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Messages - Tobago28

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61
Football / Re: 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in South Korea
« on: February 18, 2017, 04:33:29 PM »
Panama 1-0 USA FT

62
Football / Re: 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in South Korea
« on: February 18, 2017, 03:25:45 PM »
Watch the US VS Panama at this link
http://www.tdmascr.com/

Panama 1-0 HT though they playing with 10 men

63
Football / Re: 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in South Korea
« on: February 18, 2017, 02:35:49 PM »
TrueHaitian, why always these visa problems?

64
Football / Re: 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in South Korea
« on: February 18, 2017, 02:04:23 PM »
St. Kitts Nevis 1 - 5 Haiti Final

65
Football / Re: The Noah Powder question
« on: February 18, 2017, 01:10:25 PM »
A guide to the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship for New York Red Bulls fans
2
Twelve teams competing for four U-20 World Cup spots, plus some Tyler Adams and
Noah Powder - what's not to like for RBNY fans?

http://www.onceametro.com/2017/2/14/14587890/a-guide-to-the-2017-concacaf-u-20-championship-for-new-york-red-bulls-fans-tyler-adams


The 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship kicks off in Costa Rica on February 17. In the 2015 edition of this tournament, the New York Red Bulls' Matt Miazga played for the USA. By the end of January 2016, he was a Chelsea player. The region's next generation of stars don't all appear at the U-20 tournament, but many of them do - and some, like Miazga, will look back on this competition as the beginning of the year that launched their pro soccer careers.

It's a tournament worth watching, particularly if your club has a player or two involved. As it happens, the Red Bulls do have a current player in this one: Tyler Adams is on the USA's roster. Also, Academy product and NYRB II regular Noah Powder is in the Trinidad and Tobago squad. So more than one reason for RBNY fans to pay some mind to this year's CONCACAF U-20 Championship.

The Basics
There are 12 teams in the tournament and the top four will qualify for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which will kick off in South Korea on May 20. To make the top four, a team must successfully navigate two group stages.

The first group stage sees the 12-team field divided into three groups of four. The top two from each group will progress to a second group stage.

In the second group stage, the six qualifiers will be divided into two groups of three. The top two from each of those groups qualify for the U-20 World Cup. The winners of the two second-stage groups play each other to determine the CONCACAF U-20 Champion.

The Groups
The first group stage is perhaps the most significant. Only six of the 12 teams will still be in the tournament after this round. Of the six who get to the next stage, four will move to the 2017 U-20 World Cup. The first cut will be the deepest at this CONCACAF Championship.

Group A: Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, Honduras, Mexico
Mexico is the clear favorite to win this group, not least because Mexico is the clear favorite to win this tournament. El Tri's U-20s have won the last three CONCACAF Championships at this level, and this particular squad includes several players who were part of Mexico's 2015 U-17 CONCACAF Championship-winning squad, and eight members of the starting lineup of the team that lost a 2015 U-17 World Cup semifinal to eventual champion Nigeria.

Honduras doesn't seem to have graduated quite so many of its 2015 U-17 squad to this year's U-20s, but respect is due to the program that finished the 2015 U-17 CONCACAF Championship as runner up - so count the Hondurans as favorites to claim the second ticket out of this group. RBNY fans may be interested to see Douglas Martinez, who trialed with the Red Bulls in 2016 and had hoped to be part of the club's 2017 season will join the club's USL team, NYRB II, after this tournament.

Canada's squad does not include perhaps its two best-known teenage players: Vancouver Whitecaps' Alphonso Davies and Montreal Impact's Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla. Still, it is a worthy mix of emerging players (mostly) based at clubs in Canada and Europe.

Antigua and Barbuda, surprisingly, swept through two rounds of Caribbean qualification unbeaten, falling only to Haiti in the final of the Caribbean Football Union's 2016 U-20 Championship. Mostly comprised of Antigua-based players, the squad does include a smattering of youth-teamers from high-profile European clubs such as Leicester City and Manchester United. Forward Javorn Stevens was one of the more successful players in the qualifying campaign for this tournament and has recently signed a contract to play for Seattle Sounders 2 in USL.

Group B: Haiti, St. Kitts and Nevis, Panama, USA
It is a mark of the strength and depth of the USA's men's youth program that despite the absence of many of the standouts from the squad that went to the 2015 U-17 World Cup - Matt Olosunde, Christian Pulisic, Joshua Perez, Haji Wright - the Americans are still very heavy favorites to win this group and ultimately advance to the 2017 U-20 World Cup. RBNY's Tyler Adams was young for the U-17 squad in 2015 (which he was on) and he is young for this U-20 squad, but he is thought to have a very good shot at a breakout year and that is largely down to the potential for him to play a big role for the USA at this tournament and the U-20 World Cup.

Haiti ran away with Caribbean qualifying for this tournament, winning five out of six (and drawing the other) games in two group stage rounds and convincingly clinching the Caribbean U-20 title with a 3-0 semifinal win over Bermuda and a 4-0 win over Antigua and Barbuda in the final. Jimmy Sanon just won USL's 2016 Goal of the Year award, and might therefore be the best known Haitian player to American eyes on this competition.

But Haiti has done a good job of progressing a talented U-20 cohort. Ronaldo Damus is a 17-year-old goal scorer who bagged six goals in his team's five final-round games of Caribbean qualifying. Forward Jonel Desire has started to make a case for regular starts for the senior men's national team (and he was one of the top scorers in the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship). Roberto Louima prepped for this tournament with a trial for NYC FC. That attacking trio alone makes Haiti one of the more exciting prospects in the competition.

