BC Soccer News, Wednesday, February 15, 2017

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS

MLS PRESEASON

PORTLAND TIMBERS  vs. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2017, 7:30 PM
PROVIDENCE PARK, PORTLAND, OREGON
LIVESTREAM: WHITECAPSFC.COM

Whitecaps FC acquire three-time MLS All-Star striker Fredy MonteroWhitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Wednesday that the club has acquired striker Fredy Montero as a Designated Player on a one-year loan from Chinese Super League club Tianjin Teda.

Can Fredy Montero produce in Vancouver like he did in Seattle?MLS
Octavio Rivero. Blas Perez. Masato Kudo. Giles Barnes. Erik Hurtado. All five of those players saw time up top for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in 2016. In total they scored 10 goals in 4,341 minutes for the club, a goalscoring rate that matches up with players such as Patrick Nyarko and Tommy McNamara – wingers, not center forwards. So it’s obvious that this team needed more out of its striker corps in order to make the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Vancouver Whitecaps Officially Add Fredy MonteroEighty-Six Forever
In order to sign Montero, The Whitecaps had to go through the allocation process, and that meant they had to make a deal for the number one spot, held by Minnesota United FC. The Whitecaps moved $100,000 in General Allocation Money in 2018, $125,000 in Targeted Allocation Money in 2018, and an international roster spot through 2017 to get the spot.

Whitecaps add to offence by acquiring Colombian Fredy MonteroSportsnet
The Vancouver Whitecaps have added to their offence by acquiring former Seattle Sounders forward Fredy Montero as a designated player.

Five down, one to go: ‘Caps set for final preseason test vs. PortlandWhitecaps FC
Asked what he expects from Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s preseason finale vs. Portland Timbers, Carl Robinson smiled and said “A nice quiet match.” Which, of course, means it will likely be the exact opposite.

Aron Jóhannsson coming to Colorado, New York, or Vancouver?MLS Multiplex
USMNT striker Aron Jóhannsson might be on the move from Europe to the MLS this summer, but which club would be the best fit for him?

Portland’s final piece? Why Blanco’s arrival should scare the rest of MLSFour Four Two
The Timbers’ new addition could be the missing ingredient which returns them to championship form.

The Galaxy might start the season without Gyasi Zardes and Robbie RogersLA Times
The Galaxy appear likely to start the Major League Soccer season without two of their most important players as forward Gyasi Zardes and right back Robbie Rogers continue to rehab stubborn injuries less than three weeks before the team’s March 4 opener.

After a breakthrough in 2016, Toronto FC looks to build perennial successESPN FC
There’s no crueler way to lose a final than on penalty kicks, at home, to a team you didn’t allow a shot on goal over 120 minutes. The two months that have passed since Toronto FC watched the Seattle Sounders steal MLS Cup at frigid BMO Field in December haven’t changed that fact for TFC coach Greg Vanney.

Clint Dempsey upbeat after recovery from heart conditionSBI
Clint Dempsey is back and ready to help the Seattle Sounders defend their MLS Cup title. Dempsey, addressing the media for the first time since being diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat last summer, struck an upbeat tone after training on Tuesday.

Moralez Joins NYCFC as Third Designated PlayerNYCFC
New York City FC are delighted to announce the signing of Maximiliano Moralez. Subject to receipt of his P1 Visa and ITC, Maxi becomes the team’s third Designated Player following his transfer from Club Leon in Mexico, signing a three-year contract.

Herrera Joins NYCFC on Season-long LoanSBI
New York City FC has acquired the Venezuelan defensive midfielder Yangel Hererra, 19, on a season-long loan from Manchester City of England’s Premier League — pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and ITC.

MLS Moves: Davis to retire as Dynamo playerSoccer America
He finished his career last year with Sporting Kansas City, but Brad Davis will come back for one final day as a Dynamo player. A long stint with Houston has prompted Davis and the team to arrange a special retirement.

Seattle Sounders announce upcoming friendlies versus Club Necaxa, Eintracht Frankfurt Sounders FC
The Sounders will welcome Necaxa on Saturday, March 25 at 7 p.m. PT before Frankfurt visits on Saturday, July 8 at 1 p.m. PT

Ticket sales for Atlanta United’s inaugural match pass 40,000, may sell outMLS
Club president Darren Eales told the AJC that the team is on pace to fill the 55,000-seat venue at Georgia Tech, which will serve as Atlanta’s home until Mercedes-Benz Stadium is completed this summer.

A homegrown dream comes trueDirty South Soccer
My mom is the biggest Braves fan I know. We are an Atlanta sports family! Although it was strained a bit when my brother decided to go to Georgia Tech, my dad is an avid Bulldog fan. We were a house divided. Me? I loved soccer.

DC United’s Audi Field, opening in 2018DC United
Audi Field will be the home for D.C. United, the most decorated franchise in U.S. soccer history and the most championed professional team in the District of Columbia. Opening in 2018, it will also host a variety of other sporting and cultural events, community activities, and concerts.

Train With Champions TWU Spartan Female Soccer Academy

BC SOCCER NEWS

Cascades add Surrey standouts to roster UFV
The group is headlined by blue-chip midfielder Harneet Dadrao, and she’s joined in the Cascades’ Class of 2017 by goalkeeper Joven Sandhu, midfielders Mackenzie Toop and Katrina Frankenberger, defender Taylor Nekic, and forward Sarah Parker.

Riptide weather Storm in double headerCampbell River Mirror
Marine Harvest Riptide U17/18 boys went into last weekend’s Saturday game against Nanaimo Storm with just 11 players. Being mentally prepared for having no subs, the team came together and played their positions well.

Athlete-turned-designer: Jay DeMerit’s new speakers spark changeDaily Hive
DeMerit’s journey from rags to soccer riches is documented in Rise & Shine The Jay DeMerit Story – a Kickstarter documentary that not only showcased his story, but also started his first philanthropic foundation. Now the professional soccer player is giving his Rise and Shine Foundation a leg up with some of his pre-athlete experience in industrial design.

To our Readers: A Choice BC Soccer Web
Soccer has brought us to the United States many times. It’s a great place with decent people. We especially look forward to our Cascadia trips to Seattle and Portland. They’re incredible cities with wonderful supporters. That’s why it was so disheartening to see chaos and fear take hold in the airports and borders of our neighbours to the south.

FVSL All-Stars to face WFC2 in MarchBC Soccer Web
January snow and ice in the Lower Mainland put the brakes on the annual clash between the Fraser Valley Soccer League All-Stars and the best from the VISL this year. That hasn’t stopped the FVSL from planning an ambitious All-Star series in March.

BC Soccer Assoc. is Now Accepting 2016-2017 Awards NominationsBCSA
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 saleHighlanders 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, 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. 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.

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

CANADA SOCCER NEWS

Calgary Granted Approval For UWS ExpansionUWS
United Women’s Soccer (UWS) is excited to announce that Calgary Foothills Women’s F.C. will be competing in the West Conference for the Summer 2017 season.

7 from N.S. to take part in Whitecaps FC camp – Chronicle Herald
Seven Nova Scotians are heading west for a chance to start their paths to the big-time. Vancouver Whitecaps FC — whose program is most known for its senior-level team participating in Major League Soccer (MLS) — is holding a ‘High Potential Prospects Camp’ this coming week in Vancouver with seven Bluenosers getting the invite.

Three retiring international referees honoured during National Referees CampCSA
Canada Soccer held its annual National Referee Camp in Toronto 10-12 Feb. The three-day camp prepares selected instructors from the national pool for the upcoming season with a series of presentations focused on modern refereeing trends and includes the latest in FIFA Fitness testing.

First blind soccer match a highlight of ParaSport GamesBrant News
Relatively new to Canada, blind soccer is five versus five soccer with each of the players wearing a blindfold, outside of the goalies who are not visually impaired. The ball is installed with a bell of sorts, letting players know where it is. It is played with boards similar to those used in hockey, but with large soccer-style nets.

Canada Soccer Request for Information (RFI) for a new digital platformCSA
Canada Soccer is seeking a firm with experience in the design, set-up, integration(s), and facilitation of a digital platform. Services are needed to advise the project team to identify website development strategic considerations including hosting and platform options, as well as long-term content facilitation options and integration with a number of platforms including a person data management platform, statistical database module and various software-as-a-service platforms.

