Thread for the (CFU) Club Championship 2012.

[Flex]

Down to the wire - T&TEC, Caledonia in CFU spot decider.
ttproleague.com.

It’s down to the wire for Digicel Pro League clubs T&TEC FC and Caledonia AIA in contest for a final Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship qualifying spot with W Connection already snapping up one of the two spots.

W Connection leads the qualifying table with 21 points and faces Police FC on Tuesday afternoon from 8pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium, two points ahead of T&TEC and Caledonia (19 points).

NOTE: The qualifying table runs till the end of Round Two Match Day Seven of the Digicel Pro League Championship with points attained against Defence Force and Police FC in Round One matches not tallied.

T&TEC and Caledonia, only separated by goals difference, will face each other from 8pm in the second clash of a double header at the Larry Gomes Stadium—definitely the biggest meeting of the two clubs this season since the Final of the First Citizens Cup last October which Caledonia won 2-1 courtesy a pair of Kareem Joseph goals.

Since then the two teams met again in Round One of the League Championship in December and T&TEC stunned the Morvant/Laventille club to a 2-0 win with second half strikes by Kurlon Ferguson and Andrei Pacheco.

Caledonia definitely needs a win with a lesser goals difference, while a draw will see T&TEC join W Connection as the two Trinidad and Tobago clubs representing the twin-island republic at the CFU Club Championship which is scheduled to begin in March.

While Caledonia, equipped with the likes of strikers Jamal Gay, Conrad Smith, Trevin Caesar, midfielders Trayon Bobb, Stephan David, Abdallah Phillips, defenders Aquil Selby, Nuru Abdallah Muhammad, Kareem Joseph and Sheldon Emmanuel, remains in need for victory. It is T&TEC that suffered an upset defeat two days before Tuesday’s crucial clash.

The Dexter Cyrus coached ‘Electric Boys’ suffered a 1-0 defeat against Super League side St. Francois Nationals in the FA Trophy second round on Sunday at the Queen’s Park Oval, however Cyrus remains unshaken by the defeat.

“We’re going into the game to win,” he said. “And there isn’t any other way you can put it to the players.

We want to qualify for the CFU, so we have to deal with the pressures that come with it. If you want to play big football you have to play to win. It’s as simple as that.”

“Nothing could affect us at this point,” continued the T&TEC coach. “…because the guys want to win and be one of the teams representing Trinidad and Tobago in the CFU.

They (St. Francois) won on the day because our players’ focus was on Tuesday’s game. The magnitude of Tuesday’s game (against Caledonia) is so huge, that there wasn’t anything I could do to motivate the guys against St. Francois.

I think we have a formidable team. We also have a lot of depth and I am always optimistic. The management has also given the players a lot of confidence ahead of Tuesday’s game. It’s certain that Caledonia wants the win as well, so we just have to wait until the 90 minutes is over to know the result,” ended Cyrus.

T&TEC with a two-goal goals difference advantage boasts the likes of strikers Kerry Baptiste, Kurlon Ferguson, Andre Toussaint, midfielders Andrei Pacheco, Sylvester Teesdale, Romauld Aguillera and defenders Corneal Thomas, Akeem Adams, Kern Peters and Anthony Noriega which definitely predicts an action packed contest against the Jamaal Shabazz coached Caledonia AIA.

Prior to the Caledonia, T&TEC contest, North East Stars will take on Defence Force from 6pm at the Malabar venue in a rescheduled Round Two Match Day Four fixture.

Standings

P  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
Q - W Connection  12  7  0  5  11  11  21
San Juan Jabloteh  13  5  5  3  19  15  20
Caledonia AIA  13  6  2  5  17  16  20
T&TEC  11  5  4  2  14  9  19
Defence Force  9  3  4  2  12  10  13
North East Stars  12  3  3  6  11  14  12
St Anns Rangers  12  3  3  6  12  18  12
Police FC  8  1  3  4  10  13  6

[soccerrama]

Caledonia has edged T&TEC for the 2nd CFU spot

Caledonia AIA  1           T&TEC   0   
Devorn Jorsling (61’)

[Deeks]

Congrats to Cali. Hard luck TTEC. You guys did well. There is always next year.

