BC Soccer News, Tuesday, December 20, 2016

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS

Orlando City finalizing deal to sign French defender Grégory Sertic – Orlando Sentinel
Mystery surrounded news last week of Orlando City working toward signing a starting-caliber European defender. The player’s identity was unknown – until now.

Minnesota United Trades Attinella to Portland; Signals Pursuit of Ibarra – Fifty Five One
Minnesota has traded goalkeeper Jeff Attinella to the Portland Timbers. In return, the Loons will acquire a second-round selection in the 2018 SuperDraft. Along with the pick, United will gain the discovery rights to former Loon Miguel Ibarra.

CrewSC’s Gaston Sauro to miss all next season due to knee surgeries – Columbus Dispatch
Oft-injured CrewSC center back Gaston Sauro will miss all of next season recovering from multiple knee surgeries, coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter told the Dispatch.

Impact opens training camp on January 24 – Montreal Impact
The Montreal Impact announced on Tuesday the details of its 2017 training camp that will kick off on January 24.

A look at the 10 candidates for MLS expansion – SBI
Each of the 10 potential expansion markets has its own unique soccer history and unique offerings that should appeal to MLS. While its clear that a few cities stand out as soccer hotbeds, it seems that some cities are already ahead of the curve as the league looks towards adding more teams in the coming years.

Tennessee legislature proposes bill to help fund Nashville MLS stadium – MLS
With Nashville identified as one of 10 potential MLS expansion candidates last week, there’s a new bill proposed in the Tennessee legislature to help fund a Nashville MLS stadium.

NYCFC to begin 2017 preseason in Ecuador – Empire of Soccer
NYCFC announced today that it will travel to Ecuador to take C.S. Emelec on February 8 in their first preseason friendly of 2017. The Ecuadorian giants will host City in their newly renovated Estadio Banco del Pacifico in Guayaquil with kickoff set for 7 p.m. local time.

Columbus Crew sign Alex Crognale as homegrown player – SN
The Columbus Crew have signed defender Alex Crognale to a homegrown player contract, the team announced Tuesday.

BMO Field gets ready for an ordinary Classic – Toronto Star
Toronto FC’s home field is preparing to host an NHL game.

Changing MLS for the better – US Soccer Players
MLS has already lasted longer than the original North American Soccer League. That league also played loose with international standards while trying to find and sustain an audience. When the NASL began to struggle, it took the mainstream version of the sport with it. In the big picture, the five years between the demise of the NASL and the USMNT playing in Italia 90 isn’t a lot of time. For soccer in this country, it almost proved critical.

L.A. Galaxy’s Robbie Rogers on soccer, fashion and fatherhood – LA Times
Cult brand L.A. Eyeworks has some eclectic models in its ads over the years — Jodie Foster, Andy Warhol, Mickey Rourke, Iggy Pop and Iman, to name a few — and its latest face, L.A. Galaxy soccer player Robbie Rogers, is also an inspired choice. But rather than front for the more obvious underwear or watch brands, Rogers prefers to take the road less traveled.

Train With Champions TWU Spartan Female Soccer Academy

BC SOCCER NEWS

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.

Connect with Soccer in British Columbia! Advertise on BC Soccer Web today!

CANADA SOCCER NEWS

Oakville’s Diana Matheson gets her Way for Christmas – Oakville Beaver
The street that will soon bear the name of one of the country’s best soccer players isn’t unlike a lot of Canadian streets.  “It’s a court so it only gets local traffic, so it’s good for street hockey,” says Diana Matheson.

Academy Centre partners Ottawa South United accepted into League 1 Ontario – Whitecaps FC
Whitecaps FC Ottawa Academy Centre partners Ottawa South United announced that they have been officially accepted into the League 1 Ontario for 2017. The successful application will see OSU launch a men’s team in 2017 and a women’s team in 2018. This endeavour will become a partnership with the Ottawa Gloucester Hornets, as part of the two clubs’ strategic alliance.

Dichio to coach rebranded Toronto FC III team – Waking the Red
Toronto FC announced last night that their senior TFC Academy team in League1 Ontario will be branded Toronto FC III, with Danny Dichio named head coach.