The last time Panama showed up to a CONCACAF U-20 Championship, it breezed through the 2015 group stage with an unblemished record - five wins out of five and no goals conceded. The squad came up just short in the final, losing to Mexico on penalties after a 1-1 tie. But that team also won its qualifying tournament for the regional championship. This time around, however, Los Canaleros are only here because Guatemala was disqualified. The fourth-best team out of Central American qualifying might well be capable of surprising its opponents in this group. Once A Metro will be duly surprised if it does, not least because head coach Leonardo Pipino abruptly quit the team on February 9.

If you want to know why Jamaica is not in this tournament: St. Kitts and Nevis is the answer. The U-20 Sugar Boyz topped the qualifying group Jamaica was expected to win, and went on to clinch the lucky-loser's spot at this competition out of Caribbean qualifying. Tahir Hanley made a name for himself during the unexpected run to the CONCACAF Championship. Few expected St. Kitts and Nevis to get this far, fewer expect them to get any further - which ought not to deter the Group B underdog.

Group C: Bermuda, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Trinidad and Tobago
Costa Rica is the home team for this tournament, so make Los Ticos favorites to get out of Group C. There are players in the squad - like forward Andy Reyes - who were part of the U-17 selection that made it to the quarterfinals of the 2015 U-17 World Cup. Surprisingly, perhaps the most highly-rated player in the Costa Rican player pool for this age-group, Gerson Torres, did not make the roster for this competition, but head coach Marcelo Herrera essentially said the player's success - which has included senior national team caps and a move to Club America - had effectively prevented him from being integrated into the U-20s. Leaving one of the more admired U-20 players in the region off the team speaks to a confidence in the ability of a talented squad to be more than the sum of its parts.

Eduardo Lara has stepped up from coaching the  El Salvador U-20s to the senior national team job, handing over head coaching duties for this tournament to his assistant, Jose Helmer Silva. Lara had hoped to persuade Fiorentina's Joshua Perez - also eligible for USA squad - into the team for this competition, but that plan has not panned out. Still, the Salvadorans were the second-best team in Central American qualifying, and will expect to be better than the Caribbean teams in this group.

Trinidad and Tobago is another team unable to bring its best-known talent at this level to the tournament: AZ's Levi Garcia is not in the squad, and has arguably outgrown the U-20 player pool - he will be expected to continue to feature for T&T's senior men's national team this year. New York Red Bulls Academy product Noah Powder is on the roster, and should see a lot of time on the field, not least because the squad is short on left backs. T&T was the only team Haiti didn't beat in Caribbean qualifying, but it also lost to Bermuda in the third-place playoff of that tournament. The opening game of this group is a re-match for the Caribbean rivals - and will establish which of them can be expected to challenge for a place in the next round.

Given the fact Bermuda finished above Trinidad and Tobago in Caribbean qualifying, it's a little unfair to cast the team as least-likely to get out of Group C - but so it goes. The Gombey Warriors lack the reputation or history in this tournament to be regarded as anything other than makeweights. They will have ample opportunity to prove that perception wrong.

The Classification Stage
After the first group stage comes the second, titled the "classification stage" to avoid confusion and also because it is the stage from which the U-20 World Cup qualifiers will emerge. Two groups of three will see their top two teams secure tickets to South Korea.

There won't be much margin for error in these three-team groups: each team only plays twice. From the USMNT's perspective, the primary concern will be to avoid finishing second in the Group Stage. Second place in Group B will be in a Classification Stage group with the winners of the other two groups. And those winners are expected to be favorite Mexico and home team Costa Rica - the USA does not want to be playing its way out of such a group to make the World Cup.

If the USA can win Group B, as expected, it should have a somewhat smoother ride through the Classification Stage, playing against the second-placed teams from Groups A and C.

But there will doubtless be surprises in the Group Stage, and they will almost certainly create some surprises for the Classification Stage.

66
Football / Re: 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in South Korea
« on: February 17, 2017, 08:53:20 PM »
Mexico 3-0 Antigua & Barbuda at Half

67
Football / Re: 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in South Korea
« on: February 17, 2017, 07:56:10 PM »
Honduras 1-0 Canada Final

Looking at the clubs below for some of those youngsters, the coach must get blamed.


CANADA
1- GK- Dayne St. Clair | USA / University of Maryland
2- FB- Zachary Brault-Guillard | FRA / Olympique Lyonnais
3- FB- Gabriel Boakye | GER / Energie Cottbus U-19
4- CB- Kosovar Sadiki | ENG / Stoke City U-23
5- CB- Thomas Meilleur-Giguère | CAN / Impact Montréal FC
6- M- Liam Fraser | CAN / Toronto FC II
7- M- Diego Gutiérrez | CHI / CD Palestino
8- F- Luca Uccello | CAN / Toronto FC II
9- F- Dario Zanatta | SCO / Heart of Midlothian FC
10- M- Tristan Borges | NED / sc Heerenveen
11- W- Kris Twardek | ENG / Millwall FC
12- F- Shaan Hundal | CAN / Toronto FC II
13- M- Dante Campbell | CAN / Toronto FC II
14- M- Aidan Daniels | CAN / Toronto FC II
15- CB / FB- Kamal Miller | USA / Syracuse University
16- CM- Emmanuel Zambazis | GRE / Iraklis 1908 FC
17- F- Aymar Sigue | USA / Penn State University
18- GK- Thomas Hasal | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-18 Residency
19- F- Liam Millar | ENG / Liverpool FC U-18
20- FB / RW- Kadin Chung | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2

