2014 CFU Club Championship

JANUARY 2014, Volume 2, Issue 1, Caribbean Football Union Newsletter
Articles Inside
2014 CFU Club Championship
hirteen teams have been registered to
compete in the 2014 CFU Club Championship
T
Cup, which is the Caribbean Football Union’s
(CFU) official qualifying tournament for the
2014/2015 CONCACAF Champions League.
TCIFA starts coaching
Valencia FC defending champions
The Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club
Champions’ Cup is an official yearly Calendar
event of the Caribbean Football Union.
The tournament has been divided into three groups, 1, 2 and 3 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.
Izler Browne top female Coach for
Trinidad and Tobago
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.
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.
All games are scheduled to be played simultaneously from March 19-26 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.
Akeem Adams a Soca Warrior
gone too soon
These thirteen amateur and professional Clubs from across the CFU region is preparing for quite an
exciting tournament. The teams are products of the rich diversity of the Caribbean as it conjoins a
range of different cultures, languages and persons of Caribbean.
Cont. on Pg. 2
2014 CFU Club Championship
Cont. from Pg. 1
It was with these realities in mind that CFU Executive Committee approved the following Clubs and cities as hosts for the Preliminary Round
of the Championship, Group 1 Bayamon FC Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Group 2 Association Sportive de Mirebalais Petion Ville, Haiti and Group 3
Harbour View FC, Harbour View, Jamaica. The host for the finals will be announced at a later date.
2014 CFU CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
MATCH SCHEDULE
GROUP 1
DATE
GROUP 2
DATE
TEAM A
TEAM B
March 21
Centro Dominguito
Unite Saint Rosienne
March 21
Bayamon FC
Bodden Town FC
March 23
Unite Saint Rosienne
Bodden Town FC
March 23
Bayamon FC
Centro Dominguito
March 25
Bodden Town FC
Centro Dominguito
March 25
Bayamon FC
Unite Saint Rosienne
GROUP 3
DATE
TEAM B
March 21
Waterhouse FC
Inter Moengotapoe
March 21
Assoc. Sportive de Mirebalais
Caledonia AIA
March 23
Inter Moengotapoe
Caledonia AIA
March 23
Assoc. Sportive de Mirebalais
Waterhouse FC
March 25
Caledonia AIA
Waterhouse FC
March 25
Assoc. Sportive de Mirebalais
Inter Moengotapoe
FINAL ROUND • SEMI FINALS & FINAL
TEAM A
TEAM B
Alpha United FC
Defence Force Football Club
March 21
Harbour View FC
Sporting Vereniging Notch
March 23
Defence Force Football Club
Sporting Vereniging Notch
March 23
Harbour View FC
Alpha United FC
March 25
Sporting Vereniging
Alpha United FC
March 25
Harbour View FC
Defence Force Football Club
March 21
TEAM A
TEAM A
TEAM B
April 18
DATE
Winner Group 1
Winner Group 2
April 18
Valencia Football Club
Winner Group 3
April 20
Loser Semi-Final 1
Loser Semi-Final 2
April 20
Winner Semi-Final 1
Winner Semi-Final 2
TCIFA starts coaching program
T
he Turks & Caicos Islands Football Association (TCIFA) as part of its goal to
develop football in the islands has introduced a Guest Coach Program.
Under this program the Football Association (FA) will be inviting top-level coaches
to the islands to conduct coaching sessions with the youth and senior players
within the program. Additionally, the visiting coach will also conduct coaching
clinics with local coaches that work within the TCIFA’s Academy and Center of
Excellence Programs .
Coach TJ Kostecky with kids in TCI
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Cont. on Pg. 3
TCIFA starts coaching program
Cont. from Pg. 2
This program kicked off on Friday, January 10th, with the arrival of TJ Kostecky, Head Men’s Football Coach at Long Island University (LIU) in
Brooklyn, New York.
Mr. Kostecky is responsible for returning the LIU Brooklyn men’s soccer team to its
former glory. He has accomplished the restoration project by bringing in top talent
from across the country and skilled international prospects from Europe, Canada
and the Caribbean. This University competes in Division 1 of the NCAA Soccer
competition.
