WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS
Bob Lenarduzzi on the New Signings, Pre-Season, and Expectations for the Season – Eighty-Six Forever
The Whitecaps legend speaks to Eighty Six Forever about the Tucson camp, some new additions to the roster, and locking down David Ousted.
Single match tickets on sale Thursday – Whitecaps FC
Single match tickets for the 2016 MLS regular season and Amway Canadian Championship will go on sale to the general public on Thursday, February 18 at 10 a.m. PT.
Vancouver Whitecaps turn the defence up to eleven – Soccer Shorts
The recent news that David Ousted has signed a new contract with the club means that Carl Robinson has now locked down the Danish keeper, Kendall Waston and Matias Laba for the foreseeable future and that’s huge in terms of how the team will perform in the coming season.
Drogba finally on pitch at Impact training camp – Sportsnet
Star striker Didier Drogba finally took the field at the Montreal Impact training camp on Wednesday.
Stu Cowan: Impact star Drogba is ‘back and ready to go,’ coach Biello says – Montreal Gazette
In sports, no individual is supposed to be bigger than the team — and then there’s Didier Drogba.
Chicago Fire “are not going to hurry” to replace departed Shipp, says Veljko Paunovic – MLS
Head coach Paunovic and general manager Nelson Rodriguez have come under fire for the swift and controversial manner in which Shipp, a much-loved local boy from Lake Forest, Ill., was told he no longer had a future at his boyhood club and that he would be moving to Eastern Conference rival Montreal Impact.
NYCFC continues perfect preseason with win over Impact – Empire of Soccer
New York City FC won its third straight preseason game by a 1-0 scoreline, beating the Montreal Impact as part of the Rowdies Suncoast Invitational at Al Lang Stadium.
Minnesota United FC may need a name change to join Major League Soccer – Minn.-St.Paul Business Journal
While the Minnesota United FC ownership hammers out a final stadium deal with St. Paul, the team is also in talks with Major League Soccer on when it will actually join the league — and what it will be called when it does.
MLS2STL: St. Louis business, sports leaders unite to attract Major League Soccer – MLS
St. Louis took another step toward Major League Soccer on Wednesday, when it was announced that a group of the city’s business and sports leaders have formed the MLS2STL Group to explore and advance the city’s candidacy to be awarded an MLS expansion team.
New York Red Bulls Announce Restructuring of Youth Development System – NYRB
The New York Red Bulls announced today changes to the club’s youth development system. As part of the restructuring, Red Bulls Academy Director Bob Montgomery will transition into a new role as Director of Coaching Education and Youth Partnerships. The organization will also implement several initiatives designed to further enhance the development of young players in the Red Bulls’ system.
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BC SOCCER NEWS
Hamel Unveils 2016 Women’s Soccer Recruiting Class – SFU
The Simon Fraser University women’s soccer program has signed four high school seniors and added one transfer student to the 2016 recruiting class.
SFU Men’s Soccer Identification Camp Information – SFU
Canada’s NCAA men’s soccer team, led by head coach Clint Schneider, will be holding an identification camp on March 21st through March 24th.
MWSL Soccer Player Needs your Help – Go Fund Me
We are the Women’s SFC Rangers and we are asking for support from the general public as well as our fellow soccer communitee to help raise funds for our friend and teammate, Mariah. Mariah a 21-year-old female, came to Canada as a refugee from Africa in 2015. On Feb. 7, she was brutally assaulted at Newton Athletic Park. To help Mariah get back on her feet we have started a campaign to raise funds to assist in her recovery and are appealing to the public to help us.
Surrey soccer team raising money for an assaulted player – News 1130
A Surrey women’s soccer team is raising money for one of its players who was brutally assaulted earlier this month. The club has raised $11,000 since setting up a GoFundMe page.
South Asian women soccer players rally around African teammate who was brutally attacked – Indo Canadian Voice
KUDOS to these compassionate, loyal South Asian women soccer players of the Surrey Football Club Rangers team who have rallied to the support of their unfortunate African teammate who was brutally attacked by a male acquaintance.
