WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS
Report: Whitecaps Permanently Acquire Deybi Flores – Eighty-Six Forever
It looks like Deybi Flores will be sticking around with the Vancouver Whitecaps for a while longer. A report from motagua.com, which is the website for the Honduran team that loaned Flores to Vancouver, says the Whitecaps have agreed to a long term deal with the youngster.
Ousted’s ‘unbelievable’ stop vs. Philly crowned Whitecaps FC Save of the Year – Whitecaps FC
David Ousted’s diving, goalline save on Philadelphia’s Andrew Wenger has been crowned the 2015 Whitecaps FC Save of the Year. The memorable stop, which finished as the runner-up in the 2015 MLS Save of the Year competition, earned 45 per cent of the vote in the final round.
History is made: Mapp is MLS’s first free agent – Soccer America
Justin Mapp’s signing as the first MLS free agent with Sporting Kansas City may not go down in American sports history as historic as Andy Messersmith’s signing with the Atlanta Braves in 1975 as the first unregistered free agent, but he termed the process “definitely refreshing, but maybe a little overwhelming” since no one has gone through it.
Miami mayor on David Beckham soccer stadium: Where’s the parking? – Miami Herald
The mayor of Miami says he’s mystified by David Beckham’s plan to build a soccer stadium in Overtown without parking garages.
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BC SOCCER NEWS
BC Soccer Web Feature Matches – December 15 -January 4 – BC Soccer Web
The full-time whistle has blown for most B.C. Leagues in 2015. But we park the bus in stoppage time for one last weekend of action from the VMSL. Play resumes in most leagues the weekend of January 8-10.
UVic 2015 Women’s Soccer Year in Review – UVic
The University of Victoria Vikes women’s soccer team began their 2015 season with Tracy David back for her 14th season as head coach of the Vikes women’s program. Dave Dew was alongside her as assistant coach and Bob Stankov was in charge of goalkeeping coach duties. Fifth-year Vikes Emma Greig and Shannon Elder were looking to make their final season as Vikes count, and a fresh crop of first years including forward Kiara Kilbey and defender Rachel Baird aimed to find a foothold in their first seasons as varsity athletes.
CANADA vs. MEXICO, March 25, 2016 @ BC PLACE STADIUM. Buy Tickets Today!
CANADA SOCCER NEWS
2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers™ Tickets on Sale Tuesday, 10:00 am – CSA
Tickets to Canada’s massive 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ Qualifier against world power Mexico on 25 March at Vancouver’s BC Place will go on sale to the general public this Tuesday 15 December at 10:00 local (10.00 PT / 13.00 ET). The Canadian Team is calling upon all fans to once again be the 12th man and provide crucial home support on the Road to Russia 2018.
Maybe, just maybe, Christine Sinclair has an heir out there – the 11.ca
To promote women’s soccer in Canada, Christine Sinclair is the go-to spokesperson, the poster child for the game in this country. But, if there’s a positive to come out of the first two games of the Natal Tournament in Brazil, it’s that we may, finally, have other scoring options to talk about.
VIDEO: Change the reward. Change the game. | Will Cromack – TEDxKelowna / YouTube
Youth sport could be so much more for the millions and millions of people that participate weekly: a solution to worldwide health issues, a place to learn great human values and to gain important lifelong skills, a place to find long term friendships and so much more.
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NASL & USL NEWS
Freddy Adu re-signs with NASL’s Tampa Bay Rowdies – SI.com
The Tampa Bay Rowdies, which he joined in July, was Adu’s sixth team in three years (not including unsuccessful trials). Now he’ll be staying in central Florida for at least another season after agreeing to a new contract with the NASL club, SI.com understands. The Rowdies chose not to exercise the option they held for the 2016 campaign and instead offered the 26-year-old veteran a new deal that may cover multiple seasons.
Roster Update – December 14 – Ottawa Fury
Fury FC exercise contract options on four players including NASL Best XI defender Rafael Alves; Poltronieri re-signs.
Miami FC Signs Midfielder Blake Smith, Defender Brad Rusin – NASL
Miami FC has announced the signings of Brad Rusin and Blake Smith ahead of its inaugural NASL season. The news comes just days after the club unveiled its first three players – Dane Richards, Jaime Chavez and Wilson Palacios – at its kit launch event. Rusin and Smith add high-level experience to the club’s roster, which now sits at five players.
Independence Announces First Group Of Returning Players For 2016 – Charlotte Independence
The Charlotte Independence today officially announced its first group of returning players for 2016. Midfielder and 2015 team captain Jorge Herrera will remain in Charlotte for the second year of his contract, while the second-year option on forward Tomasz Zahorski’s contract has been exercised. In addition, the club has re-signed midfielder/defender Jack Metcalf.
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WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
Strong women’s field for U.S. Soccer honors – Soccer America
World champions Lauren Holiday, Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe, Becky Sauerbrunn and Hope Solo are the nominees for 2015 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year. Lloyd is also a finalist for the FIFA Women’s Player of the Year.
The USWNT is a soccer team, not a traveling circus. It’s time for a fix – The Guardian
The World Cup victory tour has been a bust, and beating up on hapless Concacaf teams does no one any favors. Let’s get creative – and build a bigger role for the NWSL.
Women’s Super League could ‘implode’ because of agents – BBC Sport
The Women’s Super League could “implode” because of agents inflating transfer deals, according to Doncaster Rovers Belles manager Glen Harris.