68
Football / Re: 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in South Korea
« on: February 17, 2017, 07:17:28 PM »
http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/

Noah Powder cited as 1 of 12 players to watch

69
Football / Re: The Noah Powder question
« on: February 17, 2017, 07:16:44 PM »
Noah Powder listed as one of top 12 players to watch in CONCACAF U20

http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/

70
Football / Re: 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in South Korea
« on: February 17, 2017, 04:38:40 PM »
Antigua & Barbuda U20s have eyes set on Mexico

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – Antigua & Barbuda’s first game in the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship since 1986 couldn’t be more demanding. On Friday, the Benna Boys open play in the 2017 edition with a meeting against three-time defending champion Mexico at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa.

Regardless of that challenge, the Caribbean runner-up is in Costa Rica to compete for honors, not just to make up the numbers.

“We are in this tournament for a reason,” defender Vashami Allen told CONCACAF.com. “We have earned the right to be here from the CFU (Caribbean Football Union) qualifiers and as we prepare to face Mexico, I am confident we will do our best on Friday evening.

“We have worked hard in training and looked at video footage, so I feel we will work together as a team.”

Allen, who has already played for the senior squad, was key to Antigua & Barbuda earning a second-place finish in last year’s Caribbean qualifying competition, where it fell to powerful Haiti in the final. Along the way, he helped the Benna Boys post two shutouts during the final round.

Although Antigua & Barbuda is taking another step up the competitive ladder at the CONCACAF event, Allen is confident of making mark.

“Canada, Honduras and Mexico are all tough opponents, all teams who have experience in this tournament and all who have played at FIFA U-20 World Cups,” he finished. “But, as a team, we are working well and gelling together nicely, so we are looking to impress in Costa Rica.

“It won’t be easy, but we will do our best.”

71
Football / Re: 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in South Korea
« on: February 16, 2017, 09:36:46 PM »
Canada U20s aim to end 10-year wait

http://www.concacaf.com/article/canada-u20s-aim-to-end-10-year-wait

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica -- A decade has passed since Canada last took part in a FIFA Under-20 World Cup, and that was when it hosted the 2007 edition.

On the eve of the 2017 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship, the players that make up the 20-man squad in Costa Rica understand there’s a lot of pressure on their young shoulders to disrupt that trend.

But they’re focusing on the present and that starts with Friday’s opener against Honduras.

“It’s been mentioned a little bit,” said midfielder Tristan Borges of the 10-year dry spell.  “But we try to focus on the things that we can control and I think that’s the most important thing.  We just focus on ourselves and reach the goal that we all want to achieve.”

Borges was also part of the Canada under-17 team that fell one-game short of qualifying for the 2015 FIFA Under-17 World Cup.  That near-miss is serving as special motivation for Borges and the others who took part in that tournament in Honduras.

Also, at the 2015 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship in Jamaica, a highly-rated Canadian team got off to a strong start by beating Haiti in its first game, only to lose its next four.

Head coach Rob Gale, in his second tournament in charge of the under-20 team, hopes to apply some lessons learned from that first venture.

As a result, he had his team train in the hotter environments of Panama and Mexico in the run-up to the tournament to improve conditioning.

“It’s the off-season for our North American-based players and it’s very tough for players to get fit and ready,” said Gale.  “It’s so hard for them to be match ready when they haven’t played a competitive game in over two months so what we’ve done this time it back end the projects and give ourselves a chance to work with the North American player pool.”

After Honduras, Canada will complete Group A play against three-time defending champion Mexico (February 20) and Caribbean runner-up Antigua & Barbuda (February 23).  A positive result against the first-place side from Central American qualifying will set a positive tone, possibly banishing the burden of past tournaments

72
Football / Re: 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in South Korea
« on: February 16, 2017, 09:15:17 PM »

Bermuda U20s taking it one step at a time


http://www.concacaf.com/article/bermuda-u20s-taking-it-one-step-at-a-time


HAMILTON, Bermuda – There’s a lot of excitement surrounding Bermuda’s first participation in the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship since 1992.

Despite all the adulation, head coach Kyle Lightbourne is focused on keeping his team grounded ahead of Sunday’s opener against Group C rival Trinidad & Tobago. The sides met in Caribbean qualifying’s match for third place, with the Bermudians emerging victorious, 2-1, on goals by Knory Scott and Mikiel Thomas.

“This is not a holiday camp,” Lightbourne stressed to CONCACAF.com. “This is an opportunity to put Bermudian football more on the map. I have made It clear to our players that we are now coming up against the best in the region, so it is imperative that they focus on improving.

“This is the tournament we would really love to do well in and, for us, as coaches and all the staff that’s going down there, our job is to push these guys to get the best out of them that we can.”

Bermuda is also slated to face El Salvador (February 22) and host Costa Rica (February 25) in group play.

Lightbourne, who played in the English Premier League with Coventry City during the 1997/98 season, believes the U-20 tournament is about experience and helping his players grow into professionals.

“We have a squad that is capable of achieving great things in this tournament,” finished the 48-year-old. “However, we are taking it one step at a time. Our first objective is the three games we have to play in nine days. Wherever we are after that, we take it from there.

“We shocked the Caribbean in being one of the best five U-20 teams last year. Well, now, we want to grow in pedigree in CONCACAF. That is our goal.”

73
Football / Re: 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in South Korea
« on: February 16, 2017, 08:09:13 AM »
ABFA Announces Squad for CONCACAF U20 Championships

St. John’s, Antigua – The ABFA proudly announces its final squad for the CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 finals in Costa Rica.The team leaves for a pre-tournament preparation camp in Costa Rica on Monday 6th February 2017

Players

Christian Suttie-Corbett (SAP FC/Antigua)
Kahendi Jackson (SAP FC/Antigua)
Kenduka Challenger (SAP FC/Antigua)
Leroy Graham (FC Aston Villa)
Denie Henry (Parham FC/Antigua)
Matthew Hall (Fort Road FC/Antigua)
Shalon Knight (Swetes FC/Antigua)
Vashami Allen (All Saints Utd/Antigua)
Benedict Bowers (Bishop Burton College/England)
Mohammad Hakeem (Mansfield Town FC/England)
Cristian Fernandez (Oklahoma Wesleyan University/USA)
Andre Brown (Old Road FC/Antigua)
Elliot Webber (Leicester City/England)
Jarmarlie Stevens (Old Road FC/Antigua)
Javorn “Bozo” Stevens (Greenbay Hoppers/Antigua)
DJ Buffonge (Manchester United/England)
Luther Wilden (Notts County FC/England)
Elijah Jarvis (Rochester University/USA)
Jacob Blackstock (Banbury FC/England)
Kalis Gore (Leicester County/England)


Tomorrow at 9:00pm we will see if this England powered team can take points from Mexico

74
Football / Re: 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in South Korea
« on: February 16, 2017, 06:35:05 AM »
Damus, Haiti focused on U-20 World Cup berth

http://www.concacaf.com/article/damus-haiti-focused-on-u-20-world-cup-berth


PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – In its rich footballing history, Haiti has competed in the finals of two FIFA events: the 1974 World Cup and the 2007 U-17 World Cup.

The Grenadiers would like to add an appearance in the U-20 World Cup to that collection. The process of making that happen will continue on Saturday, when they open play in CONCACAF Under-20 Championship against St. Kitts & Nevis in Costa Rica.

Forward Ronaldo Damus, who scored eight goals in Caribbean qualifying, is fully focused completing a unique triple of feats.

“We are the champions of the Caribbean for a reason,” said the 17-year-old. “I felt that the way we played was extremely positive and we have momentum on our side as we prepare in Costa Rica. It is a tough group, but I am confident we can finish in the top two and advance to not only the second round of the competition but also to the U-20 FIFA World Cup in South Korea later this year.”

Damus has previous CONCACAF-tournament experience, netting four goals in the before as in 2015 CONCACAF Under-17 Championship.

“Playing in my first CONCACAF tournament two years ago was a learning experience for me,” he finished. “I had to get in the routine of playing a game every two or three days, so it was an adjustment. However, going into the U-20 Championship now, I am confident I can manage this transition and I am focused on helping my country qualify for the U-20 World Cup.

“Our U-17’s went to the U-17 FIFA World Cup in South Korea in 2007, now 10 years later we want to go back to Korea this time at the U-20 level.”

After taking on St. Kitts & Nevis, the Haitians will also face the United States (February 21) and Panama (February 24) in Group B play.

75
Football / Re: 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in South Korea
« on: February 14, 2017, 05:27:23 PM »
Powder played two games had 2 goals and 1 assist, hope he can keep that form.

If they knew Ross Russell would be leaving why not keep the same goalkeeper coach as before. This is nothing against Russell nor Ince but they had the same goalkeeper coach for group stage and CFU Finals and the defense was excellent. You change coach to Russell now you flynin Ince?

I cant remember the previous goalkeeper coach name

76
Football / Re: Look-Loy look to take TTSL to new heights.
« on: February 13, 2017, 11:22:29 AM »
Allyuh doh think Dexter kind of worried about this league. If the super league starts to pull more crowd than the pro league, how that go look? I feel TTFA will take their cool time to approve the super league. This league is in direct competition with  DJW football interest.

So right. Stall, Stall, Stall,

The fact that the barrier to entry to this league is much lower than Pro League means all Pro League folks will be blocking this improvement

77
Football / Re: 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in South Korea
« on: February 13, 2017, 11:20:52 AM »
Under-20 men win 2-0.
By Keith Clement (Guardian).


T&T's Under-20 men pulled off a 2-0 victory over Club America's Under-20 team in Cali, Colombia in their penultimate training match on Saturday.

Defender Noah Powder and Joshua Leach were the men on target for T&T with goals in the 9th and 23rd minutes respectively.

T&T will play their final match of the tour today against Cardoso FC's Under-20 men's team prior to their departure for San Jose, Costa Rica on Wednesday for the CONCACAF Under 20 Men's Championship.

Head Coach Brian Williams commented on the victory, saying it was a timely confidence booster for his men.

"It was a good win for us coming to the end to what has been a highly intense and extensive training camp for the team here in Cali," he told TTFA Media.

"I was pleased with the way we organised our game from the early stages of the game and we managed to avoid some of the errors we had been taking and we were able to score two goals in the first half. It would have been better for us to push on with a couple more goals in the first half but I was satisfied with us being able to prevent the opposition from scoring," Williams added.

