WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS
Mattocks move to China looks closer and closer; League One club rumoured – The Province
That Mattocks is on his way out shouldn’t surprise anyone: he’s fallen to fourth on the striker depth chart and the Whitecaps in all likelihood still need to make another move to become cap compliant, though we can’t be sure of that until the 2016 cap figures are released later this year.
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Pedro Morales is hungry for more – Vancouver Sun
When he strained a calf muscle early in the Arizona portion of pre-season training, Vancouver Whitecaps captain Pedro Morales admits to being a little scared. After losing much of the second half of last season to leg injuries that he just couldn’t get right, he had come back to Vancouver from his native Chile in early January to get a head start on his fitness. And now he was laid up again.
Realistic (or not so realistic) Expecations – Eighty-Six Forever
3 goals. That’s all that separated the Whitecaps from a date in the 2015 Western Conference Final. I don’t know about anyone else but my expectations for the 2015 Whitecaps were tempered, at best. 2nd in the Western Conference and home playoff date, 3rd in MLS, first foray into the Champions League, and a 1st Voyageurs Cup.
PODCAST: Soccer Talk with Tyler Green and Simon Fudge, Feb.22 – Libsyn
On this episode, Tyler and Simon discuss Whitecaps FC’s resigning of goalkeeper David Ousted and how important that is in terms of offseason moves, plus Blas Perez is now officially a ‘Caps forward and what he can do for Vancouver.
Seiler recalls experience training with Argentina as Copa America Centenario groups are announced – Whitecaps FC
You may not know that Messi and the Argentine national team actually spent some time in the U.S. last year as well. And Vancouver Whitecaps FC defender Cole Seiler was front and centre.
CONCACAF Champions League offers chance to measure MLS and Liga MX – ESPN FC
After a four-month hiatus following the group stage, the CONCACAF Champions League returns to knockout action on Tuesday. As the confederation’s headline club competition reaches its quarterfinal stage, four sides from Major League Soccer will meet four sides from Liga MX: Tigres vs. Real Salt Lake, Queretarao vs. D.C. United, LA Galaxy vs. Santos Laguna and Seattle Sounders vs. Club America.
Concacaf Champions League: which MLS side has the best chance to advance? – The Guardian
Four US teams take on a quartet from Mexico in the last eight, but with MLS still a couple of weeks from kick-off, can anyone stop the Liga MX juggernaut?
CCL champions Club America step up to defend it title – Prost Amerika
The reigning CONCACAF Champions League ( CCL ) title holders Club America look to begin the road to a second consecutive CCL championship. But this is not the ideal situation the club wanted to be in as it travels to Seattle, Washington to face Sounders FC in the CCL quarterfinals first leg match on Tuesday Feb. 23 at 10:00 p.m. (Eastern) / 7:00 p.m. (Pacific) at CenturyLink Field.
LA Galaxy refuse to make excuses ahead of CONCACAF Champions League season opener – MLS
The start of the new season perhaps arrived a bit too quickly for the LA Galaxy, who for all intents and purposes remain in preseason mode as they prepare for Wednesday night’s first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series, at home against Santos Laguna.
Queretaro FC vs. DC United | CONCACAF Champions League Match Preview – MLS
D.C. United may have gotten the most favorable draw out of all MLS teams in the CCL quarterfinals, considering, but they face some questions of their own as they head down to Mexico.
Tigres UANL vs. Real Salt Lake | CONCACAF Champions League Match Preview – MLS
Real Salt Lake can take the first step in erasing the memory of their most disappointing MLS season in nearly a decade when they take on Liga MX’s Tigres UANL in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series. Last year, RSL missed out on the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time in seven seasons, failing to post more than 50 points for the first time in that span, but still have the 2015-16 CCL to hang their hats on thanks to their group-stage championship secured late last year.
2016 PRO roster announced – PRO Referees
The Professional Referee Organization has announced the roster for 2016, with six new officials being added to its ranks.
MLS news and notes: Details begin to emerge about Obafemi Martins’ move to China – Washington Post
Obafemi Martins, whose transfer to Shanghai Greenland Shenua from the Seattle Sounders is about to become official, will more than double his earnings playing in the free-spending Chinese league, the Insider has learned.
