BC Soccer News, Weekend, February 3-5, 2017

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS

MLS last holdout as NASL joins USL in treating Canadian and American players the same – The Province
The North American Soccer League has joined the United Soccer League in counting Canadian players as domestics south of the border, leaving Major League Soccer as the lone holdout.

Vancouver Whitecaps Conclude UK Preseason – Eighty-Six Forever
During their time in Major League Soccer, the Vancouver Whitecaps have began their season prep in sunny Arizona. This season, the team decided to shake it up a bit, taking the squad to Carl Robinson’s home of Wales, in hopes of facing competition that was in-form rather than against competition in a similar pre-season state as their own.

‘Caps hope to help ‘terrific talent’ Alphonso Davies take next step in 2017 – Whitecaps FC
A year ago, Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s preseason roster included a new name – 15-year-old Alphonso Davies. The ‘Caps Residency winger was a relative unknown, even among Vancouver supporters. But by the end of 2016, he was known throughout MLS and beyond.

Episode 174 – The AFTN Soccer Podcast (Goalkeepers Union with guests Stewart Kerr and David Ousted) – AFTN
We’re back for one final show from Wales as Vancouver Whitecaps wrap up their first of two preseason camps.

Vancouver Whitecaps: Five milestones to consider – Soccer Shorts
I’m a firm believer in the philosophy that if life gives you lemons then you take those lemons and throw them really hard at somebody else until they at least feel even worse than you do. So with that in mind let’s throw five lemons at the MLS schedule and see if we can’t bruise at least a few of those dates into submission.

Atlanta United add Venezuelan international Josef Martinez as third DP – MLS
Atlanta United have finally filled their third Designated Player slot, and they have done so by signing yet another young and talented player from South America.

PODCAST: Radio Cascadia Ep. 97 – Blanco, Reyna & Svensson – Prost Amerika
Preseason soccer is back in Cascadia! As two of our clubs hit the field in Arizona (and the third in far-off Wales), RC Ep. 97 has all of latest news on rosters, transactions and matches across the region.

Portland Timbers acquire Lawrence Olum from Sporting Kansas City – Oregonian
The Portland Timbers have acquired midfielder/defender Lawrence Olum from Sporting Kansas City in exchange for $50,000 in General Allocation Money and the Timbers natural first-round pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft.

San Jose Earthquakes add Albanian international Jahmir Hyka to midfield – MLS
It’s been a busy couple of days for the San Jose Earthquakes with Albanian international Jahmir Hyka joining the club on Friday after Danny Hoesen and Florian Jungwirth signing on Thursday.

New York City FC score nine in preseason debut vs. Jacksonville U. – Empire of Soccer
New York City FC started its preseason with a flourish Thursday night scoring nine in a scrimmage against Jacksonville University.

PODCAST: TFC Talk: Bob de Klerk on TFC & The Canadian Soccer System – Waking the Red
On this week’s TFC Talk, Steve Gennaro talks to former member of the Toronto FC coaching staff Bob de Klerk. The pair discuss de Klerk’s time with Toronto FC, as part of the Aron Winter era, and what went wrong and right about that particular part of the club’s history. He also touches on TFC Academy, with which he was heavily involved, and the development he has seen it make over the years.

Energy around new markets leaves MLS’ old guard playing catch up – Four Four Two
Attendance and marketing standards are being set by MLS’ newest teams. How do the league’s oldest teams change the message around their clubs?

Why Are So Many MLS Clubs Signing Costa Ricans? – American Soccer Now
Five Major League Soccer clubs have signed Costa Rican players so far this offseason, prompting Jonathan Sigal to explore why so many players from this Central American country are heading north.

MLS Fantasy is back! Easier to play, great prizes at stake  – MLS
MLS Fantasy is back! We’re excited to unveil this year’s game, which includes some pretty big changes from previous iterations.

From the Pigeon Loft: Political – AFTN
My experience in Turkey showed me the power in football supporters getting organized for social good. I personally don’t have a problem making statements that are in line with FIFA and Whitecaps policy – Refugees Welcome, for example – or pointing out ways in which opposing team’s supporters might become better citizens of the world, by waving Pride flags on goal kicks when playing Mexico.

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BC SOCCER NEWS

VISL – Upcoming Games & Game Of The Week – VISL
Here is what the VISL has on tap for the upcoming weekend in Division 1 League play.

BC Soccer Assoc. High Performance Match Schedule – BCSA
Continuing from the successful High-Performance matchups in 2015/16 BC Soccer is happy to announce the schedule for the High-Performance Program and BCSPL matches with Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency and Girls Elite Rex Program teams. These matches were introduced in 2015 but will now become consistent additions to the BCSPL schedule as they provide players with further opportunities to be identified by professional clubs, universities, colleges, and national team programs.