During his career, Kostecky has accumulated over 200 victories and led the
Blackbirds to the NCAA Tournament in 2004.
As successful as his teams have been on the pitch, Kostecky’s squads are also
devoted in the classroom. His 2003 and 2012 teams posted the highest team grade
point average in the nation. The 2008 squad was awarded the NEC Team Academic
Award for posting the highest GPA among men’s soccer teams in the conference.
Coach TJ Kostecky In TCI
The 2011 team was distinguished by the conference with the NEC Sportsmanship Award. Kostecky has a proven track record of rebuilding
programs, having engineered successful turnarounds at each of his prior coaching stops.
The TCIFA will be making further announcements throughout the year on their wide range of programmes to develop football on the island.
Izler Browne top female Coach for Trinidad and Tobago
S
he almost carried Trinidad and Tobago to the promised land of the FIFA Women
Under- 20 World Cup, and has won the hearts of the twin island republic by
taking a young team to the brink of success; but who is Trinidad’s Izler Browne?
Forty-four year old Browne is the Head Coach of the Trinidad and Tobago National
Women’s teams. She was born in Scarborough, Tobago and has been involved in
football for the past 32 years.
Browne, a former national player of the Trinidad Tobago national team from 19832003 was known as a utility player having played in the positions of Forward, Widemidfield, Centre-midfield and Central-defence.
Izler Browne
She played club football in Trinidad as well as semi-professional football in the United States of America from 2000-2002 (W-League-Asheville
Splash).
After a very interesting and extraordinary football career, Browne continued to impart her knowledge to younger players who showed an
interest in the game. It was during that time that she was convinced by Coach Jamal Shabazz to seriously consider taking up coaching; which
she did.
Cont. on Pg. 4
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Izler Browne top female Coach for Trinidad and Tobago
Cont. from Pg. 3
Browne in an attempt to master the profession and be fully qualified did several coaching courses which included the English FA International
License (B) and is now eligible to do the English FA International License (A)
Browne told the CFU BEACON that she was inspired to be a coach by the positive reaction she got from the players, “I am inspired and
particularly happy to know that by coaching I can, in many ways, have a very positive effect on players to assist them in becoming better
individuals on and off the pitch.”
She stated she has seen a vast improvement in Women’s football, “I think the women’s game has been steadily improving in Trinidad & Tobago.
We now have excellent football programs for ten year olds and upwards and in our primary schools we now have a girl’s league, which has been
tremendous for us in identifying young talents. We have participated in every CFU tournament at every age and qualified for all CONCACAF
tournaments at all levels except for three occasions. With this said I still believe we can do a lot better.”
Browne continued by commenting on how the game at the regional level has also improved, “I think Women’s football is continuing to improve
in totality and the Caribbean teams have definitely improved. Some are now able to really compete and that is a big step globally. We are seeing
more teams emerging and new faces in the world cups which is also a huge statement.”
“In addition to that, the top teams in the world are now playing the game with more of a flow and more expressions. Women football players are
now able to play the game in teams from a much younger age, it’s more acceptable now, enormous opportunities for girls getting scholarships
for schools and colleges as well as playing professional football and other related jobs for the girls at all levels.”
Browne pointed out that one of her dreams was that one day Trinidad and Tobago reaches the World Cup adding that it was a big disappointment
for her after her team lost the opportunity of taking third place in the CONCACAF Champion.
When asked how she felt about the results coming out of her most recent tournament the CONCACAFWomen’s Under-20 Championships,
Browne’s response was, “It was a tremendous loss for us but one we can definitely learn from. I think besides probably making a
better substitution, it comes back to better preparation for a tournament of this magnitude. Talent could only get you close.”
“I learnt three things from the three teams we played: One is playing at this level and doing better and better
takes an attitude forged from consistent familiarity: two, they have better preparation: and three, better
programs.”