2016 Western Conference Preview Portland Timbers – Burgundy Wave
Portland is greater than the sum of it’s parts, and figured that out in 2015 to win MLS Cup. They figured out their formation: a 4-3-3 with Diego Chara playing the deep defensive role. They figured out their personnel, moving Nagbe to central midfield paired with Diego Valeri, and bringing in Nat Borchers to command the backline. They did it with their tactics and play, as they could use Fanendo Adi to strong arm his way for goals, or ping it backwards to rushing wing players, or have Lucas Melano or Maxi Urriti skip and dance the ball into the net.
Seattle Sounders players give new turf rave reviews after second workout – Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders players worked out for the second time on the brand new FieldTurf at CenturyLink Field on Monday, and the stadium’s revamped playing surface drew rave reviews from all involved.
TSN Announces 2016 MLS Regular Season Schedule Featuring Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Toronto FC, and Montreal Impact, Beginning Sunday, March 6 – Bell Media
As the official Canadian broadcaster of Major League Soccer (MLS), TSN today announced its MLS ON TSN broadcast schedule for the 2016 regular season, which culminates with MLS CUP 2016.
Full TFC Broadcast Schedule and Home Kick-Off Times Announced – TFC
Toronto FC announced Tuesday the full 2016 television broadcast schedule for all 34 regular season matches, along with the kick-off times for all home matches this season.
Garber hopes next FIFA president institutes sweeping change – Yahoo Sports
Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber hopes the winner of Friday’s election for FIFA president institutes sweeping change.
In Search of ’79: My 30-Year Quest for Whitecaps Jersey Perfection – Wafflebored
I have fond memories of the original NASL here in Vancouver. Especially the 10-foot bounces the ball took off Empire Stadium’s artificial turf (essentially indoor-outdoor carpet glued down onto asphalt), and the bizarre invention that was indoor soccer. But, as usual, I liked the jerseys best of all.
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BC SOCCER NEWS
Soccer players from BC well represented in Youth National Team Programming – BCSA
Players developed in BC clubs and within the BC’s high performance environment are well represented on Canadian National Team Programing within the last month. The Women’s Under 17 CONCACAF Championships roster was released along with the Under 15 Regional and Under 17 Men’s National Team Camp rosters.
Thompson Rivers University player selected from 2016 WFC2 Open Tryout – Whitecaps FC
This past weekend, a collection of players assembled at Simon Fraser University Fox Field for the 2016 WFC2 Open Tryout presented by adidas. In the end, the coaching staff selected Oriol Torres to join WFC2 preseason. Torres is an attacking player who played at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops after moving to Canada from Barcelona in 2010.
Surrey FC adapted soccer team offers kids with disabilities a kick at the ball – CBC
An adapted soccer program in Surrey, B.C., is giving kids with development and intellectual disabilities the chance to show their talent on the field.
Coaching Clinic: ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS: PREPARING and PROMOTING THE STUDENT ATHLETE – PISE
College and University Scholarships don’t just happen! Athletes and parents need to start early and develop plans of action to prepare themselves for what recruiters want. Don’t leave your future to chance, start now and learn the WHAT, WHEN, WHY, WHERE’s and HOW’s of the recruiting process. As a principal, college instructor, athlete, coach and father of a son playing professional baseball, Bill Green has worked with hundreds of families, helping them reach their potentials as student athletes.
BC Soccer Assoc. is Now Accepting Candidates for its Board of Directors – BCSA
BC Soccer Assoc. is accepting candidates for its Board of Directors for terms commencing June 11, 2016. Prospective candidates are invited to review the information provided on the BC Soccer web site www.bcsoccer.net. Candidates who provide notice to BC Soccer Assoc. of their intent to stand for election by May 1, 2016 will have their applications circulated to the membership in early May.
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!
CANADA SOCCER NEWS
Canada shows progress despite loss to USWNT – The Equalizer
One thing was clear on Sunday at BBVA Compass Stadium: Canada can hang with top-tier opposition like the United States. The days when the U.S. would run up the score and beat up on Canada are over, although the U.S. remains unbeaten against their northern neighbors in the past 31 games and 15 years. Lindsey Horan and Tobin Heath scored in the second half to lift the U.S. to a 2-0 victory.
Year of the Builder at Alberta Sports Hall of Fame – Edmonton Sun
Karl Weidle is one of the 2016 inductees to the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame & Museum. He is credited for the advancement of soccer in the province.
