Volume 2, Issue 2, Caribbean Football Union Newsletter

FEBRUARY 2014, VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2, CARIBBEAN FOOTBALL UNION NEWSLETTER
ARTICLES
INSIDE
Supligen boosts
Harbour View
3
TCI person
of the year
4
CFU 2014
Club Championships
M
arch 19-26 are the dates set for thirteen teams from
across the region to do battle for the top three places
in the 2014 CFU Club Championship Cup competition.
This competition is the Caribbean Football Union’s
(CFU) official qualifying tournament for the 2014/2015
CONCACAF Champions League, from which teams will
qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup.
All games are scheduled to be played simultaneously with
the final round set for April 16-21 in a straight knock-out
to crown a champion in order to secure the three places
up for grabs at the CONCACAF Champions League.
The Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Champions’
Cup is an official yearly Calendar event of the Caribbean
Football Union.
Webb’s Speech
5
The tournament has been divided into three groups, with
four teams to each group, while defending champions
Valencia Football Club from Haiti gets a bye to enter the
competition in the final round.
In Group 1 the teams are Centro Dominguito from
Curacao, Bayamon from Puerto Rico, Bodden Town
from the Cayman Islands and Unite Saint Rosienne from
Guadeloupe.
Grenada Hosts
Successful
Awards Ceremony
6
Group 2 consists of Association Sportive de Mirebalais
from Haiti, Waterhouse Football Cub from Jamaica, Inter
Moegotopoe from Suriname and Caledonia AIA from
Trinidad and Tobago.
In Group 3 there is Harbour View Football Club from
Jamaica, Alpha United from Guyana, Defence Force
Football Team from Trinidad & Tobago and Sporting
Vereniging Notch from Suriname.
2014 CFU CLUB CHAM PIONSHIP QUALIFIERS FIXTURES
MATCH DAY
MATCH #
TEAM A
1
March 21
March 23
TEAM B
CFU CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
Time
Score
5:30PM
2
Bayamon FC
Unite Saint
Rosienne
Bodden Town FC
3
Unite Saint Rosienne
Bodden Town FC
5:30PM
4
Bayamon FC
Centro Dominguito
8:00PM
5
Bodden Town FC
Centro Dominguito
Unite Saint
Rosienne
4:00PM
Centro Dominguito
March 25
6
MATCH DAY
MATCH #
Bayamon FC
GROUP I
VENUE
8:00PM
JUAN RAMÓN
LOUBRIEL
STADIUM
Puerto Rico
6:30PM
CFU CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
TEAM A
1
March 21
2
3
March 23
4
5
March 25
6
TEAM B
Time
Waterhouse FC
Assoc. Sportive de
Mirebalais
Inter Moengotapoe
5:00PM
Caledonia AIA
7:00PM
Inter Moengotapoe
Caledonia AIA
4:00PM Assoc. Sportive de
Mirebalais
Waterhouse FC
6:00PM Caledonia AIA
Waterhouse FC
4:00PM Assoc. Sportive de
Mirebalais
Inter Moengotapoe
6:00PM VENUE
MIREBALAIS
STADIUM
Haiti
CFU CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
MATCH DAY
MATCH #
1
March 21
2
Alpha United FC
Defence Force FC
Sporting Vereniging
Notch
Sporting Vereniging
Notch
Defence Force FC
Time
VENUE
5:30PM
5:30PM Alpha United FC
7:30PM Sporting Vereniging Notch
Alpha United FC
5:30PM Harbour View FC
Defence Force FC
7:30PM 6
GROUP 3
Score
7:30PM
Harbour View FC
4
5
March 25
TEAM B
Harbour View FC
3
March 23
TEAM A
GROUP 2
Score
HARBOUR VIEW
STADIUM
Jamaica
CFU 2014 CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS APPOINTED MATCH OFFICIALS