Three CFU teams tug at CONCACAF Championship
T
rinidad and Tobago were five minutes away from FIFA Women Under-20 glory, when Costa
Rica provided a late surge to snatch the all-important third place spot from the twin
island republic.
In a dramatic turn of events what seemed like a comprehensive 3-2 victory over the Costa
Ricans; turned into a 7-3 drubbing to the expense of the Soca Princesses, to end their
impressive run in the tournament.
TT U-20 team
In the group stages Trinidad and Tobago brushed aside Honduras 2-0 and Cayman Islands 4-0
to reach to the semifinals. At the semis, they were outplayed 6-0 by the United States while
Mexico defeated Costa Rica 3-1.
Cont. on Pg. 5
4
Three CFU
teams
tug at CONCACAF
TCIFA
starts
coaching
program
Championship
Cont. from Pg. 4
Jamaica Women U20 - Team
CFU
Member Associations
During the finals which was played on the grounds of
the Truman Bodden Sports Complex in George Town,
Grand Cayman, it seemed like carnival celebrations
were going to erupt when the Trinidadians went ahead
as early as in the 16th minute thanks to a strike from
prolific goal scorer Anique Walker.
In the 28th minute Walker completed her double giving the Soca Princesses a clear 2-0 lead. In the
33rd minute, the hard running Costa Ricans pulled back one off the boots of Melissa Herrera; but
Trinidad and Tobago continued to push forward resulting in a goal in the 41st minute scored by one
of the Trinidadian twins Khadisha Debesette to end the first segment 3-1 in favor of her team.
During the second half the Costa Ricans were in no mood to lay down dead and scored in the 71st
minute with a goal from Noelle Sanz to take the score to 3-2.Trinidad & Tobago fell from grace
after holding on to a favorable 3-2 score line until the 85th minute of the game when Costa Rica’s
substitute, Michelle Montero equalized for Costa Rica.
The extra period was all the Costa Ricans wanted as the Trinidadians ran out of steam and watched
their hopes dashed as the Costa Ricans continued to pile up the goals ending the game 7-3.
Trinidad and Tobago was one of the three teams who represented the Caribbean Football Union
(CFU) in this competition and despite their unfortunate destiny, made the Union proud.
The same accolades ring true to the Jamaican team
and placed fifth. It was the Costa Ricans who stopped
Jamaica from emerging as finalist alongside the
United States from Group A after they drew 1-1 with
Costa Rica, drew 0-0 with Guatemala and lost 3-0 to
the United States.
Host Cayman Islands also flew the CFU flag proudly
notwithstanding their young and developing team,
but did put up a great fight in all their encounters
despite losing all their games.
Cayman Islands Women U20 - Team
To all three teams, we say congratulations.
About CFU
CFU “Caribbean Football Union” is one of three Unions in CONCACAF (The Confederation of North,
Central America and Caribbean Association Football) and serves as the governing body of football
in the Caribbean. It is composed of 31 national associations, from Bahamas in the north to Guyana,
Suriname and French Guiana in the south. It spans 4 languages and composed of republics,
independent countries and overseas territories of the UK, USA and Holland. For more information
about CFU, log on to its official website at www.cfufootball.org.
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Highlights of the CFU teams at
the CONCACAF Championship
The CFU mourns the loss of one
of its Referees
Football Union (CFU) recently lost former Jamaican born FIFA Assistant Referee Stephen
Brown following a lengthy battle with cancer.
TheAltonCaribbean
Brown’s passing has left a void on the refereeing platform in the local group as well as in the region. He was
only thirty-eight years old at the time of his death.
His referee career started when he joined the St Catherine Referees Group in 1999 as an Assistant Referee.
Through dedication and hard work, Brown quickly propelled himself to the highest level in 2006 when he
was appointed a FIFA Assistant Referee.
Chairman of the St Catherine Referees Group Mr. Warrick Brown, said Brown was an ardent member of the
St Catherine Referees Group.