Swift Current United teams host club day – The Southwest Booster
Three Swift Current United Soccer Club teams hosted three QC United teams from Regina on Saturday at the Swift Current Stockade. The host United teams finished with two wins, three losses, and one draw against their Regina rivals.
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.)
VIDEO: Soccer Coaching Possession Drill: Combination Play – YouTube
This U14 possession session gives players the skills required for confident build-up play; passing and receiving, spatial awareness and movement.
BC Soccer Leagues & Clubs – Share your News With The BC Soccer Community!
WFC2, USL & NASL NEWS
Whitecaps FC sign teenagers Matthew Baldisimo and Alphonso Davies to WFC2 – Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today that Residency defender/midfielder Matthew Baldisimo and midfielder/striker Alphonso Davies have been signed to professional contracts with Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2) in the United Soccer League (USL).
Youth serves: 15-year-old Alphonso Davies joins WFC2 after ‘eye-opening’ experience with first team – Whitecaps FC
Those are the words Alphonso Davies has lived by for as long as he can remember. They came from his mom. She told him to always keep a level head. She told him not to show off. And she told him to work hard. That what he’s been doing – and it’s starting to pay off.
Whitecaps Residency star Alphonso Davies signs USL deal after impressing in Vancouver’s preseason camp – AFTN
The upward trajectory of young Vancouver Whitecaps striker Alphonso Davies continued apace today, with the announcement that the Residency standout has signed a USL deal with the club for the upcoming season.
Brotherhood the key to success for newly-signed pro Matthew Baldisimo – Whitecaps FC
The camaraderie from being on a team often makes players feel like brothers. But for Matthew Baldisimo, that feeling has held more true than most. The 18-year-old has spent the past five years in the Whitecaps FC Residency program playing with older brother Mark and younger brother Michael.
S2 wants players that can play in MLS in “2, 3 years”– Sounder at Heart
Seattle Sounders FC’s USL side held its final open tryouts over the weekend. Before Saturday’s session featuring four goalkeepers and sixty outfield players Coach Ezra Hendrickson told Sounder at Heart that the goal is that an S2 player will be with the first team in two to three years.
Portland Timbers 2 Sign Youth Internationals Dylan Damraoui and Alexis Meva – T2
The Portland Timbers’ USL side, T2, have announced the signing of a pair of intriguing youth internationals today, bringing in Belgian midfielder Dylan Damraoui and Cameroonian forward Alexis Meva.
San Antonio FC holds first training camp – The Paisano
San Antonio’s new soccer franchise, San Antonio FC, held its inaugural training camp this past weekend to prepare for the 2016 United Soccer League (USL) season.
Does Minnesota Have a Competitive Advantage This NASL Season? – Prost Amerika
Minnesota United FC is headed to MLS in 2017, perhaps under a new name. Obscured by the discussion of what name Minnesota will have in MLS, is the reality that United in 2016 has been handed a major competitive advantage as they compete in the NASL.
Fury FC: Preseason Preparations – Midfield Press
Ottawa Fury enters their second week of training on Monday as they prepare for a friendly match vs Toronto FC II in Toronto on Friday. The match vs TFC II will be followed up with a trip to Arizona for a week, with Ottawa playing matches against Indy Eleven and Real Salt Lake Academy before returning home to face FC Montreal and Rochester Rhinos.
2016 NASL Player Tracker – NASL
Time to get up to date with all of the 2016 player moves in the NASL.
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WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
U.S. Soccer Federation to Launch Girls’ Development Academy in Fall of 2017 – USSF
In an effort to accelerate the development of world-class female players, U.S. Soccer is launching a Girls’ Development Academy Program in the fall of 2017. The Academy will focus on positively impacting the everyday club environments to assist in maximizing female youth player development across the country.
Elite eight gearing up for quarter-finals – UEFA
Since the end of the German winter break just over a week ago both clubs have secured their coaches on long-term deals. First, Wolfsburg’s Ralf Kellermann agreed a new contract until 2019 as he continues his quest to become the first coach to win three UEFA women’s club titles after his successes with the Wolves in 2013 and 2014. Then Frankfurt gave caretaker Matt Ross a permanent deal running until the end of next season; the 38-year-old Australian had initally stepped up on an interim basis after Colin Bell left in December.