GROUP 1 -­ Scheduled for Bayamon, Puerto Rico from 19th – 26th March 2014 Match Commissioner(s) Dale Spencer Norrris Ferguson Jamaica Trinidad & Tobago Referee Assessor(s) Victor Stewart Jaggernath Goolcharan Referees Sandy Vasquez-­‐Vargas Sherwin Johnson Valdin Ledgister Johannes Dolaini Dominican Republic Guyana Jamaica Suriname Assistant Referees Joriany Carvajal Ferreiras Jeremy Holland Lloyd Reader Ainsley Rochard Match Commissioner(s) Antonio Garces Segura Hubert Isenia Cuba Curacao Referee Assessor(s) Luis Enrique Yero Rodriguez Sanford Richardson GROUP 2 -­ Scheduled for Association Sportive De Mirebalais, Haiti from 19th – 26th March 2014 Referees Wilson DaCosta Trevor Taylor Leon Clarke William Anderson Bahamas Barbados St Lucia Puerto Rico Assistant Referees Sean Thompson-­‐Palmer Adrian Goddard Norval Young Jairo Morales Barbados Cayman Islands Referee Assessor(s) Barney Callendar Alfredo Whittaker GROUP 3 – Scheduled for Harbour View Stadium, Jamaica from 19th – 26th March 2014 Jamaica Trinidad & Tobago Dominican Republic Bahamas Jamaica Trinidad & Tobago Cuba Anguilla Bahamas Barbados BVI Puerto Rico Match Commissioner(s) Patrick Beckles Mark Campbell Referees Christophel Stewart Yadel Martinez Pupo Alain Georges Kimbell Ward Cayman Islands Cuba Haiti St. Kitts-­‐Nevis 2
Assistant Referees Dwayne Ebanks Hiran Dopico Perez Patrick Claude Graeme Brown Barbados Cayman Islands Cayman Islands Cuba Haiti St Kitts-­‐Nevis Supligen
boosts Harbour View
to host CFU event
T
he Caribbean Football Union (CFU) 2014 Club
Championship contender Harbour View FC,
received a $1m boost from Supligen a product of
Nestle, Jamaica Ltd.
The sponsorship will aid their preparation for
hosting Group 3 of the upcoming competition set for
March 19-26 at the Harbour View Sports Complex in
Jamaica.
Harbour View FC is one of thirteen teams from
around the region which will be vying for this
seasonal coveted title this season. The teams
have been divided into three groups 1, 2 &3 with
the defending champions Valencia FC joining the
competition in the final round after receiving a bye.
L-R Jurg Blaser Nestle Brand Manager Jamaica ltd, Dicoy Williams
Captain Harbour View FC, Damien Hughes General Secretary CFU, Shawna Kidd Nestle Brand
Manager and Clyde Jureidini General Manager Harbour View FC.
Jurg Blaser, Country Manager of Nestlé Jamaica in his
keynote address to the team, officials and the media
said, “We are convinced that as a company we can
only be successful on the long-term if we take care and participate
actively in the societies where we operate. We are committed to
create social, environmental and economic value, not only for our
shareholders but for all stakeholders and the society at large. We call
this Creating Shared Value. Activities in and with the communities
are therefore an integral part of our way
of doing business.”
“As the leading Nutrition, Health and
Wellness company our aim is to delight
our consumers by providing delicious,
high-quality and responsibly produced
food and beverages. However we do not
only want to provide products, we also
want to help our consumers to make
healthy choices and have a balanced
lifestyle. Offering nutritional information
coupled with the promotion of physical
activity is at the basis of our Strategy.”
the contenders are Association Sportive de Mirebalais from Haiti;
Waterhouse Football Cub from Jamaica; Inter Moegotopoe from
Suriname, and Caledonia AIA from Trinidad and Tobago.
Blaser went on to say that Nestlé Jamaica was engaging in different
communities across the island through what the company called
“Community Fest”. These events he said would
foster good relationships with and among
community members.
“As the leading Nutrition,
Health and Wellness
company our aim is to
delight our consumers by
providing delicious, highquality and responsibly
produced food and
beverages.
General Secretary of the CFU Damien
Hughes brought greetings on behalf of
the CFU Executive Members and thanked
Harbour View for hosting Group 3 of the
competition and Nestle /Supligen for
their sponsorship to assist the host team
in this prestigious seasonal event.
“Whenever we see the private sector
stepping up to the plate to assist young
hard working men and women of the
Caribbean in sport, it speaks volumes for their development. I want
to thank Supligen for leading by example and we hope will be the
stimulus for other companies to come forward show their support of
positive sporting activity.”
The competition kicks off on March 19 simultaneously at all three
venues: Haiti, Puerto Rico and Jamaica and will end March 26, while
the venue and date for the finals will be announced.
Harbour View represents Jamaica and falls in Group 3, the team will
compete against Alpha United from Guyana; Defence Force Football
Team from Trinidad & Tobago, and Sporting Vereniging Notch from
Suriname.
Meanwhile, in Group 1 the teams are Centro Dominguito from
Curacao; Bayamon from Puerto Rico; Bodden Town from the Cayman
Islands, and Unite Saint Rosienne from Guadeloupe while in Group
3
Sonia Bien Aime
named TCI
person of the year
T
he Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) most established and respected
newspaper the TCI Weekly News, whose year-end ‘Person of the Year’
selection has become a staple of that society, has in 2014 selected Sonia
Bien Aime for that award.
for football FIFA, the
worldwide governing body
for association football,
made it mandatory that all
football associations had
a fulltime administration
manager.
The announcement which is the equivalent to “TIME Magazine’s” Person OF
the Year to the small nation is normally allocated to politicians and social
leaders in years past but this time around they have seen the hard work of
Bien Aime and awarded her the title.
“From a child I always wanted to work in sports but there wasn’t an
organization that provided an opportunity for that.”
The co-opted CONCACAF executive committee member in her usual
humble way said she was honored by the selection but remains focused on
the job at hand, which is developing the game in her own backyard and by
extension the region.
She was later then nominated for a CFU executive member position and at
the elections held in 2012 in Budapest/ Hungary she received a massive 26
out of 30 votes.
Early in 2013 the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean
Association Football (CONCACAF) nominated Bien-Aime for FIFA’s
committee. She was shocked and delighted to discover the news as she was
reading a news bulletin from FIFA one morning.
In a twist of fate one of the four nominated women dropped out and BienAime instantly became one of three women to be appointed to FIFA’s 25
member committee. She and Australia’s Moya Dodd were both co-opted to
join elected member Lydia Nsekera of Burundi for an initial term of one-year.
This landmark inclusion of three women at the top of the governing body has
been an important step in FIFA’s reform process and a step towards greater
equality.
““The angle that I’m trying to push is more development of women’s
football – to first of all create opportunities for more games for girls, to assist
countries where women are not as free as we are to go and play the beautiful
game of football or even go and watch a football match.
“I’m not going in to work miracles but anything that I can say or contribute
to bring about change for the better, in my opinion that would be a huge
accomplishment,” said Bien Aime.
Forty-two year old Sonia Bien-Aime, is a former athlete, a spokeswoman, a
manager and a pioneer - who within her hectic schedule always makes time
for her family. While her commitment to sports has always been unwavering,
her achievements over the past year have catapulted her to incredible new
heights.
In the summer of 2013 the president CONCACAF, Jeffrey Webb invited BienAime to a meeting. He told her that he had nominated her to be co-opted to
the body’s executive committee. In October 2013 Bien-Aime was appointed
to the committee – becoming the first woman to hold this position - and in
November during the most recent executive committee meeting in Jamaica,
she accepted her new leadership role.
Bien-Aime explained that her love of sports came at a very early age and
for as long as she can remember she excelled in athletics competitions. Her
passion was for track and field and for many years she held the record for
high jump and long jump.
Bien-Aime also serves as deputy chair of the Women’s Technical Committee
and is a member of the Women’s Championship Committee at CONCACAF.
One day in 2000 following friendly persuasion from her sister and her friend
she went to play football for the very first time at Club Med. “I didn’t know
anything about soccer, I didn’t know anything about the rules but I caught on
quickly and I fell in love with it,” she laughed. Over the next few months she
climbed the ranks and soon became captain of her team.
She serves on four key standing committees at FIFA – the Organizing
Committee for the FIFA World Cup, FIFA Women’s Committee and FIFA
Women’s World Cup, Organizing Committee for the FIFA U20 Women’s
World Cup and is the deputy chairwoman of the Organizing Committee of
the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup.
Within a year she was named captain of the national team – a title which she
retained until she retired from the sport in 2006. During this time Bien-Aime
helped to form and chair the Committee for Women’s Football, the first of its
kind in the TCI, and she was soon co-opted onto the Turks and Caicos Islands
Football Association (TCIFA) executive committee.
“It is an incredible amount of responsibility and sometimes it gets crazy,”
she confessed, “I really have to juggle myself but my family is very
understanding.”
Looking to the future Bien-Aime said that she would like to one day become
an elected member of the FIFA executive committee rather than co-opted.
Then in 2006 to her surprise and delight Bien-Aime was offered the job
as general secretary of the association. As a condition of their support
4
Webb Urges Businesses
to Invest in Youth
F
IFA Vice President and CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb urged
business leaders to invest in youth and sports during a speech at
the Cayman Economic Outlook conference on Thursday.
“These are positive
effects
money
cannot buy. But
it takes greater
participation from
the community,
and the right
partnerships, for
the
sustainable
development of
sports. Investment
in
football
is
investment
in
human capital,” he added.
Webb spoke on the theme of ‘The Transformational Power of Sports’
during the event held at The Ritz-Carlton hotel and said investment
in youth would provide greater opportunities for future generations.
“Investment in sports has the power to improve a nation through
social, economic and cultural growth,” said Webb addressing
an audience of over 400 business men and women. “Sports can
give Cayman and other Caribbean nations a unique advantage
in the global race for economic success while helping steer young
people away from the lure of crime and violence and towards more
constructive ways to fulfil their potential.”
Jeffrey Webb
Furthermore, sports tourism is the fastest growing sector of the
global travel industry and equates to $600 billion a year. Investment
in facilities, human capital and infrastructure has contributed to
various nations becoming international destinations of choice.
The one-day conference, sponsored by Fidelity, is an annual event
that brings together leading thinkers and doers to explore how
global business, technology, science, finance, politics and culture
shape the Cayman economy. This
year’s program, titled ‘Think: New
– Reinventing our Future’, targets
leaders from tourism, economics,
business and political sectors,
invested in the development of the
Cayman Islands.
“Investment in sports
has the power to
improve a nation
through social,
economic and cultural
growth,”
Webb employed statistical data
to highlight the great opportunity
for investment within the sports
industry and, more specifically,
within football. According to a
Pricewaterhouse Coopers report, it
is projected that global sports market
revenues will rise at a compound annual growth rate of 3.7 per cent
from US$121.4 billion in 2010 to US$145.3 billion dollars in 2015.
“Football is here to enhance the Cayman
Islands, and other Caribbean countries,
as an exciting place to live, visit and do
business. We can promote our cultural and
social heritage while helping businesses
and communities grow, by investing in our
youth,” declared Webb.
As an economic driver of prosperity, football
unquestionably injects nations with a
platform for exposure through participating
in and hosting international tournaments.
Since 2012, CONCACAF has doubled
its investment in football development
programs, spending 76 percent of its annual budget across 41
member nations.
Within football, the World Cup is the principal source of revenue.
The 2010 edition in South Africa, generated total revenue of US$
3.6 billion and it continues to be the most viewed sporting event
in the world. In 2002, World Cup viewership reached an astounding
total cumulative audience of 28.8 billion people, making it the most
viewed event in television history. No other sport is as universal.