T&T faces Bermuda in their opening match of the Concacaf qualifiers on February 19th.

What wrong with the Guardian journalist? Powder played as a winger in the first half and attacking midfield in the 2nd half but he label him a defender. Powder played as a winger in CFU Finals in Curacao. Not surprised wired868 taken seriously while these BIG papers writers are not.

78
Football / Re: 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in South Korea
« on: February 13, 2017, 10:32:37 AM »
SKN men’s Under-20 football team ready for CONCACAF Championship


The countdown to the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship is now on as the St. Kitts and Nevis U-20 National Football Team makes final preparations before departing the federation for Costa Rico on 7th February.

In October 2016, the team qualified in the CFU Caribbean Cup Finals held in Curacao.

They have been drawn to play in Group B that includes the national teams from Haiti, Panama and the United States of America. Their first game will be on 18th February against Haiti, followed by Panama on 21st February, and the United States on 24th February.

Since qualifying for the CONCACAF Finals, the team has been on a path that will see them clash against some of toughest teams in the CONCACAF region.

SKNFA Technical Director Lenny Lake is the teams’s manager, who provided an update on how the team was preparing for the prestigious and highly competitive championship.

“We’ve been working with the players since November, and we know it would have been difficult in December – Christmas, then Carnival, so we balanced the time the players would spend with their families and the time they would give to training, as they have to maintain a certain level of fitness. We certainly could not wait until January to start training,” Lake said.

According to Lake, preparing for this level of football needs at least 12 weeks of preparation, especially knowing the team will compete in a group that has diversified playing styles.

Lake commented, “The challenge here is that we have to be prepared to deal with the various styles. So, we have been working assiduously making sure the team is prepared the right way and the players are in top shape.” And this had to be done in the context of players being in school, at college and at work. So practice time was at a premium.

“We have done what we can, with the resources available to us and the time we had available,” Lake said.

According to Lake, the preparation plan was designed around making sure that the players stayed at a high level of fitness, and then, early in January 2017, began the tactical work. By the end of January, the team began to prepare under a competition environment playing against an ‘elite team of players’ drawn from various football clubs, as part of the Elite Preparation Camp that was instituted.

In that regard the SKNFA invested in additional expertise to raise the probability of success.

Lake explained, “We sourced the expertise of some top professional coaches, who worked in the region, and more specifically in Central America. So we obtained the services of Gary Stempel, who took Panama’s U-20 to the World Cup. He is here with us until we leave for the tournament in Costa Rico.”

He said it is important that when the players are preparing that they are also aware of the level of the teams they will play against. He indicated that Gary provides the team with his experience, having taken the Panama U-20 team to the World Cup.

Continuing, he said, “We also sought the services of Leonel Flores out of Honduras, who is a physical trainer, and he too had success in taking a Honduras U-17 team to the World Cup, in terms of physical preparedness. He is making sure the players are physically ready.”

Further, prior to leaving the federation, the team will have the services of a professional goalkeeper coach.

The team will leave for Costa Rico on 7th February and go into camp immediately on arrival to become acclimatized to the environment, which is substantially above sea-level.

“We know it is going to be tough. We know we are coming in at a disadvantage, being one of the teams in the Caribbean that made it as a fifth place. But it is football, and anything can happen once you prepare and go out and do your best. Sometimes the results will favor you, when you do the right things,” Lake said.

It is the second time a national U-20 team will play at this level and Lake believes the team is ready. “I think we have a good chance, just like everybody else. I think we have a very good group of players. They have been playing together for a while.”

79
Football / Re: 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in South Korea
« on: February 11, 2017, 11:06:01 AM »
Keeper -ah hope so too because the midfield definitely needs help. The absence of Keston Julien will hurt this team as it limits some of the other wing and midfield options.

80
Football / Re: Look-Loy looks to take TTSL to new heights.
« on: February 11, 2017, 10:48:37 AM »
Look-Loy looks to take TTSL to new heights.
By Inshan Mohammed.


Since his resignation as TTFF Technical Adviser and Chairman of the TTFF Technical Committee back in 2011, Keith Look Loy has been itching to get back into the local football circuit at national level and have now resurfaced yearning to make his mark once again, this time, at a different capacity.

Look-Loy was hired by former Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) Adviser Jack Warner as a Youth Development Officer for the TTFF from 1993-1999. Second time around, former TTFF General Secretary Richard Groden called on Look-Loy's services again and named him the TTFF's Technical Adviser, a position he held from 2008 to 2011.

Look-Loy is currently the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) interim president and is also the founder, coach and President of FC Santa Rosa, a Club that participated in the National Super League (NSL) since its establishment in 2012. Recently, he guided them to their first-ever historic Super League Premiership title last season.

The former Arima Boys’ RC School, St. Mary’s College and Howard University player and student also played football for local outfit Fulham SC in 1972 and Arima Football League in the Hayward Shield against all the other leagues and top players. He represented Trinidad and Tobago at the Under-20 level in which he was named captain of the national side in 1971 and 1972 before migrating to the U.S. to take up a scholarship with Howard.