[Sam]

Caribbean Football Union and Guyana's WCQ starts in March.

This would be interesting for Jamaal Shabazz.

I hope W Connection kill them.

[Flex]

T&TEC joins Caledonia, W Connection for CFU Club Championship.
ttproleague.com

Trinidad and Tobago has been granted a third qualifying spot for the 2012 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship following a request by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation.

The ‘special token’ was picked up by T&TEC FC (19 points) which finished third in the qualifying, joining fellow Pro League outfits Caledonia AIA (22 points) of Morvant/Laventille and W Connection (21 points).

It’s a debut for the ‘Electric Boys’ in the regional tournament, while Caledonia enjoys its second consecutive qualification and W Connection, a regular in the tournament during the last decade, have been the most successful club winning the tournament three times.

T&TEC FC manager Peter Mohan believes that his club is capable of making Trinidad and Tobago, the TT Pro League and the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission proud at the regional level by advancing into the CONCACAF Champions’ League.

He told ttproleague.com, “I am very confident that we will make T&T, the League and T&TEC very proud in the CFU by qualifying for the CONCACAF Champions’ League.”

Moham backed his statement by announcing that his club is currently in talks with a forward and defender.

“We have sufficient players, but for the CFU we are looking at two players which we are in discussions with. It’s a defender and a forward. We realize that we need more firepower, especially upfront looking at our past few games,” he added.

The CFU Club Championship is scheduled to begin in March.

“From the club’s perspective, being able to qualify for the CFU in our first season at the Pro League level is a really great accomplishment,” said the Football Club manager.

“We have already begun putting things in place for the tournament and looking at our budget because the first round is a home and away series and funding will come from the company (T&TEC).”

[Deeks]

Congrats. I glad for TTEC. But they get a special token. How is that possible? And another thing. How come TTEC getting resources for their team, and Petrotrin can't do that anymore.

[dreamer]

Excellent news for T&T football. 3 teams playing nice passing football and getting chance to match with central american teams if they get pass the qualifying rounds. Excellent exposure for many players just as we are on the verge of a landmark event to rid ourselves of a cancer in the TTFF. There is hope.

[Sando]

When are these games ?

[Dynamite Warrior]

CFU clubs to kick off March 25.
concacaf.com

The Caribbean Club Champions Cup will begin Sunday in the Cayman Islands between local clubs Elite Sport and Georgetown and North Village of Bermuda, the Caribbean Football Union announced Monday.

It is one of three first-round groups that each will qualify a winner along with the best runner-up from all three to a second, eight-team group stage May 1-6.

The four qualifiers will join seeded sides the Puerto Rico Islanders, the two-time defending champion, and Caledonia AIA of Trinidad, paired in one of the second-round groups, and three-time champion W Connection of Trinidad and Barracudas FC of Antigua, in the other.

The winners and runners-up from the two second-round groups will advance to the CFU club championship finals May 23-27, with three teams qualifying for next season's CONCACAF Champions League.

Besides Group 1 that will be played in the Cayman Islands, first-round Group 2 will be played in Guyana April 15-22 and consist of local sides Milerock and 2011 CFU club third-place finisher Alpha United, Hubentut Fortuna of Curacao and SV Inter Moengotapoe of Suriname.

Group 3 will be played in Haiti April 15-22 between two local teams yet to be determined, Centro Barber of Curacao and Bayamon FC of Puerto Rico.

CFU Club Champions Cup
(Three teams qualify for CONCACAF Champions League)

FIRST ROUND
 
Group 1
At Cayman Islands
May 25-29

*Elite Sport (CAY)
Georgetown (CAY)
North Village (BER)

Group 2
At Guyana
April 15-22

*Alpha United (Guy)
Milerock (GUY)
SV Inter Moengotapoe (SUR)
Hubentut Fortuna (CUR)

Group 3
At Haiti
April 15-22

Haiti 1
Haiti 2
Centro Barber (CUR)
Bayamon FC (PUR)

SECOND ROUND

May 1-6
Group 4
At Puerto Rico

*Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR)
Caledeonia AIA (TRI)
Group 1 winner
Best first-round runner-up

Group 5
At Trinidad

*W Connection (TRI)
Barracudas FC (ATG)
Group 2 winner
Group 3 winner

FINALS

May 23-27
Venue TBA

Group 4 winner
Group 5 winner
Group 4 runner-up
Group 5 runner-up

*Denotes host club

[che]

T&TEC is not listed in any group 

[Deeks]

True dat 

[andre samuel]

Well Group One has only 3 teams, so we can assume that TTEC will take up that 4th spot. 

And probably since it was a late decision/special request, CONCACAF didnt update their site.

ah love it!!

[Flex]

W Connection, AIA get CFU first round byes.
By Nigel Simon (Guardian).
 
Digicel T&T Pro League clubs, W Connection and Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA will be on first round byes when the Caribbean Football Union Club Champions Cup begin today in the Cayman Islands.

W Connection has won the CFU title four times—2001, 2002, 2006 and 2009—the last of which was a 2–1 triumph over two-time reigning champion Puerto Rico Islanders at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya.

For Caledonia, it will be the second consecutive appearance in the competition after reaching the quarterfinals on debut last year before bowing out to Haiti’s Tempete.

In the opening Group One three-team series, Cayman Islands duo Elite Sport and Georgetown will tangle with North Village of Bermuda as announced by the CFU on Monday.
 
The three-team series is one of three first-round groups that each will qualify a winner along with the best runner-up from all three to a second, eight-team group stage May 1-6.

The four qualifiers will join seeded sides, Puerto Rico Islanders, the two-time defending champion, and Caledonia AIA, paired in one of the second-round groups, and W Connection and Barracudas FC of Antigua, in the other.

The winners and runners-up from the two second-round groups will advance to the CFU club championship finals May 23-27, with three teams qualifying for next season’s CONCACAF Champions League.

The two other first-round series will see Group Two being played in Guyana from April 15–22. Group Three will contest in Haiti from April 15-22.

[Flex]

Georgetown edges Elite to advance in CFU
Nigel Simon (Guardian).

Host club, Georgetown edged past Elite 2-1 in an all Cayman Islands clash to top the First Round Group One qualifiers for the Caribbean Football Union Club Champions Cup on Thursday night. Playing at the TE Mc Field Sports Centre, Georgetown, Elite which won 2-1 over North Village Rams of Bermuda on Tuesday at the same venue went ahead in the fifth minute through Dwayne Wright.

However, Georgetown coming off a 0-0 draw with Rams in its first match on Sunday hit back with goals from Fabian Malcolm (40th) and Limberg Cuevas-Ebanks (87th), to steal all three points and top the group with four points, one more than Elite. Group Two to be played in Guyana from April 15-22 will consist of local sides Milerock and 2011 CFU club third-place finisher Alpha United, Hubentut Fortuna of Curacao and regular competitors SV Inter Moengotapoe of Suriname while Group Three, to be contested in Haiti from April 15-22, features Haitian qualifiers, Tempete and Baltimore as well as Centro Barber of Curacao and Bayamon FC of Puerto Rico.
 
The three first-round groups will qualify three group winners and a best runner-up to the second, eight-team group stage May 1-6. The four qualifiers will join seeded sides, Puerto Rico Islanders, the two-time defending champion, and Caledonia AIA, paired in one of the second-round groups, and W Connection, also runner-up in 2000 and 2003 and Barracudas FC of Antigua, in the other.