Canada Soccer hosts national referee instructors in Ontario – CSA
Canada Soccer’s current and future national referee instructors were recently hosted in Toronto, ON in preparation to changes forthcoming in 2017.

Douglas and Rivkin named best in Newfoundland Labrador – CSA
Goalkeeper John Douglas and midfielder Hannah Rivkin have been named Newfoundland Labrador soccer players of the year. The duo were recognised by the Newfoundland Labrador Soccer Association as part of the province’s 2016 award winners of outstanding players, coaches, and volunteers.

Yukon Over 35 soccer report – Whitehorse Star
Guiliano Rayo has been an inspirational player in over 35 soccer for many seasons, and this year in Yukon Brewing colours is no exception. Rayo’s performance was instrumental in defeating a fired up Pepsi side 6-2.

 Premium Classified Advertising on BC Soccer Web Starting at 50 cents per day!

Whitecaps FC 2 re-sign Sem de Wit and Will Seymore, announce roster update – Whitecaps FC
The club now has seven players under USL contract for the 2017 season. The pair joins a quintet of Whitecaps FC Residency graduates in goalkeeper Sean Melvin, right back Kadin Chung, midfielders Matthew Baldisimo and Thomas Gardner, and midfielder/striker Terran Campbell on the roster.

First-round pick Thomas among out-of-contract Toronto FC II players – Waking the Red
Skylar Thomas, a 2015 first-round draft pick, features on a list of out-of-contract players published by Toronto FC II on Monday.

Rowdies Midfield Duo of Chavez, Savage Returns – USL
The Tampa Bay Rowdies are returning midfielders Justin Chavez and Keith Savage, the club announced Tuesday. The signings are pending league and federation approval.

Ottawa Fury FC, the Impact’s new associate club – Montreal Impact
On December 9, the Montreal Impact announced that it had a new partner in the USL’s Ottawa Fury FC, allowing the Bleu-blanc-noir to send players on loan there to get more playing time.

Dayton Dynamo Look To Tap Into Ohio’s Soccer Renaissance With Downtown Stadium Move – Midfield Press
David Satterwhite, CEO and President of the Dayton Dynamo, believes there is room to grow a Dayton soccer club back to the support levels seen by the original Dynamo and beyond.  With a move into a Roger Glass Stadium in downtown Dayton for the 2017 NPSL season, the Dynamo look to tap into the potential of the Dayton soccer market and participate in the renaissance of the beautiful game in Ohio.

Alex Morgan joins Lyon on loan deal – SBI
Alex Morgan’s entire professional career has been in the U.S., but now the U.S. Women’s National Team forward is bound for a European adventure, albeit a temporary one.

Why I’m Going to Play in Lyon – The Player’s Tribune
My motivation is pretty simple. I hope that this change will help push my game to another level. I hope that training with these incredible athletes each day, and learning a unique style of play, is exactly what I need, and that it will help me find that next gear. Importantly, I will also be immersed in a soccer culture that I believe is precisely what I need at this point in my career. It has always been a dream of mine to “live” soccer and to compete in the Champions League.

The most dominant force in women’s club football just added another superstar to their ranks – The 42
LYON ARE THE strongest force in women’s club football, winning three Champions League titles in the last six years, including the 2016 decider against Wolfsburg.

Golden Boot race opens up – W-League
A 16-goal haul across Round 7 has opened up the race for the Westfield W-League Golden Boot.

Louisville President Duffy Accepts NWSL Position – USL
Louisville City FC President Amanda Duffy is bound for a new opportunity at the National Women’s Soccer League. A former player and USL executive, Duffy will be working out of the U.S. Soccer Federation’s Chicago offices as the NWSL’s managing director of operations.

Find a Team or Find a Player with BC Soccer Web FREE Classifieds!

WORLD SOCCER NEWS

Real Madrid transfer ban reduced after Court of Arbitration for Sport appeal – ESPN FC
Real Madrid will be able to sign players during summer 2017 after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) partially accepted their appeal regarding a transfer ban imposed by FIFA for breaking youth transfer regulations.

