BC Soccer News, Wednesday, December 14, 2016

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS

Whitecaps FC acquire Sheanon Williams from Houston DynamoWhitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Tuesday that the club has acquired right back Sheanon Williams from Houston Dynamo in exchange for general allocation money – pending receipt of his international transfer certificate and Canadian work permit.

Whitecaps get their right backThe Province
After a season with an endlessly unsatisfying answer to the “who will replace Steve Beitashour” question, it looks like the Whitecaps have found their answer: they’ve traded for Sheanon Williams.

Vancouver Whitecaps Acquire RB Sheanon Williams from HoustonEighty-Six Forever
The Vancouver Whitecaps added some depth to one of their biggest roster needs on Tuesday, by acquiring Right Back Sheanon Williams from the Houston Dynamo. Heading back the other way is General Allocation Money, according to WhitecapsFC.com.

Five things: Get to know Sheanon WilliamsWhitecaps FC
Here are five things you need to know about Vancouver’s newest addition.

Vancouver’s Davies Named Canada’s U17 Player of the YearUSL
Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s Alphonso Davies had a historic 2016, becoming the youngest signing and then youngest goal-scorer in USL history with Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 before signing as a Homegrown Player with the club’s MLS squad midseason.

Atlanta United, Minnesota United FC add five players in MLS Expansion DraftMLS
Atlanta United and Minnesota United took hard-working fullbacks with their first picks in the 2016 MLS Expansion Draft on Tuesday as left back Donny Toia and right back Chris Duvall went No. 1.

Atlanta trades Irwin and Toia, Minnesota deals DuvallSBI
Just one hour after the MLS Expansion Draft ended, Minnesota United and Atlanta United have completed a trio of trades involving their recently acquired players.

Atlanta United happy with Expansion Draft picks, trades after wild dayMLS
Seated at a massive round table in Atlanta United’s draft room, Gerardo “Tata” Martino quietly scribbled notes and crossed off names as 10 players came off the board during Tuesday’s MLS Expansion Draft.

Loons Opt for Potential in MLS Expansion Draft Fifty Five One
Minnesota United FC picked up five players from the Expansion Draft, including young fullback Chris Duvall. Minnesota United opted for youth rather than pick up some of the more experienced players available. Atlanta made a few picks with an eye for trades. Both teams defied almost every outside observer’s predictions.

LA Galaxy name Curt Onalfo head coachLA Galaxy
The LA Galaxy have named Curt Onalfo head coach, the club announced Tuesday. Onalfo, 47, becomes head coach after leading LA Galaxy II to a 41-20-25 record, three-straight playoff berths and the 2015 USL Western Conference Championship over the last three seasons in the United Soccer League (USL). Onalfo, who played for the Galaxy in their inaugural 1996 season and has over 10 years of experience in MLS, has won an MLS Cup and both a player and a coach.

LA Galaxy acquire the rights to midfielder Jermaine Jones from Colorado Rapids LA Galaxy
LA Galaxy have acquired the rights to midfielder Jermaine Jones from Colorado Rapids in exchange for the club’s 2017 1st Round MLS SuperDraft pick, the club announced today. Jones, 35, has made 47 all-time appearances in Major League Soccer.

Sounders victory march draws thousands Kitsap Sun
Thousands lined the downtown streets Tuesday morning well before any Seattle Sounders coach or player arrived to board the brigade of trolleys.

‘68,000 a game’: How MLS Cup could vault Seattle to even higher levels Four Four Two
MLS Cup was a milestone, but the Sounders still have designs on taking their club to another level.

Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei commemorates “The Save” with a tattooSounders FC
Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei unveiled his new tattoo on Twitter on Tuesday evening following the Sounders’ Championship March and Rally. His new ink sits in between his thumb and index finger.

The big, bad Argos are much tougher than Sebastian GiovincoWaking the Red
A handful of Argos and other CFL players took the chance to ridicule Sebastian Giovinco on Tuesday for daring to share his thoughts on why he might not have played his best soccer on Saturday against the Seattle Sounders, and why he was substituted in extra time as a result.

Fox says 2016 MLS Cup is most-watched final since 2001SBI
The 2016 MLS Cup final was a TV rating success on both sides of the border. Fox Sports announced that the 2016 MLS Cup attracted more than 1.4 million viewers, the highest number for an MLS final since 2001. The audience peaked at 2.15 million during the penalty shootout.

Seattle’s triumph, and good riddance to Gerrard: the 2016 MLS season in reviewThe Guardian
The Sounders won the championship despite a final to forget – but plenty was worth remembering. Graham Parker reflects on another fascinating MLS year

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BC SOCCER NEWS

2017 Highlanders FC Season Passes on Sale NowHighlanders FC
Join the excitement of Highlanders FC PDL Soccer!  2017 Season Passes are on sale now!   Our 2017 pricing reflects a reduction from 2016 pricing for season passes and day-of game tickets. Support local soccer!

BC Soccer Assoc. 2016 Club Charter UpdateBCSA
BC Soccer Assoc. is pleased to update the membership and wider soccer community that more than 50 and over 50% of affiliated soccer clubs from across the province have submitted their letter of intent to opt into BC Soccer Association’s club charter program. BC Soccer Assoc. will also be continuing to work with each and every club to reach Standard 1. Throughout the process BC Soccer Assoc. is learning which areas many clubs need support including: Coach Education, Risk Management and LTPD compliance.

Soccer squads come in from the coldParksville Qualicum Beach News
While snow from a series of weeklong storms blanketed much of Vancouver Island, more than a dozen U13 soccer teams found conditions perfect for Sunday’s Upper Island Soccer Association jamboree at the Arbutus Meadows indoor arena.

PHOTOS: CANADA WEST WOMENS FINAL, UBC 3, TWU 0, NOVEMBER 6, 2016BC Soccer Web
Exclusive photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.

VMSL PHOTOS: Richmond FC Hibs 1, ICSF Columbus FC 0, November 5, 2016BC 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 VancouverCSA
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, 2016BC 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. Releases their 2015-2016 Year in ReviewBCSA
After another successful year of soccer in British Columbia, BC Soccer Assoc. is pleased to release their 2015-2016 Year in Review.  The creation of the BC Soccer Club Charter Program, delivery of a FIFA Live Your Goals Festival, along with the numerous Grassroots Festivals across the province and Coach Education highlight some of the major successes this past year.

BC Soccer Assoc. Delivery of Coach MandateBCSA
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 SyndicationBC 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.

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CANADA SOCCER NEWS

Davies and Rose win 2016 Canadian U-17 Players of the Year  –CSA
Alphonso Davies and Deanne Rose have been named 2016 Canadian U-17 Players of the Year. Canada’s two footballers won the honour from a vote shared by national team coaches (50%) as well as Canadian clubs and coaches (50%). Davies of Edmonton, AB plays for Vancouver Whitecaps FC while Rose of Alliston, ON plays for Scarborough GS United.

Canada in Group B at CONCACAF Men’s Under-17 ChampionshipCSA
Canada have been drawn into Group B at the 2017 CONCACAF Men’s Under-17 Championship, with Costa Rica, Cuba, and Suriname the trio of Canadian opponents in the opening round of the competition. Canada will open against Costa Rica on 22 April in Panama.

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WFC2, USL & NASL NEWS

WFC2 head coach Alan Koch departs club to pursue new opportunity with FC CincinnatiWhitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC confirmed on Wednesday that Whitecaps FC 2 head coach Alan Koch has left the club to pursue a new opportunity with FC Cincinnati as assistant coach and director of scouting and analytics.

USL Becoming Pathway to Top for CoachesUSL
Onalfo, Cabrera, Schmetzer made move to top-flight positions this year.

Sacramento is #Built4MLS, but is that enough?Indomitable City Soccer
It’s time to get down to brass tacks. Don Garber and Major League Soccer have said all the nice things about Sacramento that they can possibly say. And why not? You’re ready, River City. You’ve checked the boxes. You’ve done everything right. But for some reason, people across the landscape are asking this question.

How to build a soccer franchise: An interview with Charlotte Independence COO Michael Behrman  – Prost Amerika
It is the dream of pretty much every football fan to own or operate their own team. The opportunity to build a team, a culture, and to scout and sign players is something that countless football fans spend hours upon hours doing from electronically from the comfort of their own home. But what is it like to build a real team and watch that product grow?

Tobin Heath, Ashley Sanchez win US Soccer honorsThe Equalizer
Tobin Heath has been voted U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year for 2016. The announcement was made Tuesday on ESPN’s soccer program ESPNFC. Also honored was 17-year old Ashley Sanchez who was voted Young Female Player of the Year. Heath won with 40 percent of the vote, edging Crystal Dunn who collected 34 percent. The other finalists were Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, and Becky Sauerbrunn.

Nigeria Super Falcons march on parliament to demand bonuses BBC
Nigeria’s victorious women’s football team have protested outside parliament in Abuja over unpaid win bonuses.

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WORLD SOCCER NEWS

FIFA Club World Cup: Antlers down Atletico Nacional to reach finalFIFA
Kashima Antlers advanced to the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup final after a 3-0 victory against Atletico Nacional at the Suita City Football Stadium in Osaka.

Video review used for penalty decision in FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2016 semi-finalFIFA
Video replay technology has been used in the awarding of a penalty for Japan’s Kashima Antlers during their FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2016 semi-final win over South American club champions Atletico Nacional in Osaka, Japan.

Kashima third non-European or Latin American Club World Cup finalistAS
Kashima Antlers beat Atlético Nacional 3-0 to reach the Club World Cup final on Wednesday, becoming the first Asian side to contest the showpiece game at the annual event and only the third non-European or Latin American club to do so.

Real Madrid prepare for FIFA Club World Cup UEFA
Real Madrid have taken all their main men, including newly-crowned Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, to Yokohoma, Japan, for the FIFA Club World Cup.

Can Club America top Real Madrid? Mexican side can look to historic exampleSN
A general rule of thumb when you come across a question in a headline is to answer “No,” and you could do that with this piece. Can Club America top Real Madrid in the Club World Cup? The gut instinct is to deny the possibility.

Everton bare their teeth at last as Arsenal feel full force of Goodison ParkThe Guardian
Hearts and heads were put to fine use by an Everton side who reawakened a home crowd with a gutsy display to which Arsène Wenger’s men had no answer.

Watford will be facing a “very angry” Manchester city says Walter Mazzarri Vavel
Watford manager Walter Mazzarri says his team will be facing a “very angry” Manchester City side as they travel to the Etihad for a midweek clash on Wednesday night.

Conceição toasts ‘magnificent’ debut Ligue 1
New Nantes coach Sérgio Conceição was delighted with his team’s display in beating Montpellier in the Coupe de la Ligue on Tuesday while Rudi Garcia refused to be too downbeat after Marseille were knocked out.

CAS to hear Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid transfer appeals before JanESPN FC
Last January, FIFA found that both Madrid and Atletico had broken international youth transfer rules and would be banned for 12 months from registering any new players.

Child trafficking? England dominate market in transfer of minors Inside World Football
Barcelona were sanctioned for the ‘irregular’ movement of players under the age of 18 and questions have been raised over the Real Madrid academy system as regards transfer of minors. But England is by far the most active in the international recruitment of minors.

Chelsea’s Oscar: Shanghai SIPG transfer ’90 percent’ doneESPN FC
Oscar has said that his move to Shanghai SIPG is “90 percent” completed after the Chinese Super League club offered £60 million to sign him from Chelsea in January.

Qatar ends kafala and asks for time to view the new law in actionInside World Football
Qatari authorities say they have finally abolished the antiquated ‘kafala’ system tying foreign workers to their employers and which has caused so much conflict amid preparations for the 2022 World Cup. The Qatari government said a new law coming into effect will replace the controversial system that forces foreign workers to seek their employer’s consent before being allowed to change jobs or leave the country.

Footballer Nile Ranger charged with fraud and money launderingBBC
A footballer has been charged over an alleged scam involving a vulnerable person’s bank details being taken so their savings could be accessed.

Motherwell captain and electrician Keith Lasley reacts to Aberdeen floodlight failureBBC Sport
Motherwell captain and qualified electrician Keith Lasley joked that team-mates urged him to try to fix Aberdeen’s floodlight issue. Tuesday’s Premiership match between the sides was abandoned when a generator failed in the first half at Pittodrie.

Away days: on the road to Ayr United with Hibs fansThe Guardian
You sigh and your shoulders droop. Never again. That never is declared once more behind a chalky cloud fired by your own breath against the bitter and black air. You repeatedly shake your head, as if being interrogated by some unseen ghoul. All that money spent. All the miles crossed by train, car or bus. All of those other things you could have been doing, and instead you were watching a capitulation in Greenock, a rout in Dundee, a hiding in Dingwall, a trouncing in Stranraer. Could even the worst cinema trip, 3D glasses, price and all, feel half as bad as conceding an injury-time winner?

Posted in BC Soccer News.