Japan relaxes ban on North Koreans to allow women’s football team to enter Rio 2016 qualifier – Inside the Games
Japan’s ban on North Koreans entering its territory will be relaxed to allow the country’s women’s football team to compete in the Asian Olympic qualifier, it has been announced.
Gender inclusiveness in football governance (PDF File) – FIFA
The following is a timeline of milestones on the road towards greater inclusion of women in football governance.
Northern Ireland native putting leadership training into practice – FIFA
The timing of FIFA’s Female Leadership Development Programme (FLDP) could hardly have been better for participant Sara Booth, who this month stepped up to lead what will be the biggest women’s football tournament in her native Northern Ireland.
The Evolution of Marketing To Female Sports Fans – Forbes
“Shrink it and pink it” as a marketing strategy is all but dead, thank you very much. In its place we’re finally getting marketing campaigns around sports that recognize women watch and play sports for many of the same reasons as men.
The Womens U-17 Sudamericano fixture list – Conmebol
The Women’s U-17 Sudamericano Championship, which runs until Sunday, March 20, gets under way on March 1 in Barquisimeto, Venezuela.
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WORLD SOCCER NEWS
Four powers, two games, one Champions League Super Tuesday – SI.com
If UEFA established a Super Tuesday in the Champions League, this would be it: four of Europe’s biggest and best teams face each other in the pick of the round-of-16 ties this week. Barcelona’s quest to become the first team in the Champions League era to retain its title takes it to London, while last year’s runner-up, Juventus, takes on Bayern Munich.
Champions League: How can Arsenal beat Barcelona? – BBC Sport
Arsenal host Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, hoping for a repeat of the last time the two sides met at Emirates Stadium in February 2011, when the Gunners were 2-1 winners.
Champions League round of 16: previews for this week’s matches – The Guardian
A look forward to Juventus v Bayern Munich, Arsenal v Barcelona, PSV Eindhoven v Atlético Madrid and Dynamo Kyiv v Manchester City.
Napoli sets sights on Scudetto and Francesco Totti divides Roma – Prost Amerika
It was billed as the scudetto showdown, but the big match between Juve and Napoli came and went without much fanfare.
Arrest after coin thrown at West Brom’s Chris Brunt – BBC
Police investigating a coin thrown at West Bromwich Albion’s Chris Brunt after an FA Cup match at Reading have made an arrest.
Alex McLeish agrees deal to become new manager of Egyptian club Zamalek – The Guardian
The 57-year-old, who has also managed Nottingham Forest, Birmingham and the Scotland national side, will take over from the former Tottenham striker Mido, who was sacked two weeks ago.
Prince Ali wants Friday’s FIFA presidential election postponed – ESPN FC
Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein’s lawyers have gone to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in an attempt to get Friday’s FIFA presidential election postponed, with a decision on his request for transparent voting booths expected by Thursday morning.
FIFA election is about reform, but do voters want change? – SI.com
It was a scene straight out of a Parks and Recreation town hall meeting, the kind that makes you wonder: These are the voters? Osiris Guzmán, the president of the Dominican Republic’s soccer federation, will cast one of the 209 votes in the FIFA presidential election on Feb. 26—the most important election in the 112-year history of the scandal-plagued governing body. Last year Guzmán gave a speech comparing Sepp Blatter, the now banned FIFA president, to Jesus Christ, Nelson Mandela, Moses, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill and Martin Luther King Jr. Inexplicably, he left out Mahatma Gandhi.
FIFA presidential election: The key facts in race to replace Sepp Blatter – ESPN FC
One of the most important elections in FIFA’s history takes place on Feb. 26, when officials vote on who should replace former president Sepp Blatter.
Mumbai teams illustrate the rich/poor class divide between India’s top leagues – Inside World Football
Mumbai City FC of the Indian Super League and Mumbai FC of the I-League encapsulate the growing schism in Indian football. Halfway the regular season the I-League is again suffering from a lack of exposure.
BBC: Football poems, contributed by readers of Sportsday live – BBC Sport
“I have to get poetry lessons to describe his importance to us,” he said of Hammers midfielder Dimitri Payet, who orchestrated their 5-1 victory over Blackburn in the FA Cup fifth round. So we asked you to get involved on social media by sending in your prose, dedicated to your favourite clubs and players. Here’s a few of the best: