VANCOUVER WHITECAPS & MLS NEWS
Episode 377 – The AFTN Soccer Show (Clear Dream with guest Amer Didic) – AFTN
It’s been another busy week in Whitecapsland and we bring you all the latest news and chatter as the ‘Caps preseason kicked off.
Whitecaps add new ingredients, hope it will be less hellish in kitchen – The Province
The excitement and hope surrounding the Vancouver Whitecaps’ 2019’s pre-season was obliterated by a campaign rocked by on and off the field problems. But as the MLS team heads into 2020, there is reason to feel optimistic once again.
“A lot of work ahead” but standout centre back Gianfranco Facchineri’s mentality and work ethic earns him a MLS homegrown deal with the Whitecaps – AFTN
Friday the 13th. Unlucky for some, but certainly not for Vancouver Whitecaps centre back Gianfranco Facchineri. For that was the date last month that the 17-year-old academy product found out that he was about to realise a childhood dream and sign his first pro contract.
Whitecaps FC sign central midfielder Patrick Metcalfe to MLS Homegrown contract – Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Thursday that the club has signed Development Squad central midfielder and Whitecaps FC BMO Academy System product Patrick Metcalfe to an MLS Homegrown contract.
Whitecaps’ homegrown signings about potential, not potential transfer fees – The Province
Patrick Metcalfe and Gianfranco Facchineri have been signed by Vancouver. But given the team’s history with homegrown players, don’t roll out the hype train just yet
Whitecaps star Ali Adnan spent offseason helping the people of Iraq – Daily Hive
As a millionaire professional athlete, Adnan didn’t spend his offseason at a posh beachfront resort. Instead, he was back in Baghdad trying to boost the morale of protesters in his home country.
Vancouver Whitecaps: No Easy Way Up – Soccer Shorts
Restructuring and openness weren’t words one associated with the previous regime, but the arrival of Axel Schuster as Sporting Director and Mark Pannes as Chief Executive Officer gave physical embodiment to what had previously been nothing more than empty promises and lip service.
Montreal Impact bring back Nigerian midfielder Orji Okwonkwo – Sportsnet
Nigerian youth international midfielder Orji Okwonkwo has rejoined the Montreal Impact on loan from Italian club Bologna FC 1909.
MLS Ticker: RSL re-signs Baird, Adi reportedly claimed by Crew, and more – SBI
Corey Baird is remaining with Real Salt Lake for the near future.
Kobe Bryant dies in helicopter crash: MLS players, clubs react to tragic death – MLS
Major League Soccer players took to Twitter to express their shock and sadness at the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant.
PACIFIC FC & BC SOCCER NEWS
Moneyball: Why Pacific FC are well poised to build a Championship CPL side – AFTN
Success isn’t build overnight. It’s a long-term game, particularly in a salary cap league.
Roster analysis: How does Pacific FC look going into 2020? – CanPL
Is Pacific FC a serious contender for the North Star Shield in 2020?
VISL Division 1 Results and Standings – Week 16 – BC Soccer Web
Week 16 is in the books, we were finally able to get back into regular programming for our top flight of soccer on the Island – Division 1.
TSS Rovers USL League 2 Schedule Released – USL League 2
USL Released the complete 2020 schedule for TSS Rovers.
Canada returns to Vancouver in April for Women’s International Friendly – CSA
They’re coming home: Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team will face Australia on Tuesday 14 April in Vancouver, British Columbia. The 2020 Women’s International Friendly match will be played at BC Place with tickets to go on sale this coming Wednesday 29 January.
BC Soccer Assoc. Presents FYI video on registration fees and how the Association is funded – BCSA
For some parents and players in this Province, we are nearing soccer registration season. You may already know that BC Soccer is a non-profit, membership organization which includes Youth Districts, Adult Leagues and non-voting Associate Members. What you might not know, is where the money goes when you register your child, or yourself in sanctioned soccer activity in our Province.
Penticton & PCSL revives Kennedy Cup Tournament for 2020 – BC Soccer Web
The John F. Kennedy Cup has a unique history amongst North America’s trophies for soccer. Founded in 1960, the Kennedy Cup was the first (and only) sporting trophy to be sanctioned by the late President of the United States. It also was the base for some of the first meaningful matches between clubs from British Columbia’s PCSL, California, Oregon, Washington and Mexico. When President Kennedy was assassinated in November, 1963, it was one of the few sporting events in the United States to take place that month with the family’s blessing.
BC Soccer Web’s 2019-20 Guide to Soccer on TV and Online in Canada – BC Soccer Web
In our 2019-20 Guide to Soccer on Canadian TV, we do our best to sort through the leagues, service options and hardware needed to help you get the most out of your soccer weekends this season. The TV situation is constantly changing as leagues are added and Canadian broadcast rights are sorted out at the last moment, so come back for updates!
PCSL CHALLENGE CUP FINAL PHOTOS: FC Tigers Vancouver 4 Victoria Highlanders 4 (FC Tigers win 4-2 on PKs), July 28, 2019 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.
Power Soccer in BC – SportAbility BC
We believe that everyone deserves an opportunity to participate in physical activity. We currently have programs in Vancouver, Surrey, Nanaimo, Penticton, and are still looking to expand. We are always looking for more athletes, officials, volunteers, and sponsors. If you are interested, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Becoming a BC Soccer Referee – BCSA
Whether you are an experienced referee new to British Columbia or if you are new to the discipline of refereeing BC Soccer Assoc. has a clinic and a pathway for you. The minimum age to become a referee is 12 years old (small sided) and 14 years old (11-a-side). Please enjoy the short video showcasing some Referee programs that BC Soccer offers and continue below for more on how to become a referee in BC!
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.
CANADIAN PREMIER LEAGUE & CANADA SOCCER NEWS
Christine Sinclair and Canada’s women’s soccer team know milestone goal awaits, but focus is on Olympic berth – CBC
Christine Sinclair’s goals have literally spanned the globe, with her hit list ranging from Argentina to Zimbabwe.
Big Dreams in Texas: What to expect from Canada’s Women National Team in Olympic Qualifiers – BTS
With Canada’s Women’s National Team getting set to get their 2020 Olympic Dreams underway later next week, we break down their road to Tokyo, some tactical questions and other burning questions ahead of their first match down at qualifiers; a date with St.Kitts and Nevis.
Underdog St. Kitts preparing for Canada at CONCACAF Olympic soccer qualifier – Times Colonist
Coach Jene Baclawski had been on the job just a week with her St. Kitts and Nevis team before Caribbean Olympic qualifying started in late September.
Kitchener-born goalkeeper Rylee Foster signs with Liverpool women’s team – CTV
Former Canadian youth international goalkeeper Rylee Foster has joined the Liverpool women’s team.
‘Wanted a new adventure’: Aird looking for fresh start at Valour FC – CanPL
Seeking a new challenge and adventure, Fraser Aird has settled on the maroon, black and gold of Valour FC and the burgeoning Canadian Premier League.
Canada Soccer names Futsal National Team roster for two-match friendly series in Costa Rica – CSA
Canada Soccer’s Futsal National Team has named a 17-man roster for its two-match international friendly series with defending back-to-back Concacaf Futsal Championship winners Costa Rica. The team will play 31 January and 1 February in San Rafael, CRC as part of their preparations for the 2020 Concacaf Futsal Championship scheduled for 1-10 May in Guatemala.
USL & LOWER LEAGUE SOCCER NEWS
USL League Two Reveals Schedule for 2020 Season – USL League 2
The 2020 USL League Two schedule is here! With a record-high 81 teams participating and a new live-streaming agreement with MyCujoo, fans have more access to the Path2Pro than ever before. The 2020 season is set to be the biggest in the league’s history, as Flint City Bucks, Reading United, Tormenta FC 2, and FC Golden State Force look to defend their conference titles against both new and familiar challengers.
TRANSACTIONS: Langsdorf Makes Move to 1868 FC – USL
Reno 1868 FC announced on Friday it had added forward Foster Langsdorf to its squad for the 2020 USL Championship season. Langsdorf has spent the last two seasons with Portland Timbers 2 on loan from the Portland Timbers, recording 21 goals in the Championship.
WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
Coronavirus fears forces Olympic qualifier move to Sydney – Sportsnet
Fear over the deadly viral outbreak in China has forced the Asian Football Confederation to move an Olympic qualifying event to Australia.