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WFC2, USL, NASL & NPSL NEWS

Propelled by WFC2, Chung Amped for National StageUSL
For a young player, there can be a moment when he or she makes a statement on the field that establishes their presence to a wider audience. For Canada U20 Men’s National Team defender Kadin Chung, it arrived last May. With a then-undefeated Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 trailing Tulsa Roughnecks FC by a goal in the second half of its USL regular-season contest, Chung made a spectacular spinning move to split two defenders, and crossed a perfect ball for Kyle Greig to head home.

FC Edmonton adds midfielders Khattab, Eustaquio in latest round of signingsFC Edmonton
FC Edmonton announced, Tuesday, the addition of Norwegian midfielder Sabri Khattab and former Ottawa Fury FC midfielder Mauro Eustaquio for the 2017 North American Soccer League (NASL) season. Khattab’s signing is pending ITC clearance. As per club policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Better late than never: After move to Edmonton was aborted in 2016, Eustaquio joins the Eddies for 2017 the11.ca
Mauro Eustaquio was destined to become an Eddie. FC Edmonton confirmed the signings of the Canadian midfielder, along with and Norwegian midfielder Sabri Khattab on Tuesday — and later announced the team’s plans for a four-game, two-week tour of Manchester, England.

FC Edmonton Announces Four-Match Manchester Preseason TripFC Edmonton
FC Edmonton will participate in four exhibition matches while in Manchester, facing English Championship sides Newcastle United U-23 and Wigan Reserves, as well as English Premiership sides Burnley U-23 and Stoke U-23.

Sehgal: NASL Has Lofty AspirationsEmpire of Soccer
After a turbulent off-season for the North American Soccer League, it would be a reasonable assumption that it’s rebuilding time for the league’s seven ownership groups.

Roughnecks Announce Affiliation with Chicago FireTulsa Roughnecks FC
Tulsa Roughnecks FC has secured its first-ever affiliation with a team from Major League Soccer.  The Roughnecks and Chicago Fire announced today that the two teams have entered into a partnership for the 2017 season with each club recognized as the other club’s affiliate.

After dark winter, Armada kicks off preseason campJacksonville.com
Following a turbulent winter that threatened to sink the Jacksonville Armada, the North American Soccer League club kicked off its preseason training camp Tuesday.

Beckie makes the move to Jacksonvillethe11.ca
Canadian midfielder/defender Drew Beckie has a new home. The Jacksonville Armada announced Tuesday that the club had inked Beckie to a new deal. Last season, Beckie played 1,592 minutes over 23 games for The Team Formerly Known as the Carolina RailHawks (now North Carolina FC). Beckie spent 2014-15 with the Ottawa Fury; before that, he was with the Columbus Crew of MLS.

World player of the year Carli Lloyd joins Manchester CityUEFA
Reigning FIFA women’s player of the year Carli Lloyd has joined Manchester City, becoming the second high-profile US player to move to a quarter-finalist after Lyon’s Alex Morgan.

Lloyd ‘thrilled’ to join Man City’s push for Champions League glorySBI
Carli Lloyd spent the first 14 years of her career plying her trade at home in the U.S. while becoming one of the game’s most successful and recognizable players to ever represent the U.S. Women’s National Team. After an extended run, Lloyd was looking for a new challenge, and she found one with Manchester City.

Waldrum: Dash “not built around any one player”The Equalizer
Houston Dash head coach Randy Waldrum said that Carli Lloyd informed him over the weekend of her desire to pursue an opportunity with Manchester City Women who officially announced Lloyd on Wednesday. Waldrum said he wished Lloyd the best in her pursuit of a Champions League title in a press release from the club that stated she will return in June.

Rampone, a Jersey Girl, to Be Honored By U.S. SoccerEmpire of Soccer
It will not be a farewell match in the traditional sense, but U.S. Soccer plans to honor its former captain and New Jersey native Christie Rampone at a doubleheader of the SheBelieves Cup at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., on March 4.

The money boom in the Chinese Women’s Super League is a positiveVavel
With the rumoured news that Brazilian international Cristiane is set to become the best paid player in women’s football after a reported Summer move to China’s Changchun Dazhong Zhuoyue people have already started to compare what’s happening on the women’s side to the men’s in the Chinese league.