UPDATE: Man charged after brutal attack on woman in Surrey – AM 640
A suspect has now been charged in the brutal assault of a 21-year-old woman from Surrey. On February 7, the victim was lured by a man into his apartment after he told her he’d give her a ride to her soccer game in Newton.
Soccer intensifies with start of cup play – Nanaimo News Bulletin
Nanaimo United feels good about its chances in cup play, even though it doesn’t have home-field advantage – quite the opposite, in fact.
Powell River Villa ties against Cowichan – Powell River Peak
Powell River Villa tied Cowichan United 2 in regular-season Vancouver Island Soccer League (VISL) play on Saturday, February 13, with a final score of 1-1.
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.
CANADA vs. MEXICO, March 25, 2016 @ BC PLACE STADIUM. Buy Tickets Today!
CONCACAF WOMEN’S OLYMPIC QUALIFYING
SEMI-FINAL
CANADA vs. COSTA RICA
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2016, 2:30 PM
BBVA COMPASS STADIUM, HOUSTON, TX.
TV: SPORTSNET ONE LIVESTREAM: SPORTSNET GO
CANADA SOCCER NEWS
Canada eyes third straight Olympic soccer berth – Sportsnet
Watch Canada vs. Costa Rica in Friday’s semifinals of the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship live on Sportsnet ONE. Coverage starts at 2:30 pm PT.
Canada not taking Costa Rica lightly with Rio on the line – The Equalizer
Canada will take on Costa Rica on Friday with a spot at the Rio Olympics on the line. The opening semifinal match at the 2016 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament at BBVA Compass Stadium will be a strong test for both teams, with Costa Rica looking to upset the Canadians and book a ticket to their first Olympic Games.
Canada’s Erin McLeod getting a dash of support from Houston fans – Toronto Star
Deep in the heart of Texas, one name has peppered the backs of many jerseys in the crowds watching an Olympic qualifying tournament for women’s soccer: Erin McLeod.
You say you want an evolution? Lawrence says Canadian women’s team showing signs of change – the11.ca
It speaks to the youth movement of the Canadian national women’s team that 20-year-old Ashley Lawrence is seen as a veteran presence.
From the Pigeon Loft: Belonging, Branding, and the Barton St. Battalion – AFTN
The purpose of communities is belonging. Without belonging we are all just living in a faux village crafted by developers who manage to pass off 500 square foot condos as “homes” and blocks of glass towers as “a neighbourhood.” It is up to the people living there to make these places communities. Communities are not made in boardrooms or architectural offices or branding strategy rooms, sketched out on white boards, plastered with post-it notes, with a half finished Lego sculpture sitting in the middle of a table.
Yukon Brewing solidifies championship status – Whitehorse Daily News
Yukon Brewing secured the big double – the league and playoff titles – in old-timer soccer action this weekend, with a 7-4 win over Klondike Business Solutions.
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 news, drills and videos from the most noted professionals in the field of player development. If you have any articles or resources you enjoy, send them our way, and we’ll share them with the BC Soccer community.)
Practice Drill: 4 v 4: Where’s My GK? – Touch Tight Coaching
Players must move into area to then play GK hands or feet, or vice versa play GK and then move into area for GK to play into to maintain possession.
BC Soccer Leagues & Clubs – Share your News With The BC Soccer Community!
WFC2, USL & NASL NEWS
What’s missing from FC Edmonton’s training camp? Trialists, that’s what – the11.ca
Usually, part of the pre-season ritual is coming to training sessions and asking the staff to tell you who the new guy is. We get great stories about young players from small countries looking to find their ways into NASL, or the tale of a journeyman looking for one last contract. We see a player whose name we sorta remember from a few years ago. We see a player trying to rebuild a promising career after a rough patch.
Chicago needs a second soccer team – Chicago Tribune
Is there room in the Chicago area for two professional soccer teams? Ye gods, I hope so. These days, we Fire fans aren’t happy. The chasm between fans and management has grown so large that you could stuff a few planets in there and still have room for a couple of moons.