The winners and runners-up from the two second-round groups will advance to the CFU club championship finals May 23-27, with three teams qualifying for next season’s Concacaf Champions League. W Connection has won the CFU title four-times, 2001, 2002, 2006 and 2009, the last of which was a 2–1 triumph over two-time reigning champion Puerto Rico Islanders at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya while Caledonia will be making a second consecutive appearance in the competition after reaching the quarterfinals on debut last year before bowing out to Haiti’s Tempete, the same club which stopped 1985 and 1987 champions, Defence Force in the semifinals.

CFU Club Championship qualifiers:

First Round:
Last Thursday:
Georgetown 2 (Fabian Malcolm 40th, Limberg Cuevas-Ebanks 87th) vs Elite 1 (Dwayne Wright 5th).
 
Last Tuesday:
Elite 2 (Mario Rene Carter 13th, 66th) vs North Village Rams 1 (Keishan Bean 60th).
 
Last Sunday:
Georgetown 0 vs North Village Rams 0.

[Flex]

Connection puts Lucozade Sport GS exit behind, focus now on CFU Club Championship 
ttproleague.com.   
 
Digicel Pro League Champions W Connection will travel to the sister isle of Tobago on Wednesday for a ten-day training camp in preparations for Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship matches early next month.

A 34-man roster will travel to Tobago led by head coach Stuart Charles Fevrier and coach Earl Jean and return to Trinidad on Friday 27 April.

W Connection and fellow TT Pro League compatriot Caledonia AIA are seeded sides along with Puerto Rico Islanders and Antigua’s Barracudas FC picking up automatic CFU Club Championship second round berths.

The second round will be contested from 1-6 May with two-time defending champion Islanders and Caledonia paired in one of the second-round groups, and Connection and Barracudas in the other, while first round winners will make up the four-team groups.

“We want to put a lot of focus on the Caribbean Club Championship,” said Fevrier. “We definitely want to try and win it. So we want to give the players the best possible preparation.”

Jan-Michael Williams, Aquelius Sylvester, Murilo Da Costa(goalkeepers), Hashim Arcia, Matthew Bartholomew, Akeem Benjamin, Rennie Britto, Jerrel Britto, Kern Cupid, Jelani Grosvenor, Jamal John, Joevin Jones, Elijah Joseph, Clyde Leon, Anthony Parris, Johan Peltier, Andre Quashie, Keon Quow, Kemuel Rivers, Gerard Williams, Kenaz Williams, Jomal Williams, Shahdon Winchester, Felinto Dos Santos, Kegan Ellis, Neil Benjamin Jr., Alvin Jones, Akeem Roach, Matthew Woo Ling, Damani Richards, Andrei Pacheco, Jamal Clarence and Christian Viveros makes up the 34-man camp roster.

“The players are in good spirits but with football the challenge is always ahead of you. We have a lot of young players and we need to refocus them and get the right mental attitude for the challenges ahead,” added the Connection coach in response to his decision for the Tobago camp.

A total of three matches will be played in a space of five days (1-6 May) in the second-round with the winners and runners-up of each group advancing into the CFU club championship finals May 23-27, with three teams qualifying for next season’s CONCACAF Champions League.

Speaking on the tight scheduled of three games on five days, Fevrier said, “I try to look for solutions. I don’t have control over those things.

I won’t take the easy way out and complain. I can’t dwell on three games in five days. As the coach, my focus is on trying to help to players prepare for this. If I complain then that would be passed onto the player. And when the players start complaining, then we won’t get the best out of them.”

Last Friday Connection suffered a 1-0 defeat against St. Ann’s Rangers at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in the quarter-final stage of the Lucozade Sport Goal Shield to exit the tournament won by the Fevrier coached side two seasons ago.

However the St. Lucian born coach welcomed the positives gained by the defeat saying, “Had we won (and advanced further into the Lucozade Sport Goal Shield tournament), it would have been a difficult situation for us in terms of preparations for the Caribbean Club Championship.

Having said that, we did play to win the match against Rangers but with everything in mind, we didn’t feel it as much. I thought we played well, but we didn’t have enough passion behind our play.”

