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Puerto Rico Islanders News Release -
www.islandersfc.org Thursday, December 7, 2006
BAYAMON, PR – The Puerto Rico Islanders completed their roster for the upcoming CONCACAF Champions Cup’s qualifiers. Many of the players that participated in the USL First Division’s 2006 season have come back, but the Islanders also added new faces for their USL registered roster. The Caribbean Qualifying for Group C is being hosted by the Islanders at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium in Bayamon December 8-14.
“This new roster of players will bring an added level of group dynamics, energy, and flexibility. We have brought in additional players who are hungry for success and can each play different positions on the field. They are experienced but young, with very good technique,” said Vice-President of Operations Isaac Nieves Sr. of the roster for the CONCACAF tournament and upcoming season. “This team we built, the fans will sure like. Coach Toribio Rojas has many options to choose from the roster, to field a very competitive team that can win it all.”
Head coach Toribio Rojas will lead the “Orange Troops” again, and he has appointed Puerto Rican defenseman Marco Vélez as the team captain for the competition. Along with Vélez other players have come back. Local talents such as Raphel Ortiz, Isaac Nieves Jr., and Carlos Torres return to the squad. Torres debuted in 2006 with the pro team but he already has shown his abilities in the Islanders’ B team (the Reserves) that plays in the local amateur Premier League.
With the creation of the Puerto Rico Islanders Soccer Academy (PRISA) the Islanders are developing young, talented Puerto Rican players so in the future they move up to the pro squad just like Torres.
Other players returning include Terrence Boss (goalkeeper), Noah Delgado, Chilean stars Alejandro González and Mauricio Segovia, Thomas J. Queeley, Petter Villegas and Edwin Miranda. Corey Woolfolk, who played in 2006 with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
David Johnson comes from the Los Angeles Galaxy. Jacobi Goodfellow is a defenseman coming from the Portland Timbers. Also joining the Islanders from Portland is Mexican forward Byron Alvarez.
Meanwhile Leslie “Tiger” Fitzpatrick, a Trinidad & Tobago National Team player, was also added to the squad. “Tiger” has played with the Atlanta Silverbacks of the USL (2004) and Real Salt Lake of MLS (2005).[/font] [/color] [/glow] Edward Limage is a Haitian player living in Puerto Rico who joins the squad from the Islanders B Reserve Team just like Torres. Yuri Morales, former UMass player in the NCAA, comes back to his homeland after playing for the USA Beach Soccer Team this year. With Morales, the Islanders will have five Puerto Rican players. Alexis Rivera, who has played in all of the club’s USL seasons, was not available for CONCACAF due to injury.
Rounding out the roster is a trio of experienced players from the Panama National Team that made it to the final round of CONCACAF qualifiers for Germany 2006. Alberto Jesús Zapata has played with various clubs such as Tecos UAG of Mexico, The Strongest of Bolivia, and Olimpia of Paraguay. Victor Manuel Herrera has experience with, amongst others, Toluca and Nexaca of Mexico and Millionarios of Colombia; and has represented Panama at different youth levels. Currently he is working with the Panama National Team towards 2010’s World Cup Qualifiers. Both Zapata and Herrera last played with Panamanian 1st Division club San Francisco.
On the other hand, Gustavo Alberto Avila comes from another Panamanian 1st Division side Plaza Amador FC. Avila has vast experience with Colombian 1st Division clubs, such as Independiente Medellín.
The winners of Group C of the Caribbean Qualification tournament advance to the semifinals, which will be held, along with the championship, at the site of one of the semifinalists prior to December 31. Harbor View of Jamaica already advanced from Group A this week with a 3-0-0 record, outscoring their opposition 8-0 on aggregate. The Caribbean Tournament Champion will progress to the 2007 CONCACAF Champions’ Cup and face the 2006 Mexican League Torneo de Apertura winner in the Quarterfinals.
Group C Schedule
12/8 - Puerto Rico Islanders v Fruta Conquerors
12/9 - W Connection v Hoppers FC
12/11 - Puerto Rico Islanders v Hoppers FC
12/12 - W Connection v Fruta Conquerors
12/14 - Fruta Conquerors v Hoppers FC
12/14 - Puerto Rico Islanders v W Connection
Puerto Rico Islanders Caribbean Qualifying Roster
Byron Alvarez
Gustavo A. Avila
Terence Boss (GK)
Noah Delgado
Leslie “Tiger” Fitzpatrick Alejandro Gonzalez
Jacobi Goodfellow
Victor M. Herrera
David Johnson
Edward Limage (GK)
Edwin Miranda
Yuri Morales
Issac Nieves
Raphel Ortiz
Thomas John Queeley
Mauricio Segovia
Carlos Torres
Marco Vélez (Captain)
Petter Villegas
Corey Woolfolk
Alberto J. Zapata