USWNT Olympic Qualifying Broadcast Situation Unsettled Days Before First Match – SI.com
With just days remaining before the world champion U.S. women’s national team’s first game in the Concacaf Olympic qualifying tournament, there remained no announcement as of Friday afternoon on where fans in the U.S. would be able to watch broadcasts of the matches.
Lia Wälti and Katie McCabe sink West Ham and put Arsenal back on track – The Guardian
Arsenal bounced back from their heavy defeat by Chelsea last weekend with an efficient FA Cup fourth-round defeat of last year’s runners-up, West Ham. A stunning side-footed volley from Lia Wälti and a first-half goal from Katie McCabe ensured the Gunners remain in the hunt in four competitions and for a 15th FA Cup title.
NWSL Offseason Notebook: NWSL Draft, trades galore as teams ring in the new year – NWSL
Along with the draft, the NWSL offseason has really kicked into high gear.
Eni Aluko: Aston Villa job feels right and I hope it helps other women into leading roles – The Guardian
Villa’s women are going places and guiding them to the WSL in the city where I fell in love with football is an exciting challenge.
WORLD SOCCER NEWS
FA Cup review: Liverpool have themselves to blame for replay; Man United get it right! – ESPN
We’ll get to Liverpool in a minute, but before that, it’s important to give some unqualified praise to Shrewsbury for a superb comeback in their 2-2 draw Sunday. Most of us watching reasonably thought the game was over when Donald Love scored that own goal seconds after half-time, and the Shrewsbury players would have been forgiven for thinking similarly.
Inter draws with Cagliari as title challenge falters – TSN
Serie A leader Juventus lost 2-1 at Napoli on Sunday in a miserable return for former coach Maurizio Sarri, and a poor day for its title challengers too.
Maxi Gomez leads Valencia to win over Barcelona in Spanish League – Sportsnet
Quique Setien lost his first game after three matches in charge of Barcelona as Valencia beat the defending Spanish champions 2-0 in a troubling day across the Spanish league which saw fans clash on the streets and a player racially abused.
ROUND 21 REVIEW: NEYMAR FIRES, TOKO-EKAMBI SCORES ON DEBUT – Ligue 1
A Neymar brace clinched the 2-0 win away to LOSC that took PSG ten points clear atop the Ligue 1 Conforama standings; meanwhile Karl Toko-Ekambi got right down to business, scoring on debut in Lyon’s 3-0 win over Toulouse.
Lyon winger Terrier stretchered off after collapsing – NBC Sports
A scary moment gripped Lyon’s home match against Toulouse as winger Martin Terrier was stretchered off after collapsing off the ball in the 26th minute.
Bundesliga Bulletin: Bayern Munich close in after RB Leipzig slip up – DW
The Bundesliga title race took another dramatic turn at the end of January after the league leaders lost. Bayern Munich took advantage, as did Borussia Mönchengladbach. Things also got tighter at the bottom of the table.
The Club World Cup is not about football – it’s about making the rich even richer – The Guardian
The tournament will begin in its new expanded format in summer 2021 and already it has forced the Africa Cup of Nations to be re-rescheduled.
Trio secure passage to Tokyo amid heightened competition in Asia – FIFA
A highly competitive 16-team AFC U-23 Championship concluded with Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia and Australia earning the right to join hosts Japan at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020.
Newcastle United talks on Saudi Arabia takeover at ‘advanced’ stage – BBC Sport
Talks on the potential £340m takeover of Newcastle United by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund are “advanced”.
Saudi Arabia criticised over pirate TV service ‘that airs Premier League’ – The Guardian
EU says country has failed to halt BeoutQ, which reportedly also airs La Liga and Serie A.
UK sports chief warns clubs against over reliance on betting company sponsorship – Inside World Football
Britain’s Sports minister Nigel Adams has denounced football’s “dependency” on sponsorship from gambling companies and warned clubs to look for different income streams.
Messi, Ronaldo, global soccer reacts to Kobe Bryant, daughter deaths – ESPN
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were among many in the global football community that paid tribute to Bryant and his daughter.
More BC Soccer News…