Women and men to train together as South Melbourne gear up expansion bidThe Guardian
In what they claim is an Australian footballing first, South Melbourne have combined their senior men and women’s training for their upcoming season. The former NSL powerhouse is upping the ante on their A-League expansion hopes, declaring their readiness to enter a W-League team from year one of their admission to the big time.

Nadia Nadim, a football refugee FIFA
Nadia Nadim is unstoppable. You have to drag her away from the Portland Thorns training ground, where she’ll happily do shooting drills for hours on end. She excels in the classroom too, where she studies medicine in her spare time. You can hear her smile through a phone line. There’s a joyful restlessness in her voice. And she’s a long way from where she started.

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WORLD SOCCER NEWS

UCL Tuesday Rewind: PSG hammers Barcelona, Benfica holds off DortmundSBI
For years, Paris Saint-Germain has fallen short against Europe’s top dogs. The French club certainly didn’t fall short on Tuesday.

Does Barcelona’s heavy defeat at Paris Saint-Germain spell the end of an era?ESPN FC
On Tuesday night, following their 4-0 Parc des Princes hammering at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain, my colleague Michael Yokhin tweeted: “This is Barcelona’s most important and resounding defeat since Milan in 1994.” He was referring to the 1993-94 Champions League final, when Johan Cruyff’s heavily favored “Dream Team” fell at the hands of Fabio Capello’s depleted Milan side.

Benfica edges Dortmund in first leg of Champions League fixtureSportsnet
Borussia Dortmund squandered chance after chance, including a second-half penalty, before slumping to a 1-0 defeat at Benfica in their first leg match of the Champions League’s Round of 16 on Tuesday.

Arsène Wenger insists Arsenal are up for the ‘massive challenge’ in MunichThe Guardian
Arsenal were a little late getting to Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena on the eve of their last 16 first-leg tie. Perhaps with this in mind Arsène Wenger was particularly brusque with the suggestion that his team’s ability to break a six-season run of instant elimination from the Champions League knockout stages might be a decisive factor in his own continued tenure as Arsenal coach.

Mourinho predicts ‘trouble’ as Man United faces fixture pile-upSportsnet
Jose Mourinho expressed his concern about the potential schedule logjam facing Manchester United in the final months of the season, saying Wednesday it poses the team “many, many, many problems.”

Twenty-two players and officials banned for life for match manipulationAFC
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Disciplinary Committee has issued a life ban from football-related activities to twenty-two individuals from Laos and Cambodia for involvement in the manipulation of matches involving the representative teams of Laos and the club side Lao Toyota FC.

Li, Jimenez face life bans as FIFA begins formal proceedings Four Four Two
Ex-CONCACAF administrators Eduardo Li and Brayan Jimenez are the subject of formal adjudicatory proceedings from FIFA’s Ethics Committee.

Turkey makes bid to host 2024 European Championship – federationESPN FC
The head of the Turkish soccer federation says the country will bid to host the 2024 European Championship.

“I Am an American Coach” by Bob BradleyThe Players’ Tribune
When I was introduced at Swansea City, I was asked what it meant to be the first American manager in the Premier League. My answer was simple and straightforward: I was proud. Very proud. But then I quickly switched gears because I didn’t think any of Swansea’s diehard supporters would care about that angle. A day or so later, a journalist wrote that I was defensive about being American. That was wrong. I just didn’t think it mattered. Maybe I was wrong about that.

Mark Warburton’s LMA statement insists he did not resign from Rangers The Guardian
Mark Warburton has called on Rangers to answer questions put to them by the League Managers Association (LMA) as he reiterated his position that he did not resign from the club.

Study of soccer players’ brains highlights dementia concernsSportsnet
The degenerative damage potentially caused by repeated blows to the head in soccer has been highlighted by a rare study of brains of a small number of retired players who developed dementia.

Greek soccer hero helps refugees win battle against boredomYahoo Sports
Now the country’s national youth team coach, Antonis Nikopolidis is helping refugees stranded in Greece regain a sense of purpose. The soccer team he helped build, named Hope (Elpida in Greek), is made up of players who fled warzones in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Posted in BC Soccer News, British Columbia Soccer.