BCSPL releases 2017 schedule information and season outline – BC Soccer Web
The EA SPORTS BC Soccer Premier League begins its 6th full season of play on the February 25th weekend.

Soccer Quest become part of BC Soccer – BC Soccer Web
Soccer Quest are pleased to announce their associate membership with BC Soccer. The membership process was started back in July 2016 and approved by the B.C. Soccer Association board in January 2017. This membership now allows Soccer Quest to enter B.C. Soccer sanctioned events and tournaments.

Five dynamic athletes join the fold in Clan’s 2017 recruits – SFU
The next group of SFU Clan women’s soccer players were unveiled on Wednesday morning, as head coach Annie Hamel announced the signing of five players to National Letters of Intent ahead of the 2017 NCAA season.

Former Excelsior Academy Player Bjorn Borren off to SFU! – Pinnacles FC
Bjorn who was part of our Academy from U13-U16 and part of last year’s PCSL Pinnacle Men’s team is a prime example that with hard work, passion and desire, local players from the South Okanagan can reach the highest level of varsity soccer in the country, SFU which plays in the Div 2 NCAA is known for attracting some of the best talent the province has.

FVSL All-Stars to face WFC2 in March – BC Soccer Web
January snow and ice in the Lower Mainland put the brakes on the annual clash between the Fraser Valley Soccer League All-Stars and the best from the VISL this year. That hasn’t stopped the FVSL from planning an ambitious All-Star series in March.

BC Soccer Assoc. is Now Accepting 2016-2017 Awards Nominations – BCSA
We are pleased to inform everyone that BC soccer Assoc. is currently accepting Awards nominations until the submission deadline date of March 31, 2017. Selection of the award recipients is based on many factors including the individual’s commitment, community involvement and willingness to give back to the game. This year any BC Soccer Assoc. member and their affiliate clubs may submit a nomination.

2017 BC Soccer Assoc. is accepting candidates for its Board of Directors – BCSA
BC Soccer Assoc. is accepting candidates for its Board of Directors for terms commencing June, 2017 (following the BC Soccer Annual General Meeting).

Victoria Highlanders 2017 Season Passes now on sale – Highlanders FC
Support local soccer on Vancouver Island. Join the excitement of Highlanders FC PDL Soccer!

PHOTOS: CANADA WEST WOMENS FINAL, UBC 3, TWU 0, NOVEMBER 6, 2016 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.

VMSL PHOTOS: Richmond FC Hibs 1, ICSF Columbus FC 0, November 5, 2016 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.

Tickets now on sale for Canada Soccer Women’s National Team celebration match 4 February in Vancouver – CSA
Individual tickets to the Canada v Mexico Women’s National Team Bronze Medal celebration match on 4 February 2017 in Vancouver are now on sale to the public. Complete ticket information can be found at CanadaSoccer.com/Tickets.

MWSL PHOTOS: Van United Primas 0, Fraser Valley Action 2, October 30, 2016 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.

PHOTOS: GNAC Women’s Soccer: SFU 1 Concordia U. (Ore.) 0, October 20, 2016 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.

BC Soccer Assoc. Delivery of Coach Mandate – BCSA
IMPORTANT:  If you are coaching in the ages U6-U12 you are required to complete the age appropriate course(s) even if you have a higher level of certification (ie. Soccer for Life, B pretest, C License, B License or A License). In order to enable our membership to deliver on the coaching mandate, BC Soccer Assoc. will be scheduling Learning Facilitator training sessions to assist organizations to have qualified individuals to deliver in-club coach certification courses to their coaches.

2016 BC Soccer Provincial Cup Photo Galleries – BC Soccer Web
Westhills Stadium & Goudy Park in Langford hosted the 2016 BC Soccer Adult Provincial Cup Finals. It was a thrilling weekend of soccer on Vancouver Island that saw seven champions crowned. Richmond FC & Surrey Pegasus qualified for the National Championships this Fall in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Both Coquitlam Metro-Ford Masters & Classics sides qualified for the Western Canadian Masters Championships in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In all, it was a clean sweep for teams from the VMSL & MWSL. Monique Lamoureux & Bill Currie from BC Soccer Web were on location that weekend, capturing the all the action.

Free Physiotherapy Clinical Trial for Achilles Pain at UBC – UBC Centre for Hip Health & Mobility
Do you have Achilles pain? Interested in free Physiotherapy? If yes, join our clinical trial to look at the effectiveness of intramuscular stimulation (IMS), a form of acupuncture therapy, in treating Achilles tendon pain.

