FEBRUARY 2014, VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2, CARIBBEAN FOOTBALL UNION NEWSLETTER

March 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.

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.

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.

CFU 2014 Club Championships

ARTICLESINSIDE

Supligen boosts Harbour View

3

TCI person of the year

4

Webb’s Speech

5

Grenada Hosts Successful Awards Ceremony

6

2014 CFU CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS FIXTURES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CFU CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP GROUP I

MATCH DAY MATCH # TEAM A TEAM B Time Score VENUE

1 Centro Dominguito Unite Saint Rosienne

5:30PM March 21

2 Bayamon FC Bodden Town FC 8:00PM

3 Unite Saint Rosienne Bodden Town FC 5:30PM March 23 4 Bayamon FC Centro Dominguito 8:00PM

5 Bodden Town FC Centro Dominguito 4:00PM March 25 6 Bayamon FC Unite Saint

Rosienne 6:30PM

JUAN RAMÓN LOUBRIEL STADIUM

Puerto Rico

CFU CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP GROUP 2 MATCH DAY MATCH # TEAM A TEAM B Time Score VENUE

1 Waterhouse FC Inter Moengotapoe 5:00PM March 21 2 Assoc. Sportive de

Mirebalais Caledonia AIA 7:00PM

3 Inter Moengotapoe Caledonia AIA 4:00PM  

March 23 4 Assoc. Sportive de

Mirebalais Waterhouse FC 6:00PM  

5 Caledonia AIA Waterhouse FC 4:00PM  

March 25 6 Assoc. Sportive de

Mirebalais Inter Moengotapoe 6:00PM  

MIREBALAIS STADIUM

Haiti

CFU CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP GROUP 3

MATCH DAY MATCH # TEAM A TEAM B Time Score VENUE

1 Alpha United FC Defence Force FC 5:30PM March 21 2 Harbour View FC Sporting Vereniging

Notch 7:30PM

3 Defence Force FC Sporting Vereniging

Notch 5:30PM  

March 23 4

Harbour View FC Alpha United FC 7:30PM  

5 Sporting Vereniging Notch Alpha United FC 5:30PM  

March 25 6 Harbour View FC Defence Force FC 7:30PM  

HARBOUR VIEW STADIUM

Jamaica

 

 

WWW.CFUFOOTBALL.ORG  

 CFU 2014 CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS APPOINTED MATCH OFFICIALS

       

Match  Commissioner(s)               Referee  Assessor(s)  Dale  Spencer       Jamaica       Victor  Stewart         Jamaica    Norrris  Ferguson       Trinidad  &  Tobago     Jaggernath  Goolcharan       Trinidad  &  Tobago      

Referees                   Assistant  Referees  Sandy  Vasquez-­‐Vargas       Dominican  Republic       Joriany  Carvajal  Ferreiras     Dominican  Republic  Sherwin  Johnson       Guyana         Jeremy  Holland         Bahamas  Valdin  Ledgister         Jamaica         Lloyd  Reader           Jamaica  Johannes  Dolaini       Suriname         Ainsley  Rochard       Trinidad  &  Tobago  

   

     

Match  Commissioner(s)               Referee  Assessor(s)  Antonio  Garces  Segura       Cuba         Luis  Enrique  Yero  Rodriguez     Cuba    Hubert  Isenia       Curacao       Sanford  Richardson       Anguilla    

Referees                   Assistant  Referees  Wilson  DaCosta       Bahamas         Sean  Thompson-­‐Palmer       Bahamas  Trevor  Taylor         Barbados       Adrian  Goddard       Barbados  Leon  Clarke           St  Lucia       Norval  Young           BVI  William  Anderson       Puerto  Rico         Jairo  Morales         Puerto  Rico  

 

       

Match  Commissioner(s)               Referee  Assessor(s)  Patrick  Beckles       Barbados         Barney  Callendar       Barbados      Mark  Campbell       Cayman  Islands     Alfredo  Whittaker       Cayman  Islands    

Referees                   Assistant  Referees  Christophel  Stewart       Cayman  Islands     Dwayne  Ebanks       Cayman  Islands  Yadel  Martinez  Pupo       Cuba         Hiran  Dopico  Perez       Cuba  Alain  Georges           Haiti         Patrick  Claude           Haiti  Kimbell  Ward         St.  Kitts-­‐Nevis         Graeme  Brown         St  Kitts-­‐Nevis      

GROUP  1  -­  Scheduled  for  Bayamon,  Puerto  Rico  from  19th  –  26th  March  2014    

GROUP  2  -­  Scheduled  for  Association  Sportive  De  Mirebalais,  Haiti  from  19th  –  26th  March  2014    

GROUP  3  –  Scheduled  for  Harbour  View  Stadium,  Jamaica  from  19th  –  26th  March  2014  

2

The 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.

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.”

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

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.

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.

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.

Supligen boosts Harbour View to host CFU event

“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.

3

Sonia Bien Aime named TCI person of the yearThe 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.

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.

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.

““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.

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.

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.

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.

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

for football FIFA, the worldwide governing body for association football, made it mandatory that all football associations had a fulltime administration manager.

“From a child I always wanted to work in sports but there wasn’t an organization that provided an opportunity for that.”

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 Bien-Aime 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.

In the summer of 2013 the president CONCACAF, Jeffrey Webb invited Bien-Aime 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 also serves as deputy chair of the Women’s Technical Committee and is a member of the Women’s Championship Committee at CONCACAF.

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.

“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.

4

“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.

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.

“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.

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

FIFA 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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

Webb Urges Businesses to Invest in Youth

Jeffrey Webb

“Investment in sports has the power to improve a nation through social, economic and cultural growth,”

5

Last 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.”

Several persons who participated in the games from all aspects were also awarded: • Male Senior Player of the Year and the Dyer Marquez Most

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.

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.”

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)

Grenada Hosts Successful Awards Ceremony

“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.”

6

In 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.

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.

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 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

emotional damage it causes when it is carried out on someone.

The Schools which will be competing are: St. Joseph’s High, St. Mary’s, Freeburg, Kingston, Bishop’s High, Carmel, 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.

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.

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.

Fifteen 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

Cameron Gray a young football icon from the Cayman Islands

GUYANA bases school tournament on eradicating Gender Conflict

Christopher Matthias

7

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 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..

CAMERON GRAY CONTD.

Cameron Gray and his Father Holland Alphanso Gray Jr.

OUR PARTNERS

For further information please contact the CFU General Secretariat, CFU Communications DepartmentThe Towers - 10th Floor • 25 Dominica Drive, Kingston 5. JamaicaTel: +1(876) 754-4411 / 4657 • Fax: +1(876) 906-2973 Email: media@cfufootball.org

8