Webb encouraged business leaders to invest in Cayman’s youth, to
provide greater opportunities for future generations recognizing
that football should not only accompany the development of
society, but also endorse messages that improve health, education
and crime prevention.
“We can learn. We can follow. Or, we can lead,” he concluded
The head of CONCACAF, though, emphasized that the value of sport
extends well beyond the economy. It brings benefits to communities
and individuals, such as improving health, education and safety,
while also increasing skills, employment, growth and providing new
opportunities for youth.
5
Grenada Hosts
Successful
Awards Ceremony
L
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
ast Saturday February 22, the Grenada Football Association
(GFA) held its first ever awards ceremony at the Spice Basket in
Beaulieu attended by a full complement of guests and awardees.
•
The guests were given a warm welcome by the President of the FA
Cheney Joseph who also gave an in-depth speech on the GFA legacy
and its course for the future.
•
•
•
•
•
“We must look forward to the future satisfied that we have been able
to make this award ceremony a reality. Without any major financial
support we have been able to find unique ways in ensuring the event
happen and for this I think we must first extend congratulations to
the organizers in particular the hard working members of the Awards
Committee.”
The President went on to praise all the
various winners and urged them not to
settle for mediocrity.
“To each of you winners tonight, do not
be contented in today’s achievement or
results, you are far from the top. We are
yet to produce world class footballers
but we are not far away from making
this happen. Individually you must
continue to work to become the next
person to do so.”
•
Valuable Player Award for the Premier League went to Denron
Daniel-Hard Rock,
Female Senior Player of the Year Roneisha Frank of Futgof
Female Junior Player of the Year Roneisha Redhead-Futgof
Presidents awards went to Allan James -Police FC
Premier League Champions went to Hard Rock
First Division Champions-Mount Rich FC
First Division MVP went to Micah Stanislaus-Mt Rick FC
Second Division MVP was Garth Thomas-Gouyave FC
Kade Wellington-Hard Rock received the Tyrone Harbin Golden
Boots Award
Dwayne Jerome of Police FC got the First Division Golden Boots
Award
Richardson Ettienne of Gouyave FC received the Second Division
Golden Boots Award
Club of the Year went to Hard Rock
Fair Play Award club was Christian Strikers
Tyron John of Hard Rock received the Coach of the Year Award
Most Disciplined Player of the Year and Male Junior Player of the
Year went to Shavon John-Brown- Hard Rock
Kellon Baptiste Goal Keeper Award went to Jason Belfon of Five
Stars
•
Referee of the Year was awarded
to Valman Bedeau.
“As we all plan for the
next four years, let
us also celebrate the
success we currently
enjoy with the many
courses from FIFA
committed in 2014.”
President Cheney in closing reminded
attendees and lovers of the sport to
continue their quest for knowledge
and take full advantage of the various
upcoming FIFA courses.
“As we all plan for the next four years,
let us also celebrate the success we
currently enjoy with the many courses
from FIFA committed in 2014. These
include the referee’s course next month,
a goalkeeper coaching course in April and the MA Coaching course in
July. We wish to thank FIFA for continuing to show confidence in our
work.”
Several persons who participated in the games from all aspects were
also awarded:
• Male Senior Player of the Year and the Dyer Marquez Most
Grenada hosts successful Awards Ceremony L: Lester F. Smith (Technical Director GFA). Howard McIntosh (FIFA Development Officer). Dame
Cecile La Grenade (Governor General & Patron of GFA). Honourable Emmalin Pierre (Minister of Sports). Cheney Joseph (President GFA).
Alexander Roberts ( General Secretary GFA)
6
GUYANA bases school
tournament on eradicating
Gender Conflict
I
n a landmark move by the country of Guyana a school’s football
competition will be themed around a hot button issue in that
country as the mantra of fair play takes on a new meaning.
emotional damage
it causes when it
is carried out on
someone.
The second annual Milo sponsored School Football tournament will
focus on ‘Gender Violence’ and expose players from a young age as to
why this disturbing occurrence is wrong, with the hope of developing
upright men and women of Guyana.