The BC Soccer Web Guide to Empire Field – BC Soccer Web
Empire Fields and Plateau Sports Park is the lofty and formal name given to Vancouver’s newest addition to the soccer scene. Yet, anyone who’s ever kicked or carried both kinds of footballs around these parts knows the place by heart.

Introducing BC Soccer Web Syndication – BC Soccer Web
You can now add BC Soccer Web news to your website simply by adding our new RSS Feed! Find out more.

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.

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CANADA SOCCER NEWS

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Preview: Canada Soccer to Celebrate Bronze in Emotional Farewell Match – CSA
Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team will celebrate back-to-back bronze medals at Saturday’s match against Mexico, but they will also be celebrating teammates who have helped shape women’s soccer in Canada, while ushering in a new era for the sport.

A final curtain call of Canadian women’s soccer team vets – Sportsnet
For long-time national team forward Melissa Tancredi, the decision to retire from a long and rewarding soccer career was easy. The tough part was simply the timing.

Baie-D’Urfé’s Rhian Wilkinson seeks challenges as soccer career ends – Montreal Gazette
In the wake of winning bronze at the Rio Olympics, Rhian Wilkinson ran a marathon and crewed a yacht in the Mediterranean. After the 2015 Women’s World Cup, she walked part of the famed Camino de Santiago trail in Spain with her mother.

Schmidt loving Germany, savoring time with Canada – The Equalizer
There won’t be any chants of ‘Holy Schmidt’ when Canada takes on Mexico Saturday afternoon at B.C. Place Stadium. Sophie Schmidt is practicing with her teammates, but her availability on the weekend is unlikely.

16 League1 Women And Seven Men Made College Commitments For Signing Day 2017 – League1 Ontario
National Signing Day, a day that players ready to graduate from high school this spring sign their university/ college declarations, featured a minimum of 16 League1 women and seven men’s players in 2017.

Julian de Guzman Was a Trailblazer for Canadian Soccer – Vice Sports
How you’ll remember Julian de Guzman likely depends on what jersey you can see him wearing in your mind’s eye.

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NASL Announces Rule Change Regarding Canadian Players – NASL
The NASL announced a change to its roster rules on Thursday, stating that Canadian players will now be considered domestic on the rosters of American clubs.

Change has come: Canadians now domestics in NASL league-wide – the11.ca
If you’re a Canadian player and want to try and nab a spot on an American NASL team, you will no longer be considered an import.

Indy Adds Veteran Defender Kwame Watson-Siriboe – NASL
Indy Eleven has added another experienced member to its back line with today’s signing of veteran defender Kwame Watson-Siriboe. Per club policy, terms of the contract that brings the 30-year-old Watson-Siriboe to the Circle City will not be released.

San Antonio Adds Former Dynamo Defender Ibeagha – USL
San Antonio FC announced on Friday it had signed defender Sebastien Ibeagha for the upcoming 2017 USL season. The signing is pending league and federation approval.

Deltas Roster Progressing Nicely Ahead Of First Season – NASL
Coach Marc Dos Santos has infused the roster with plenty of experience and youthful talent.

NASL turns to Super Bowl executive Keith Bruce to help kickstart its future – The Telegraph
Keith Bruce has gone from the Super Bowl to the Soccer Bowl. The North American Soccer League has hired the veteran sports marketing executive – who was CEO of the  San Francisco Bay Area Super Bowl 50 Host Committee –  as its “executive transition consultant”.

W-League semi-finals: A season of surprises reaches the business end – Vavel
The top four teams in Australia this season battle it out over the weekend to determine who will be in the finals, and eventually, the new W-League Champion.

Thorns FC’s Hayley Raso, Celeste Boureille poised to help Canberra United in W-League playoffs – Timbers.com
For Portland Thorns FC midfielder Hayley Raso, it’s been a sweet return to her former club Canberra United FC.

Preview: Perth Glory v Sydney FC – W-League
These two clubs boast a rich history of competition and with a ticket to the Grand Final on offer this match-up in Perth is sure to be no different.

U.S. Women’s Team Restructures Union in Effort to Revive C.B.A. Talks – NY Times
In small-group conversations and team meetings, in phone calls and text messages, the members of the United States women’s national team came to a conclusion: If they were going to get the kind of collective bargaining agreement they wanted out of their stalled negotiations with U.S. Soccer, they would need to do more of the work themselves.

Klingenberg, Press, Sauerbrunn elected USWNTPA reps – The Equalizer
Megan Klingenberg, Christen Press, and Becky Sauerbrunn have been elected have been elected to serve as player representatives for the USWNT Players Association. The announcement was part of a broad restructuring of the organization’s leadership team amid negotiations with U.S. Soccer for a new collective bargaining agreement.