He returned home and coached the national U-17 (1996), U-20 (1994-1998) and U-21 (1994) men's teams. A former member of FIFA’s Football Committee, Technical Study Group (TSG), CONCACAF’s TSG, FIFA and CONCACAF instructor carries a wealth of experience and is hoping he can transform his proficiency into the new proposed TTSL, but there are still one last hurdle standing in his way. The TTSL was launched on the 13th of December 2016 and is still awaiting approval from the governing body (TTFA) to fully commence.

Here is a little Q&A with the revitalised TTSL interim president.

1.Why are you re-branding the current Super League. Wouldn't it had been easier to just take control of the current one and just improve on it. Or, even better yet, run for CEO of the Pro League.
KLL: On the prompting of Anthony Harford and his company, All Sport Promotions Limited (ASP), the TTFA created the National Super League in 2002. This was not a properly constituted league but a competition, like the FA Cup. ASP ran this competition under a franchise purchased from TTFA. This arrangement between TTFA and ASP expired on 31 December 2016. The clubs of the NSL thought it an opportune moment to create a properly constituted league in which to continue playing.

On 13 December, thirteen (13) NSL clubs, keeping the established Super League brand, agreed to form the Trinidad and Tobago Super League (TTSL) and adopted a constitution. TTSL applied for TTFA membership on 8 January 2017. Our numbers have since increased to twenty-two (22) clubs – all of the clubs that constituted the 2016 NSL.

A few days later, on 13 January 2017, TTSL established a limited liability company (Trinidad and Tobago Super League Limited) to run its commercial affairs. Each TTSL member holds an equal share in the company. In the League’s Founding Agreement we establish a profit-sharing formula that equitably distributes profit among the clubs, based on membership and place in the final season standings.

I have no interest in football office. However at the founding meeting of 13 December 2016 the clubs unanimously asked me to be the League’s interim President. I accepted the position out of a sense of responsibility to my own club, FC Santa Rosa, to other member clubs and to Trinidad and Tobago football. I had/have no interest in being CEO of the TT Pro League.   

2. How do you plan to sustain the league financially.
KLL: Debt and dependency are the DNA of Trinidad and Tobago football. I have insisted, as interim President, that TTSL must not be born in debt and must not seek to be a ward of the State; that TTSL must become financially viable and sustainable. This vision for the League must also be the vision for the member clubs.

That said, modern football clubs depend on several income streams to survive: 1) gate receipts, 2) merchandising, 3) sponsorship, 4) player transfers, and 5) broadcast rights. The first three of these are impossible to create without supporters. This is the strength of the TT Super League club. It is an organic product of a community. Just look at names of our clubs – Palo Seco, Bethel, Matura, Guaya, Marabella, Maracas, Santa Rosa, Cunupia, Barrackpore. I could go on. The community roots of our clubs allow the possibility of generating club income from gate receipts, merchandising and sponsorship, whether local  or national companies.

The TTSL is also involved in talks with a major international broadcaster for sponsorship and broadcast rights. And further beyond that, we expect to close a deal soon with a global brand to provide equipment to our clubs under a sole supplier agreement.     

3. Will the league be considered a Semi-Pro League.
KLL: The fact is that most clubs in TTSL already provide compensation to players in some form or fashion. Indeed, there are players in TTSL who would not be temped by a TT Pro League contract because of their arrangement with a TTSL club. Some clubs compensate players with cash. Others by way of employment. Either way, the TTSL is already a “non-amateur” league. Now we must regularize the status of, and offer protection to, players who are paid by introducing a standard player contract.

4. Will the players and staff be getting paid? A salary cap in other words.
KLL: There will not be a salary cap. Financial arrangements, at least for the foreseeable future, will remain a business between club and player. I would also like to touch on the League Secretary Camara David. He is a bright and well educated young man (FIFA/CIES Masters Degree in Sports Management) and hails from Couva.

5. Will we finally see a promotion and regulation within the league system throughout T&T.
KLL: TTSL is profoundly committed to the eternal football principle of promotion and relegation. This is the democracy of sport and football. A place in TTSL will be earned on merit and not be bought with cash. In our Founding Agreement TTSL clubs collectively committed to an organic connection to Regional Association football - by way of relegation of clubs from TTSL and promotion of clubs from TTFA’s Champion of Champions tournament for Regional Association champions. The issue, however, has always been to ensure a connection to the TT Pro League, which is a closed league, made so by their excessive four hundred thousand dollar (TTD $400.000) registration fee. We have already approached the TT Pro League for a discussion of this, as I explain in Question 9. below.

6. How did these NSL teams been surviving without Government Subvention for so long and will the Government be involved financially with the new TTSL.
KLL:TTSL clubs survived in the NSL (and in Regional Association football) due to community support and the love and sacrifice of those in charge of the clubs. But Love and Sacrifice are not enough to develop TTSL and its member clubs. Only commercial profit will allow our member clubs the resources to develop their internal infrastructure and their product. As I say above, TTSL has no interest in becoming a ward of the State, and in existing largely due to the charity of the public purse. We must love and sacrifice, yes, but we must also work hard and smart at improving our operation off the field (administration and marketing), and our product on the field (football).

I believe the State has a role to play, and a key one, in facilitating sporting development – by providing infrastructure, tax incentives to sponsors and investors, supporting youth programmes and technical education, etc. But it is decidedly NOT the role of the State to fund privately held football clubs and to provide prize money for their competitions, as some sectors have grown accustomed to. So, yes, TTSL has approached the State for assistance with the travel of our clubs between the two islands – we have three (3) members in Tobago – be it direct assistance or by way of an arrangement with Caribbean Airlines, and for discussion of a commercial partnership with TTSL, but we do not seek to beg the State for funding.

