BC Soccer News, Weekend, January 27-29, 2017

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Cardiff City FC – Whitecaps FC
A “mix and match” Vancouver Whitecaps FC side fell 1-0 to Cardiff City FC’s U-23s on Friday morning in their first preseason match of 2017.

Vancouver Whitecaps Kickoff Preseason – Eighty-Six Forever
After playing Cardiff City FC on Friday, the Whitecaps will travel to Newport, Wales, to play Oxford United FC on Monday (game time is 5:00 am Vancouver time). They will conclude their European trip Thursday, February 2nd against Bristol City FC (game time TBD).

Toronto FC star Sebastian Giovinco will listen to offers from China, says agent – SN
Toronto FC forward Sebastian Giovinco has received “big money” offers from two Chinese Super League clubs, according to his agent.

Molino And McLain Make Move To MNUFC – Minnesota United
Minnesota United announced that it has acquired midfielder Kevin Molino and goalkeeper Patrick McLain from Orlando City SC in a trade for $450,000 General Allocation Money and $200,000 Targeted Allocation Money. Molino was among Orlando’s biggest offensive threats, while McLain is a goalkeeper with an extensive USL and MLS resume.

Sebastian Blanco is reportedly joining the Portland Timbers – Oregonian
Multiple news outlets from Argentina reported Thursday night that the Timbers had acquired Blanco from Argentine club San Lorenzo for $5 million.

Atlanta MLS club lands 19-year-old defender from Tottenham – NBC Sports
Atlanta United has acquired center back Anton Walkes on loan from Tottenham of the English Premier League.

Report: Soldier Field to host 2017 MLS All-Star Game – SBI
According to Chicago Business, the 2017 edition of the game will be played at Soldier Field in Chicago on August 2. The report claims an announcement will be made next week about the game, which has recently pitted the MLS All-Stars against a team from Europe.

Sami Khedira off NYCFC’s radar but Vieira hopes to add 3rd DP – Empire of Soccer
Sami Khedira will not be New York City FC’s third Designated Player — though the team are working to start the season with three DPs, head coach Patrick Vieira said Thursday.

It’s Toronto FC boot camp for draft picks and trialists in early pre-season – Metro
With close to three dozen players on hand and more coming, Toronto FC has split into two in the early days of training camp.

Montréal Impact – A Week In Review: Where’s the Depth? – Mount Royal Soccer
The Montréal Impact finished the 2016 season on a bit of a downer, losing in dramatic fashion to hated archrivals TFC in the Eastern Conference Finals. Still, this dismay was quickly replaced with great optimism, as if a repeat of the successes in 2016 were already a fait accompli.

Charlotte’s MLS bid in limbo after City Council cancels stadium vote – MLS
Charlotte’s proposed plan for an MLS stadium is in limbo after the Charlotte City Council canceled a vote on its part of a deal to replace the city’s Memorial Stadium.

MLS Expansion: Mixed news in St. Louis and Charlotte – Soccer America
It didn’t take long for the on-again, off-again proposal for public funding of a St. Louis soccer stadium to be resuscitated. An hour after a proposal was voted down, a new, watered-down deal passed — barely — before the Ways and Means Committee. That doesn’t mean there’s clear sailing. The city’s aldermen still need to meet and agree to refer the plan to city voters for an April referendum.

MLS invites Phoenix group to make expansion application – ESPN FC
Phoenix is the latest city to enter the race for an MLS expansion team, joining a list of 10 other markets after the league invited the Arizona capital’s USL club to submit an application.

No Hiding Place: Trump’s values are not soccer’s values – Prost Amerika
MLS has observed a curious and embarrassing silence, where even the normally reserved Sunil Gulati spoke up in June before embarrassingly changing his view to the opposite within days of Trump’s election.

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BC SOCCER NEWS

Cadorette will bring her soccer skills to UNBC – My Prince George Now
Central defender Mikaela Cadorette of Richmond has committed to the UNBC Timberwolves women’s soccer team for the 2017 season.

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

John Buchanan, coach & manager, passes away – CSA
John Buchanan, an honoured member of the Soccer Hall of Fame, has passed away at age 77. Buchanan was a former coach and general manager with Canada Soccer in the late 1970s and early 1980s, notably Canada’s assistant coach at the Montréal 1976 Men’s Olympic Football Tournament.

2017 League1 Ontario Team Trials / Tryouts – League1 Ontario
Trials/ Tryouts Updated As Per Team Announcements.

Orlando Pride releases Saskatoon-born soccer player Kaylyn Kyle – CBC
On Wednesday, the National Women’s Soccer League team announced Kaylyn Kyle did not receive an international subsidy from Soccer Canada this year. As a result, the team passed on retaining her rights and made her available to be drafted by other teams.

London Sports Celebrity Dinner puts soccer star Shelina Zadorsky at head table – London Free Press
At a time when the word “whirlwind” would best describe the last two years of life for the 24-year-old Londoner, grabbing a spot at the head table for the 61st London Sports Celebrity Dinner and Auction on Feb. 13 is one more high-profile event Zadorsky is getting used to attending.

Why a former Olympian is starving himself to get Justin Trudeau’s attention – CBC
His hunger strike isn’t about money or fame, it’s about bringing attention to people with drug addictions and giving them the respect and dignity they deserve.