The Lowdown: Pride already exceeding expectations – The Equalizer
The Orlando Pride are ready to touch down on NWSL and they want you to know one thing. “We’re in the middle of something special here,” Tim Holt, vice president of development, said in a recent phone interview with The Lowdown.
Jemma Rose: England defender signs new Arsenal contract – BBC Sport
Arsenal Ladies defender Jemma Rose has signed a new contract with the Women’s Super League One club.
Qantas extends its commitment to Football Federation Australia – Westfield W-League
Qantas is the long term official airline of Australia’s two senior national teams, the Socceroos and Westfield Matildas, but has now increased its sponsorship to also include the Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League.
U-17 World Cup to boost Jordan’s women’s football pioneers – FIFA
Throughout the whole of Jordan, there are currently 720 registered female players. On 30 September 2016, another historic step will be taken when the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup kicks off in Amman to become the first FIFA women’s tournament ever to be hosted in the Middle East – a region where the cultural barriers for women’s sports events tend to produce meek statistics like the one above.
Sierra Leone’s female FA president allegedly attacked by government-backed forces amid violence, chaos & arrests – Goal
The African nation’s FA has been dissolved amidst claims of violence, corruption and match fixing, leaving one of the sport’s few female leaders dangerously exposed. In the days that followed, Africa’s only female FA president – and one of only two in the world – was subjected to an unprecedented attack by forces linked to the nation’s government.
Rising Ammanford football star Nia Rees is dreaming of her first senior Wales cap after after representing her country at U15, U16 and U17 level – South Wales Guardian
LIVERPOOL, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur; the FAW Wales Women Under 17s squad is littered with players from big-name Premier league clubs. However, one club in particular stands out; Ammanford AFC. Little Ammanford have two representatives in the Under 17s squad, and one of them, Nia Rees, has achieved great things during the past 12 months.
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NASL & USL NEWS
Chelsea betrayal sees Mourinho on the brink – ESPN FC
Chelsea’s cataclysmic decline from convincing Premier League champions to top-flight also-rans continued apace on Monday night at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium where a ramshackle 2-1 defeat left the London club hovering above the relegation zone.
Brilliant transformation of Wes Morgan embodies the miracle of Leicester – The Guardian
Leicester’s defeat of Chelsea was a victory of squad togetherness over high-profile names, with the defender one of Claudio Ranieri’s heroes
Lazio and Sampdoria trade late goals in draw – TSN
Lazio and Sampdoria exchanged late goals for a 1-1 draw in Serie A on Monday that did little for either side with both clubs struggling.
FIFA Club World Cup: River against Sanfrecce Hiroshima for a spot in the final – CONMEBOL
Backed by some 15,000 faithful fans, River Plate on Wednesday (10h30 GMT) plays in the semifinal of the Club World Cup against Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
US Soccer announces five nominees for Male Player of the Year Award – MLS
US Soccer announced the five nominees for the 2015 US Soccer Male Player of the Year Award on Monday, with a pair of MLS players making the cut.
Steven Gerrard, Andrea Pirlo can’t play friendly in banned Kuwait – FIFA – ESPN FC
FIFA has stopped Steven Gerrard, Andrea Pirlo and Xavi Hernandez from playing in a friendly in Kuwait because of the Gulf nation’s ban from international football.
Champions League team of the group stage – UEFA
UEFA.com selects its team of the group stage, featuring a goalkeeper who was beaten just once, a midfielder who got five goals and the competition’s all-time top scorer.
Eighteen referees appointed for UEFA EURO 2016 – UEFA
The UEFA Referees’ Committee has appointed the 18 referees who will take charge of the 51 matches at UEFA EURO 2016.
Jean-Marc Bosman 20 years on: He paid a heavy price for beating the system, now he wants to end it for good – The Telegraph
What should have been the best day of Bosman’s career – the day he secured freedom for himself and every other player in Europe to change clubs at the end of a contract – ended up one of the worst of his life.
Bosman landmark galvanises FIFpro to drive next step of transfer reform – Inside World Football
The head of the international players’ union FIFpro says football is facing its “worst ever crisis” because of the imbalance between rich and poor and has urged his members to stick together to safeguard the sport.
Best all-time Bosman XI: The top free transfers on the 20th anniversary of the landmark ruling – The Mirror
It’s been 20 years since the landmark ruling which now allows players to leave a club for nothing when their contract expires. Since then hundreds of players have taken advantage of the ruling, often picking up a lucrative contract in the process. But which Bosman moves have worked out the best, for player and club?
Santos’ failure to qualify for Copa Libertadores leave club cash-strapped again – Inside World Football
Brazilian club Santos will face a 2016 season of austerity after missing out on qualification for the Copa Libertadores.
Meet Punjabi Wolves, the fans’ group bringing culture and noise to Molineux – The Guardian
The Punjabi Wolves supporters’ group, which boasts the club captain as an official ambassador, is helping to educate fellow football fans about their culture.
Unlucky Brisbane football fan ‘flies 10207 miles for nothing’ – Sydney Morning Herald
As part of a European holiday, Andrew Urry wanted to watch his beloved Southend United play in the third tier of English professional football on Saturday. However the League 1 fixture was called off 90 minutes before kickoff because of a waterlogged pitch at Bradford, Southend’s opponents.