The Schools
which will be
competing are: St.
Joseph’s High, St.
Mary’s, Freeburg,
Kingston, Bishop’s
High, Carmel,
Christopher Matthias
Central High,
Charlestown, Chase Academy, Christ Church, Cummings Lodge,
David Rose, Dolphin, Lodge, New Campbellville, North
Georgetown, North Ruimveldt, Queen’s College,
Richard Ishmael, South Ruimveldt, St. George’s, St.
Winefride, Tucville and Tutorial.
Speaking at the recent launch of the competition which starts
from February 15th and runs until April 5th, Deputy Permanent
Secretary within the Ministry of Health Trevor Thomas said that the
Government was fully behind this initiative.
“I would like to congratulate the Organizers for
partnering with the Ministry of Health in helping to
reach an audience that is very important to spread
the message and while it only caters at this time
for schools in the Georgetown environs, it is quite a
timely one with the audience being the participants
and the spectators,” said Thomas.
The winning team will receive $500,000, runner-up$300,000, 3rd place- $200,000 and 4th place- $100,000,
while there will be prizes for outstanding individual
performances.
The Ministry of Health official recognized the
efforts of the two entities and congratulated them
for displaying a consciousness to complement the
work of the Ministry on a subject that has become a
topical issue and one that if not checked, could destroy the social
fabric of the society due to the long term physical, psychological and
All the winning teams will have to choose a project of
their choice to benefit the school since no monetary
prize will be handed out.
Cameron Gray
a young football icon
from the Cayman Islands
F
ifteen year old Caymanian Cameron Gray is a young football icon from the Caribbean who
has earned a place in the Reading Football Club in England after creating waves in the
Cayman Islands Primary School Leagues, the Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA)
Under13 and Under15 competition and the CONCACAF Under 15 competition which was
staged in the Cayman Islands last year.
Gray whose ultimate dream is to play for Real Madrid FC in the future started playing football
for one of the Cayman Islands most organized and successful clubs The Academy Sports
Club, from he was six years old. He got his chance to make the transition at age sixteen after
donning the colours of his team against Swindon Town FC in the Cayman Islands.
As a result of his outstanding performance against Swindon Town FC the right footed past
student of the St Ignatius Catholic School was scouted and invited to apply his skills at the
7
CAMERON GRAY
CONTD.
Reading Football Club in Reading,
while attending The Forest School
where he studies Physiotherapy.
Gray plays in the position of
Center Back or Right Back and was
introduced to football by his father
Holland Alphanso Gray JR, a former
national senior team player of the
Cayman Islands and the Bodden
Town Football Club.
Gray’s father in his tenure as a
football player, played the position
of Left Wing and Midfield.
He told the CFU BEACON that his
role model was Andres Iniesta who
Cameron Gray and his Father Holland Alphanso Gray Jr.
plays as a Central Midfielder for FC
Barcelona and Spain and added that the most memorable experience in his football career
so far was representing his country in the CONCACAF Under-15 Championship played at
the Truman Bodden Sports Complex, in the Cayman Islands last year.
When asked what his greatest challenge was since he has been playing football so far
Gray said,” My greatest challenge since I started playing football is moving away from my
family and friends in the Cayman Islands. My football career is a dream come true, it is
very important to me because it has influenced me to strive harder for my goals, therefore
I had to sacrifice things such as leaving friends and family in Cayman. I am really intrigued
playing football in England and I have adapted really well.”
Gray went on to state that Head Coach of the Academy Sports Club Virgil Seymour who
is also a former player on the Cayman Islands senior national football team has played a
significant role in his development and being a part of the Academy Sports Club has really
paid off well for him..
OUR PARTNERS
For further information please contact the CFU General Secretariat, CFU Communications Department
The Towers - 10th Floor • 25 Dominica Drive, Kingston 5. Jamaica
Tel: +1(876) 754-4411 / 4657 • Fax: +1(876) 906-2973
Email: media@cfufootball.org
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