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Poised Irving Puts Underdog Status to Rest – USL
As Ottawa Fury FC goalkeeper Callum Irving stood alongside his Canada teammates at the Bermuda National Sports Centre, minutes before Sunday’s international exhibition and his full national team debut, hearing the playing of the national anthem definitely felt different than previous renditions.

USL Moves: SAFC lands FC Dallas youth star Vega – Soccer America
Another star in the FC Dallas academy program has turned pro, though it’s not with the MLS club. Devin Vega will play for his hometown San Antonio FC in the upcoming USL season.

S2 Defender Tolo Signs with Sounders – USL
Seattle Sounders FC announced on Thursday the signing of former Seattle Sounders FC 2 defender Nouhou Tolo ahead of the upcoming Major League Soccer season.

SF Deltas Preseason Schedule Set – Medium.com
The Deltas will take on Sacramento Republic FC on March 18 at Kezar Stadium in Golden Gate Park.

Reign FC sign 21 year-old Aussie forward Larissa Crummer – GoalWA
Seattle Reign FC announced today the signing of Australian international forward Larissa Crummer, pending receipt of her P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC). Per team and league policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Carlyn Baldwin chasing full-time soccer dream – The Equalizer
Former Tennessee Volunteer Carlyn Baldwin’s announcement on Monday that she had signed with BSC Young Boys in Switzerland was different though. Baldwin, a 20 year old from Northern Virginia, wasn’t even eligible to enter 2017 NWSL draft as she still had a year of college eligibility remaining. For Baldwin, the decision to forego her senior season at Tennessee centered around her development.

W-League set for feisty finale – Round 14 preview – W-League
All the squad news ahead of an exciting conclusion to the Westfield W-League regular season as Sydney FC eye the premiership, while Newcastle Jets and Melbourne City are hunting a the last ticket on offer to the semi-finals.

Heartbreak for Jets as City into finals – W-League
Melbourne City defeated Newcastle Jets 2-0 in Coffs Harbour to earn the fourth and final Westfield W-League finals ticket.

Women and the wage gap: A long road ahead for the WSL – Offside Rule
Alex Vryzakis discusses the wage gap and differing opportunities in WSL and Premier League, calling for more public interest to raise the stakes in the women’s game.

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WORLD SOCCER NEWS

Manchester United reaches Wembley, beats Hull in League Cup semifinals – Fox Sports
Manchester United gave Jose Mourinho the gift of Wembley on his 54th birthday, ousting Hull in the League Cup semifinals to reach the title game following a 3-2 aggregate triumph.

Barca stay on course for Copa hat-trick as Madrid miss out – SN
No mistake from Barcelona. After Real Madrid missed out on a place in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey following a 2-2 draw at Celta Vigo on Wednesday night, the Blaugrana stayed on course for a third straight title by thrashing Real Sociedad at Camp Nou on Thursday.

Ranieri admits Leicester chairman is unhappy – NBC Sports
This time last year Leicester City were battling away at the top of the Premier League table and would obviously end up winning the PL in one of the biggest shocks in sporting history.

Bob Lenarduzzi: Plenty of minnows left in FA Cup – The Province
The fourth round of the FA Cup is this weekend, and there are two non-league sides still in the competition, including Sutton United — the lowest-ranked team remaining — which hosts Championship side Leeds United on Sunday.

With Lincoln on the FA Cup trail: from 4.20am ticket queues to toilet trouble – The Guardian
Non-league Lincoln face Brighton in the fourth round having knocked out another Championship team, Ipswich. A day behind the scenes with management, players and fans uncovers a club and city with their buzz back

Title rivals meet in Paris – Ligue 1
Paris Saint-Germain and AS Monaco meet at the Parc des Princes on Sunday as reigning champions against league leaders in a game which could have a major bearing on the destination of the Ligue 1 title.

New stars shining in Gabon – FIFA
Most football fans would have heard of the likes of Riyad Mahrez, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Sadio Mane long before the start of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. But when the competition ends next week, some lesser-known names will have well and truly made their mark.

US Soccer needs to be honest about dual nationals in the Bruce Arena era – The Guardian
The US men’s soccer team has always employed stars born or brought up overseas – so why the sudden antipathy to such players?

Andrew Warshaw: Will Trump cast a towering shadow over football? – Inside World Football
It’s still early days of course but legitimate questions are starting to be asked about the effect Donald Trump’s US presidency might have on the landscape of world football and specifically two huge issues: the 2026 World Cup and the FifaGate scandal.

Takeover target Sky faces double soccer whammy – Soccer America
The news has not been good for Sky, the British media company that’s facing a multibillion-dollar takeover bid by 21st Century Fox. It reported lower half-year earnings with profits down 11 percent in the six months of the fiscal year that will end on June 30. Cited as a contributing factor in the decline are the increased Premier League rights costs of $395 million from a new broadcast deal that went into effect in 2016-17.

Dark future for live football in pubs – Football365
In order to obtain the right to show live football in a commercial venue, such as a pub, the cost is much greater. An upcoming report on the value of football in pubs, produced by pub-finder app MatchPint and market measurement consultancy CGA Strategy estimates the average charge to pubs and bars showing both Sky and BT sports to be around £20,000 per year.