7. Now that there are Clubs in Tobago that will participate in the new league, how are you planning to handle the commute and accommodation for teams going there and visiting Trinidad.
KLL: As I say in Question 6. above.

8. What is your ultimate goal for the TTSL.
KLL: The entire objective of the TTSL is to grow the sport. In our member clubs. In the communities to which they belong. We must promote an entertaining product for our people, and for our young people to be attracted to in these dark times in Trinidad and Tobago. And we must maximize the economic benefits of the league to our players, our supporters, the football fraternity, and the country as a whole. All of this hinges on our sustained ability to create a professional operation and to deliver a professional product. TTSL is an exciting and progressive initiative.

9. Will we see some sort of collaboration between the Pro League and the TTSL. How is your relationship with the TTFA and the Pro League bosses, in other words, do you feel you'll get the support.
KLL: TTSL has applied for TTFA membership on 8 January 2017. We believe our acceptance into the Association is taking an inordinately long time as our Constitution is based rigidly on the TTFA model.

We trust that in the immediate post-Carnival period our application will be approved (that long again because TTFA officials have pointed to Carnival and their personal schedules as obstacles to more rapid progress). We really do hope the approval with be smooth.

Regarding the TT Pro League, we wrote to the League CEO seeking a mutual discussion of 1) technical cooperation, 2) joint competitions, and 3) promotion and relegation between the two leagues. The CEO responded by saying that TTPL would seek guidance from TTFA “for further clarification on the process”. We do not know if TTPL has since received any clarification.

10. Can we expect double headers with Pro League games and will the fixture between both run on the same timeline. Also, how will the fans get updates on the league, clubs, players, etc, will we see a website built and efficiently, accurately and often updated.
KLL: The modern world is moved by information and information technology. TTSL already has a facebook page (TT Super League) and I invite all your followers to like and follow it. We are in the process of building our website. We have already begun and will continue using the print and electronic media to get our message out to the public. I cannot say at this point if there will be joint match promotion between TT Super League and TT Pro League. That is left to be seen.

Finally, I must thank you for the opportunity to reach your followers. I and TTSL are always available for open communication in the interest of football.


Copyrights of the Soca Warriors Online - Any press using the following article written by Inshan Mohammed are welcome to do so providing they reveal the source and writer. Furthermore, no portion of this article may be copied without proper credit as well.

It's real encouraging because they saying things and doing the things they say in OPEN for people to hear and see. In the current climate people will trust this approach.

81
Football / Re: 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in South Korea
« on: February 11, 2017, 08:37:31 AM »
Let us hope Morgan was selected on ability and that he impressed the Coach rather than coming from a big name club. My concern is about Unity in the camp . We need everyone on the same page fighting for their spot. I know some will argue playing at a higher level and exposure and the likes- But is what happens in training and Commitment.

Bruce played for our U17's two years ago. He played in the CFU group stage, he played in Curacao in CFU finals.

I am not sure if people know his history or they just talking to talk

82
Football / Re: 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in South Korea
« on: February 11, 2017, 06:56:01 AM »
It does not appear he is attached or under contract, he has had elongated trials seeking a contract. Its likely that he is on trial at QPR at present.

Noah Powder is on trial at PSG but not under contract, maybe they should have said on trial for Bruce

83
Football / Re: 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in South Korea
« on: February 10, 2017, 08:59:40 PM »
Big lose without Keston Julien, Tyrel Emmanuel, Levi Garcia, Jarred Dass, Quinn Rodney and Isaiah Hudson.

Why only 20 players and not 23?

I believe only 20 are permitted, USA also only named 20

Keston Julien and Jared Dass are really the only big losses.

Hudson did not perform at a high level and became a distraction with disciplinary challenges
Levi was never really an option, he would have been like winning the lottery. With the FIFA window for March qualifiers no club will release a player of his stature.

Rodney and Emmanuel ruled themselves out so we never saw their potential

84
Football / Re: 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in South Korea
« on: February 10, 2017, 11:34:21 AM »
Bascome was a big part of the Bermuda U20 team in Curacao that beat TnT, wonder if he will be in Costa Rica on February 19th

85
Football / Re: 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in South Korea
« on: February 10, 2017, 11:33:34 AM »
Bermuda’s Bascome inks contract with Bristol City

http://www.concacaf.com/article/bermudas-bascome-inks-contract-with-bristol-city

BRISTOL, England -- Bermuda international Osagi Bascome signed Thursday a deal with Bristol City that will keep him with the English Championship club until the end of the season with an option for a further year.

The 18-year-old forward impressed the coaching staff while he on trial, scoring one goal and assisting on two others in three appearances with the U23 side.

He will immediately be placed on the first team roster.

“It has not been the best of seasons in the Championship, however I feel with Osagi that he will give us a different dimension in attack,” said Bristol City manager Lee Johnson. “He has the talent that can drive fear into opponents and he is just the kind of figure we need here at Bristol City. We are excited to have him and we look forward to great performances with us.”

After previously pursuing opportunities at Aston Villa, Stoke City, Valencia and Levante, Bascome is delighted the move came to fruition.

“It is truly an honour to sign with Bristol City,” he said. “It is a club with tremendous history and outstanding players and I am happy to be part of this experience. The hard part starts now and I will have to work harder now to ensure I can get playing time and impress.”

