referees and Assistant Referees. The list features seven referees and eight assistant referees.
Post Sports’ People of 2015: Kadeisha Buchanan makes her mark on the world stage – National Post
In May 2014, after Kadeisha Buchanan scored her first goal with Canada’s national team and shut down legendary striker Abby Wambach in a friendly against the U.S., Canadian coach John Herdman made a bold proclamation.
Waterloo teen chasing soccer dream with Fulham FC – The Record
The English accent is slight, but it’s there. Two years of playing soccer with Fulham FC’s academy in southwest London is obviously beginning to rub off on Harrison Paton. “I love it here,” the Waterloo native said when reached by phone Friday.
BC Soccer Leagues & Clubs – Share your News With The BC Soccer Community!
BC Youth Soccer Player Development
(Editor’s Note: Welcome to our new section on BC Youth Soccer Player Development; a new resource designed to help youth coaches and players. Throughout the week, we’ll feature articles, drills and videos from the most noted professionals in the field of players development. If you have any articles or resources you enjoy, send them our way, and we’ll share them with the BC Soccer community.)
Johan Fallby-As many as possible, as long as possible, in the best environment possible – Footblogball
“I am often surprised when I compare child and youth environments and see the stress that occurs there, with the real elite environments of adult sport. I myself have been involved in preparations for European Championship and World Cup games in table tennis and soccer with both the senior and junior national teams and with club teams. Unfortunately there is way more stress evident in child and youth sport”
Interview with Dario Gradi: a coaching master – Youth Football Development
I thought I would start 2016 with is sharing some notes from an interview I had with a coaching legend, Dario Gradi. These are a few of the key quotes I took from this and my thoughts/interpretation of his views. Dario has a track record in player development, a rich history in coaching going back decades and is famous for being at the helm of a Crewe Alexandra group that consistently punched above their weight when producing top footballers.
BC Soccer Web Premium Classified Ads from only 50 cents per day!
NASL & USL NEWS
Eddies’ Dustin Corea Staying Busy During NASL Offseason – FC Edmonton
The Eddies plan to convene their preseason camp sometime in early to mid-February. Perhaps more pressing for Corea, 23, are El Salvador’s two World Cup qualifying matches, home and away against local rival Honduras, toward the end of March.
Q&A With NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson – NASL
NASL.com has selected an elite group of soccer and sporting personalities for wide-ranging Question & Answer features that will appear online throughout 2016. First up, Matthew Levine of NASL.com spoke with Commissioner Bill Peterson about the 2015 season and what lies ahead in the New Year.
Aztex, needing new home, cast eye toward suburbs – My Statesman
If Austin is to return to the USL in 2017, ownership must build a soccer-specific stadium next year or help finance a multipurpose venue with a developer. Either way, the American-Statesman has learned the stadium would probably be in a suburban location.
Miami FC inks former River Plate and Anorthosis Famagusta FC goalkeeper Mario Daniel Vega – Miami FC
Miami FC has announced today its second goalkeeper to join the roster for the inaugural season, Argentinian veteran – Mario Daniel “El Indio” Vega.
Former NASL Golden Boot Winner Brian Shriver Rejoins Carolina – NASL
The Carolina RailHawks have signed 28-year-old forward Brian Shriver for the 2016 NASL season. Shriver, a Florida native and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumnus, will look to bolster the RailHawks’ attack with his dangerous offensive skillset.
BC Soccer Web Premium Classified Ads from only 50 cents per day!
WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
HOUSTON DASH SIGN FORWARD CHIOMA UBOGAGU – NWSL
The Houston Dash have signed forward Chioma Ubogagu, pending receipt of her International Transfer Certificate (ITC), after acquiring her from Sky Blue FC on Nov. 25. Per club and league policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The Lowdown: The man to make Sky Blue viable? – The Equalizer
Herm Sorcher has worked at various levels of sports over the last two-plus decades. He was part of the top flight when he worked for the NHL’s Hartford Whalers, and he has worked at grassroots levels throughout minor league baseball and hockey. Now Sorcher is on board at Sky Blue FC as the club’s vice president of business development. The Freehold, N.J. native will be tasked with managing the overall business strategy for Sky Blue.
Sky Blues, Jets set for W-League’s biggest stage – Westfield W-League
There will be an extra edge to Saturday’s TV match as Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets take to the biggest stage of all for a Westfield W-League match – Sydney’s ANZ Stadium
Ireland Round-Up: Wexford turn on the style – Continental Tyres Women’s National League
Wexford Youths got the new year off to an emphatic start by overcoming Castlebar Celtic last Saturday night. The defending Continental Tyres Women’s National League champions surged to the top of the table as they aim to retain their League crown.