Real Madrid’s transfer ban reduced, but Spaniards claim CAS ‘lack courage’ – SN
Real Madrid have had their two-window transfer ban reduced to one by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the club have announced.

CONCACAF Watch: Gold Cup needs to branch out to new countries – SN
The CONCACAF Gold Cup will be contested for the 14th time in 2017, and for the 14th time the United States will play host to the region’s championship.

What else is happening in European football? – UEFA
Dries Mertens is sparkling at Napoli, six is Marseille’s magic number and 33 is too young to be a veteran in the Czech Republic; UEFA.com mops up loose stories.

Leicester City appeal over Jamie Vardy red card against Stoke rejected – ESPN FC
Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has failed in his appeal against a three-match suspension following his sending off at Stoke.

Top five best attacks in Europe’s top ten leagues – UEFA
Who are the most prolific teams in Europe this season? We take a look at the best five attacks in the top ten leagues according to the UEFA rankings.

U.S. Soccer Completes First Pro License Course – USSF
As part of its ongoing effort to develop world class players, coaches, and referees, the first U.S. Soccer Pro License Coaching Course was completed on Saturday, Dec. 17 in Chicago.  A total of 13 professional coaches from Major League Soccer and U.S. Youth National Team programs completed the collaborative pilot course which took place over the last 12-months.

French prosecutors open tax fraud probe after soccer leaks – Yahoo Sports
French financial prosecutors have opened a preliminary investigation into suspected tax fraud linked to the soccer industry.

Africa primed for another grandstand finish – FIFA
A total of 54 countries were in the picture when the road to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ opened in Africa in October 2015. By the time the second round of CAF qualifying got underway a month later, that number had been cut to 40, of whom half made it through to the third and final round, which kicked off in 2016. Now the question on everyone’s lips is whether the upshot will be the same coterie of the continent’s finest gracing the global extravaganza for the third consecutive edition, or whether any of the other nations will manage to advance.

Club America can cement burgeoning dynasty after years mired in mediocrity – ESPN FC
The art of subtlety is not usually reserved to soccer punditry. Our opinions about the beautiful game are often loud, bombastic and designed to generate somewhat visceral responses. Such extremes can catapult us to ironic, almost contradictory viewpoints from week to week.

Football Federation Australia announce $346m A-League broadcast deal – The Guardian
Football Federation Australia has agreed a new six-year, $346m deal with foundation broadcaster Fox Sports to screen the A-League until 2023.

Scolari: It will take 2,000 years for another 7-1 – FIFA
Luiz Felipe Scolari has discussed the implausibility of Brazil’s historic 7-1 humbling by Germany and insisted that, if he’s the scapegoat for it, he’s to whom their 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™ conquest is most indebted.

The 100 best footballers in the world 2016 – interactive – The Guardian
Our panel of 124 experts from 45 nations compiled a list of the greatest male players on the planet. Today we reveal Nos 100-71.

FIFA lose the Poppy plot. Time for them to have some ‘respect’ rehab? – Inside World Football
The reaction has been understandably incredulous. In a disgraceful move that hardly enhances its attempt to turn over a new leaf and become a respectful, compassionate, modern-thinking organisation, FIFA have once again shown their true colours by predictably fining all four British home nations for their various poppy displays at last month’s World Cup qualifiers on or around Armistice Day.

Home countries’ FAs seeing red over poppies could have been avoided – The Guardian
Whisper it – you have to, beneath the barrage of furious indignation, bad temper, even declarations of “war”, from the prime minister down, over our gentle symbol of peace – but Fifa has a point about poppies. World football’s governing body, which Fifa still is, tried to articulate this as it unveiled the fines levelled at the football associations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, for framing their November World Cup qualifiers as Armistice Day events.

When the Dallas Tornado took the most amazing world tour ever – Soccer America
The wonderfully illustrated book, “The Amazing World Tour of the Dallas Tornado,” is written by Fons Stoffels, a Dutch forward who, at age 22, scored 22 goals in the 48 games in 25 countries, including in South Vietnam during the war.