Bascome made his senior debut for Bermuda in a 1-0 loss to the visiting Dominican Republic in a Scotiabank CFU

86
Football / Re: 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in South Korea
« on: February 10, 2017, 07:00:33 AM »
Pipino leaves Panama U20 post

PANAMA CITY, Panama – Leonardo Pipino has stepped down as head coach of the Panama under-20 national team, the Federación Panameña de Fútbol announced Thursday.

The Canaleros are in Colombia preparing for the 2017 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship, which starts on February 17 in Costa Rica.

Nelson Gallego and Edgar Carvajal, assistants with the senior squad, have been put in charge of the side as it bids to earn a berth in the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Pipino, a 39-year-old Argentinean, had guided Panama to a place in the 2015 U-20 World Cup after a runner-up finish in the 2015 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship

87
Football / Re: Warren Archibald
« on: February 07, 2017, 05:41:11 PM »
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/uzMvthDJ_oA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/uzMvthDJ_oA</a>

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/qlwI3xJVri4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/qlwI3xJVri4</a>

Excellent. Great to know we will have this footage forever

88
Football / Re: 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in South Korea
« on: February 06, 2017, 09:07:40 PM »
USA have U15, U16, U17, U18, U19, U20 and U23 teams active. We need to move in this direction

Belgium have U15, U16, U17, U18, U19 and U21.

If we going to be serious we need to have something similar. I like what Latapy doing with U17 and U15 but we need more.

89
Football / Re: Under-15 Football Team Thread
« on: February 06, 2017, 09:04:17 PM »
really thrilled to see Latapy keeping U15 and U17 programs active. This is very positive move, I hope it is prolonged.

90
Football / Re: 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in South Korea
« on: February 06, 2017, 08:55:17 PM »
U-19 MNT HEAD COACH FRIEDEL NAMES 22-PLAYER ROSTER FOR FLORIDA TRAINING CAMP

U-19 MNT Feb 3, 2017
CHICAGO (Feb. 3, 2017) – U.S. Under-19 Men’s National Team head coach Brad Friedel has named a 22-player roster to an eight-day domestic training camp set to take place from Feb. 3-10 in Sunrise, Fla.

During the camp, the U-19s will play friendlies against El Salvador and Miami FC. This camp marks the U-19 MNT’s first gathering of 2017 and first return to action since its friendly against Miami FC last November, part of the team’s final training camp of 2016.

“I'm really looking forward to the camp and I think we've assembled a good, athletic squad and I will be really interested to see who does well,” Friedel said. “This camp is meant to bring in new and returning players and give them the opportunity to get into the system and have a chance at making a future U-20 roster. The second part of that is, the (birth year) 1997, 1998 and some 1999 age groups are going to make up the bulk of the next U-23 Olympic team. So it’s really important that we continue to give the players international experience.”

Of the 22 players on the roster, 11 play for U.S. Soccer Development Academy clubs, seven play at the collegiate level, two compete in the USL, one plays internationally and one plays at a domestic non-Academy club.

The age cut-off for this U-19 player pool, which is entering the second and final year of its cycle, is players born on or after Jan. 1, 1998.

Development Academy Ties:

Of the 22 players called into this camp, 20 have spent time in the Development Academy.
Goalkeeper Kevin Silva carries the most amount of time spent in the Development Academy, registering six seasons for Players Development Academy from 2010 to 2016.
Roster Notes:

Eight players are making their U-19 debuts: Matthew Freese, Noah Lawrence, Michael Ille, Lagos Kunga, Justin Ingram, Ryley Kraft, William Little and Mason Toye.
Born in 1999, midfielder Milan Iloski is the youngest player on the roster.
Atlanta United FC and Swope Park Rangers are the only clubs with multiple players called into the camp with two each.
Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Matthew Freese (Philadelphia Union; Wayne, Pa.), Noah Lawrence (D.C. United; Mitchellville, Md.), Kevin Silva (UCLA; Bethlehem, Pa.)
DEFENDERS (6): Daniel Barbir (West Bromwich Albion F.C.; Allentown, Pa.), Tanner Dieterich (Clemson; Nashville, Tenn.), Marco Farfan (Portland Timbers; Portland, Ore.), Justin Ingram (Indianapolis Fire; Indianapolis, Ind.), Edwin Munjoma (SMU; McKinney, Texas), Brandon Terwege (FC Dallas; Highland Village, Texas)
MIDFIELDERS (11): Christian Enriquez (Cal Poly; Spring Valley, Calif.), Daniel Griffin (Providence College; Wethersfield, Conn.), Felipe Hernandez (Swope Park Rangers; Murfreesboro, Tenn.), Michael Ille (Atlanta United FC; Lawrenceville, Ga.), Milan Iloski (Real Salt Lake; Escondido, Calif.), Ryley Kraft (Sacramento Republic FC; Roseville, Calif.), Lagos Kunga (Atlanta United FC; Tucker, Ga.), Simon Lekressner (California-Berkley; Bellevue, Wash.), William Little III (Swope Park Rangers; Johnson City, Tenn.), Djordje Mihailovic (Chicago Fire; Bridgeview, Ill.), Grant Robinson (George Mason; Columbia, Md.)
FORWARDS (2): Nelson Hunsinger (Leg-A-Z; Mary Esther, Fla.), Mason Toye (PDA; South Orange, N.J.)

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