LAUREN MEEHAN: WOMEN COACHING SOCCER – Goal Nation
Lauren Meehan is a youth soccer coach with Rush Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She is the President/CEO of Female Coaches Advocacy, which promotes greater participation by women as soccer coaches in the United States. Meehan holds a B License, USSF National Youth License, and National Diploma. Meehan played Division 1 soccer for Northeastern University and was on the Bradenton Athletics W-League team.
Arsenal sign England ace Fara Williams from Liverpool – The FA
Williams, who helped the Reds win back-to-back titles in 2013 and 2014, is England’s most capped player of all time having clocked up 148 appearances for the Three Lions.
Gemma Fay joins Glasgow City from Celtic – BBC Sport
Scotland goalkeeper Gemma Fay has left Celtic to sign for Scottish champions Glasgow City. The 34-year-old captains the national side and is the record cap-holder with 188 appearances.
BC Soccer Web Premium Classified Ads from only 50 cents per day!
WORLD SOCCER NEWS
Zinedine Zidane back in Real Madrid spotlight after spell in the wings – The Guardian
Rarely will a coach begin a career amid such intrigue. If Gary Neville’s appointment at Valencia caused a stir, Zinedine Zidane’s at Real Madrid is a seismic, if not entirely unexpected, development.
The challenges Zinedine Zidane faces as Real Madrid manager – ESPN FC
So, the same fax machine which failed to alert Real Madrid that they were using an ineligible player in the Copa del Rey against Cadiz, has also failed to deliver my warning letter of a couple of weeks ago to Zinedine Zidane. In that, I predicted that Madrid president Florentino Perez was about to offer him Rafa Benitez’s job as manager — and warned “Zizou” not to take it.
Pep Guardiola: ‘I need a new challenge, and I want to be a manager in England’ – The Guardian
Pep Guardiola has alerted Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea to his availability by confirming he is leaving Bayern Munich in the close season so he can manage in the Premier League.
Victory against Chievo imperative for Roma’s title hopes – ESPN FC
In Italian folklore, the Befana is an old woman who gives children gifts on Epiphany Eve, or Jan. 5, much like Father Christmas. Also like Saint Nick, the Befana gives those gifts to good children, reserving a lump of black coal for those naughty kids who didn’t do what they were told. It’s safe to say that if they could, Roma fans would be dumping a lorry’s worth of coal outside coach Rudi Garcia and his players’ houses on Tuesday night.
Kevin-Prince Boateng rejoins Milan until end of season – The Guardian
Milan have re-signed their former midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng on a six-month contract until the end of the season.
FIFA investigator recommends 9-year ban for Valcke – Sportsnet
The FIFA ethics committee’s lead investigator, Cornel Borbely, recommended the ban for Jerome Valcke on Tuesday after concluding his inquiry. In his final report, Borbely also asked that Valcke be fined 100,000 Swiss francs ($100,000) and that his 90-day suspension be extended for another 45 days.
Leicester signs F Gray to open transfer window – TSN
Leicester became the first title challenger in the Premier League to make a move in the transfer market, signing winger Demarai Gray on Monday from second-tier English club Birmingham.
Premier League title is Arsenal’s to win or lose – Sportsnet
And so it is that halfway through the current season, sitting two points clear of Leicester City and three points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, Arsenal could still lose the league title to the richer of those two without messing up.
Rosters Released for Copa America Centenario 2016 Play-In Matches – CONCACAF
The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) released today the official rosters for the four Participating Member Associations — Cuba, Haiti, Panama and Trinidad & Tobago — set to compete in the upcoming Copa America Centenario Play-in matches, January 8 at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez, in Panama City, Panama.
The 2016 Clausura goals of Liga MX teams – ESPN FC
From the champions, Tigres, to Dorados, who currently prop up Mexican soccer’s relegation table, the 18 teams in the Liga Bancomer MX each face their own challenges in the 2016 Clausura.
New frontier? Daily Fantasy gaming facing muddled future as NY ruling awaited – Inside World Football
The daily fantasy sports (DFS) business that has taken the US fantasy gaming market by storm and is preparing for entries into the European football market, is facing a defining moment this week in the New York courts as to whether it will be allowed to continue.
Reflections on the reserve goalkeeper – FIFA
The feeling of sitting on the bench must be an odd one for any professional footballer. But on the majority of substitute benches there sits an infinitely more curious player. The reserve goalkeeper. Only a tiny percentage will be called into action during a game, in the case of injury or red card for the No1, and in a vast number of cases they know they are destined to warm the bench for most of the campaign. So, what is it like to be the No2?