With Rayo OKC, La Liga club throws hat in American soccer ring – The Guardian
With the inception of Rayo OKC, Madrid’s Rayo Vallecano becomes the first La Liga club to be a majority owner of a pro soccer team in the US. Will it work?
DC United sign midfielder Rob Vincent via transfer from USL’s Pittsburgh Riverhounds – MLS
D.C. United added to their midfield on Wednesday, announcing that they have signed English midfielder Rob Vincent on a transfer from the USL’s Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
Early Goal Lifts Orlando City B Past Toronto – USL
Pierre da Silva scored in the opening 10 minutes as Orlando City B took a 1-0 win against Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC in a preseason exhibition on Wednesday afternoon at the ChampionsGate Sports Complex.
LA Galaxy II acquire forward Denzel Slager – LA Galaxy
Former Orange County Blues winger Denzel Slager has signed with LA Galaxy II, the club announced today. Slager, 22, comes to Los Dos after spending one season with the Blues.
Sporting Kansas City loan midfielder Bernardo Anor to Minnesota United FC – MLS
Sporting Kansas City announced on Wednesday the loan of midfielder Bernardo Añor to Minnesota United FC for the 2016 season.
Andranik and Alecko Eskandarian to enjoy family reunion at New York Cosmos friendly with FC Ararat – The Telegraph
Former Cosmos defender relishing chance to meet up with many of his relatives in Los Angeles at NASL club’s pre-season match with Armenian club.
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WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
Sky Blue’s Rodriguez, Skroski making noise on international scene – Empire of Soccer
Sky Blue’s newest players are making quite a smash on the international scene.
ALL 10 NWSL CLUBS REVEAL HOME OPENERS FOR 2016 SEASON – NWSL
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced today the schedule of home openers for the 2016 regular season. The season opener will feature the defending champion FC Kansas City hosting the Western New York Flash on Saturday, April 16, kicking off a 20-game regular season schedule.
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WORLD SOCCER NEWS
Fiorentina vs Tottenham Hotspur Preview: Spurs looking for revenge in last 32 rematch – Vavel
Tottenham Hotspur resume their Europa League campaign on Thursday night, as they travel to Fiorentina for their first leg of their last 32 tie.
Champions League review: Matuidi shines for PSG, Totti’s Roma farewell? – The Guardian
Zenit are unsurprisingly sluggish at Benfica, while Gent freeze on their biggest night but somehow keep Wolfsburg tie alive.
Reform is coming to FIFA and CONCACAF… right? – US Soccer Players
If you ever needed convincing about the power of FIFA to delude those who rise to positions of influence within its noxious ranks, look no further than the events currently unfolding across the world. Even as the United States Department of Justice is reeling in name after name connected to rampant corruption and graft in the world’s game, those remaining relatively unstained (or untouchable) go about the business of returning the organization to business as usual.
FIFA investigators want life bans for Bedoya and Jadue for taking bribes – Inside World Football
FIFA’s ethics investigators have requested life bans for two senior South American officials who have already pleaded guilty as part of the FBI probe into widespread bribery and corruption.
Copa America Centenario pots revealed ahead of Sunday’s draw – SBI
Only days separate us from learning the groups for the Copa America Centenario, but we can already begin to formulate ideas as to what they will look like.
Scottish League Cup final returns to November date – BBC Sport
The Scottish League Cup final will return to November from next season. Since 2000 the tournament has culminated in March, with Ross County and Hibernian meeting in this season’s final at Hampden next month.
Asian Champions League Time for Australian Clubs – Prost Amerika
While the Asian Champions League might not have the high profile stadium destinations like the Camp Nou, Aztec Stadium, or even a Maracanã, it surely makes up for it in time to get to that destination, which can be just as taxing mentally.
Sydney A-League derby could set attendance record for football in harbour city – Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday night’s A-League derby between Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers could deliver record crowds for a regular competition game in the city with a massive surge in the demand for tickets for the blockbuster clash at Allianz Stadium.
VIDEO: BBC Rewind: Do fashion & football mix? – BBC
With London Fashion Week kicking off, BBC Rewind takes a look at some of football’s greatest fashion faux pas.