Cont. on Pg. 7
Stephen Brown
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The CFU mourns the loss of one of its
Referees
Cont. from Pg. 6
“He wanted to see this group move forward and its membership rise to the highest level. He was always pushing for that and how we structure
the organisation to get maximum benefits for members.
“He was very forceful when it comes to that but when it comes down to fun, he was a fun loving person. As it relates to the development of the
group we will miss him, because he always wanted to effect changes in the group to reflect the current realities and we will miss him for that.”
Brown made a positive impression everywhere and every one he met including President of the US Virgin Islands Football Association and
former FIFA Referee Hillaren Frederick.
Frederick after learning of his passing took the time out to send his personal condolences to Brown’s Family and friends through the CFU Media.
In a statement Frederick said: “I wish to convey my deepest condolences to his family. We first met each other in St. Martin in 2006 and
coincidentally it was both of our first international appointment as referees. We became friends immediately and met at a few other tournaments
throughout the Caribbean and kept in contact through emails.
“His personality and demeanour made me felt like we were blood brothers. May his
soul rest in peace”
Brown served in the capacity of a FIFA Assistant Referee until 2011 when his fitness
level suddenly fell below the expectations of the FIFA standard. Despite not being
able to meet the FIFA standard, he continued to serve at the local level officiating at
Premier League, Super League, Major League games and all other football games at
the Parish and national levels in keeping with his appointments.
The CFU joins with the Jamaica football family in mourning the loss of Stephen
Alton Brown who was committed to the sport of football. He has undoubtedly left
an indelible mark on the lives of those he came into contact with both on and off
the pitch.
Stephen Brown and Captain Horace Burrell
May his soul rest in peace and light perpetual shine upon him.
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Akeem Adams a Soca Warrior gone too
soon
T
he Caribbean Football Union (CFU) joins the Trinidad and
Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) in mourning the passing of
one of their football icons Akeem Adams gone.
Adams, who was twenty-two at the time of his death, was born on
April 13, 1991, in Point Fortin Trinidad and Tobago. In October of
2013 he suffered a heart attack in Hungary where he played for
Hungarian side Ferencvarosi as a defender since August 2013.
Akeem Adams
He died on December 30, 2013, with his mother Ancilla Dick at his bedside after he experienced a stroke at the Varosmajori Heart Clinic, in
Budapest where he was awaiting a heart transplant.
Adams had been in hospital for three months and had been given a mechanical heart while he waited for the vital transplant. During his stay in
hospital, he suffered from multiple complications, and had to undergo several operations, including amputation of his left leg below the knee.
His football career in Hungary was significant and he was well respected to the point where President of the Hungary Football Association,
Dr Sandor Csanyi sent a letter to the TTFF President Raymond Tim Kee describing Adams as a promising young player with a distinguished
personality.
“With his passing we have lost not only a talented and promising young footballer but also a distinguished personality. The memories of his
exemplary life and football achievements will be treasured and long remembered by the Hungarian football community”, said Dr. Csanyi.
During his illness President of FIFA Sepp Blatter also recognized Adams and joined the growing list of well-wishers hoping that the Trinidad and
Tobago National defender would have made a full recovery from his sudden illness.
TTFF General Secretary Sheldon Phillips expressed extreme sadness when contacted by the CFU BEACON.
“We are indeed very saddened to have lost one of our players in such tragic circumstances. Akeem was an invaluable member of our national
set up, having represented Trinidad and Tobago from the Under 15 level right into the Senior Team. From all accounts he was also a very humble
individual and was loved and admired by many including his teammates, coaches, his family and friends.”
“His name will live on and we at the TTFA will definitely play our part wherever possible. May his soul rest in peace and we hope that his family,
especially his mother Ancilla and brother Akini, who were at his side in Budapest, are granted God’s strength to get through this very difficult
time.”
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Our Partners
For further information please contact the CFU General Secretariat, CFU Communications Dept
The Towers – 10th Floor • 25 Dominica Dr • Kingston 5 • Jamaica
Tel: +1(876) 754-4411 / 4657 • Fax: +1(876) 906-2973 • Email: media@cfufootball.org
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