FA WSL: Can Arsenal Ladies get back to their best? – The Offside Rule
With a string of changes at Arsenal Ladies during the FA WSL off-season, Emily Magee discusses whether it can spur the Gunners back to the top of the women’s game.

Be Honest It’s the Woman Thing, Isn’t It? – Backline Soccer
If there’s one thing I’ve griped about regarding the NWSL over the past two years, it’s been the inability to watch games on my television instead of my laptop. Week after week as I sat down at my desk to watch, I bemoaned the fact that traditional sports stations could air drone racing, darts competitions, and, you won’t believe it unless you see it, hot dog eating contests, but not find a way to make room for five women’s soccer games a week.

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WORLD SOCCER NEWS

Chelsea need to pay “great attention” ahead of Arsenal clash, states Antonio Conte – Vavel
The Blues are riding high at the summit of the Premier League, with nine points separating them and closest rivals Tottenham Hotspur in second.

Arsenal only show up when they feel like it; will they be “ready” for Chelsea? – ESPN FC
To be perfectly honest, I don’t think I’m “mentally ready” to write this Chelsea-Arsenal preview. Yet only 72 hours ago, I was completely jacked up to make the case that Saturday’s game would be Arsenal’s season-defining match.

Premier League, Championship & Scottish Premiership match previews – BBC Sport
All the latest team news and stats for Saturday’s Premier League, Championship and Scottish Premiership fixtures.

Bundesliga Match Day 19 Preview – Prost Amerika
Transfer window deadline deals, player bans, and local derbies. That and more in the Bundesliga this weekend.

Calhanoglu ban ends his season and leaves Leverkusen’s Voeller fuming – Inside World Football
In a fascinating case that will be noted by all stakeholders in football’s transfer landscape, player power has lost out to contractual obligations after Bayer Leverkusen’s Turkish international midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu had a four-month ban upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport meaning he will miss the rest of the season.

FIFA rejects Bolivia appeal against World Cup match forfeits – ESPN FC
FIFA has rejected the Bolivian football federation’s appeal against forfeiting two World Cup qualifying matches for fielding an ineligible player.

Cameroon beat Ghana to earn place in Africa Cup of Nations final – The Guardian
Cameroon will face Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations final after a 2-0 win over Ghana.

2017 AFCON Final Preview: Egypt vs. Cameroon – BBC Sport
Egypt will attempt to win the fourth consecutive Africa Cup of Nations in which they have competed when they face Cameroon in Sunday’s final.

OM-Monaco headlines round of 16 – Ligue 1
The draw for the Coupe de France round of 16 has pitted resurgent Olympique de Marseille against high-flying Monaco while two-time holders Paris Saint-Germain travel to Ligue 2 outfit Niort.

Argentines play season opening Super Cup under cloud of financial uncertainty – Inside World Football
This weekend Lanus and River Plate will play in the Argentine Super Cup, but the start of the domestic season has been overshadowed by financial turmoil in the country that is ranked number one in the world by FIFA.

An evolved, in-need U.S. men’s national team returns to Bruce’s unchanged arena – SI.com
Bruce Arena guided the U.S. men’s national team to unparalleled success, and now he’s back as a Band-Aid to help the Americans qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Sydney FC undefeated from 18 A-League starts after Brisbane draw – The Guardian
They might have failed to break their Suncorp Stadium drought but Sydney FC still have history in their sights after their lively 0-0 A-League draw with Brisbane. The Sky Blues’ frustrating run continued in Brisbane – where they have not won since October 2014 – after a fiery, yet scoreless Friday night clash in front of 13,095 fans.

FIFA closes match-fixing detection division, outsources work – Sportsnet
The investigations that FIFA’s Early Warning System had been carrying out for a decade will now be run by data services company Sportradar.

MPs to consider vote of no confidence in ‘outdated’ FA – The Guardian
MPs will next week debate a vote of no confidence in the Football Association, amid growing calls for reform of its outdated structure.

Trump immigration ban runs counterintuitive to global sports world – Orlando Sentinel
Los Angeles Lakers forward Luol Deng and Milwaukee Bucks center Thon Maker, both from South Sudan, may be affected by the ban. The Olympic bid by Los Angeles is now in peril. Prominent athletes — from Michael Bradley to Dale Earnhardt Jr. — have spoken out, supporting our nation of immigrants. You can’t stick your head in a Gatorade bucket and pretend everything is hunky-dory. So please understand this: Athletes, coaches, and sports leaders are people, too.