Connection is likely to strengthen its squad ahead of the CFU second-round with former midfielders Andrei Pacheco and Christian Viveros.

According to Fevrier who admitted he wants to strengthen his squad, Pacheco who was released by T&TEC FC last month has indicated his desire to rejoin the ‘Savonnetta Boys’ and will make the Tobago trip while the club is working on reintroducing the 21 year old Colombian, Viveros back into the squad. Viveros is expected to join the camp on Thursday.

Travelling Connection Staff
Stuart Charles – Technical Director
Earl Jean – Assistant Coach
Trevor Nottingham – Goalkeeping Coach
Raymond McLean – Team Manager
Anthony Streete – U18 Coach(on Monday)
John Jerry – Equipment Manager
Jo Ellen Cole – Physiotherapist
Christine Riley & Anne Ifill - Cooks

[Sam]

Andrei Pacheco and Christian Viveros !!!

They need defenders not midfielders.

[truehaitian]

In Group III

Both Haiti clubs (Baltimore and Victory) won 2-0 against Bayamon FC of Puerto Rico and Centro Barber of Curacao..



Group 5
At Trinidad

*W Connection (TRI)
Barracudas FC (ATG)
Group 2 winner
Group 3 winner

[dreamer]

This Concacaf Club Football is serious business.
Fight hard T&T Club Warriors.
Big benefits if T&T teams progress, especially if they go past the Haitian teams.

[Deeks]

The two Mex. teams are in the CONCACAL finals. Actually they playing the first leg of the final tonite. Any scores?

[Deeks]

By the way, it appears Monterrey will take the CL. They beat Santos 2-0 in the first leg.

[truehaitian]

This Concacaf Club Football is serious business.
Fight hard T&T Club Warriors.
Big benefits if T&T teams progress, especially if they go past the Haitian teams.

Well not an easy task..Defensive Force and Caledonia were not able to do it last year...

[truehaitian]

Week of may 1,  , it will the following teams competing for the Caribbean club championship

Group 4
*Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR)
Caledeonia AIA (TRI)
Geortown ( Cayma Island)
Baltimore ( Haiti)

Group 5
At Trinidad

*W Connection (TRI)
Barracudas FC (ATG)
SV Inter Moengotapoe (SUR)
Victory ( Haiti)

[Sam]

So what Group T&TEC in  ?

[Flex]

Charles-Fevrier banking on home support
By Nigel Simon (Guardian).

St Lucian Stuart Charles-Fevrier is hoping that the local supporters come out and give his W Connection team that extra lift when it hosts Group Five of the Caribbean Football Union Club Championship Second Round.

W Connection, winner of the tournament in 2001, 2002, 2006 and 2009, and also a two-time runner-up (2000 & 2003) will come up against Barracudas FC of Antigua, Victory (Haiti) and Suriname’s Inter Moengotapoe from Sunday to May 10.

The matches will take place at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella on Sunday and Thursday while Tuesday’s double-header is carded for Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva from 5.30 pm on each day.

As part of its preparation for the tournament which will see two teams from the group advancing to the Final round series, W Connection enjoyed a 10-day training camp in Tobago during which, the senior squad registered a 6-0 win over Stokely Vale and 2-0 over a Tobago All Star line-up.

Commenting on his team’s readiness for the matches, Charles-Fevrier, who led W Connection to the league title its in club history in March shared that the camp was a very productive one and the guys are all in good spirit and looking forward to the matches.

Questioned as to which team he sees as his club’s main threat, Charles-Fevrier, a former T&T national team coach stated that all the clubs must be taken seriously.

“All the clubs I consider to be a danger because on the day, you never know what can happen as we are seeing in world football today,” said Charles-Fevrier.

With regards to the return of Colombian Christian Viveros and Andrei Pacheco to the team, the W Connection coach indicated that both players have fitted in well.

“They were part of our set-up previously so even though they played for other clubs before coming back to W Connection they both understand the way we play so it was easy for them to fit back in with the other guys,” stated Charles-Fevrier.

Looking ahead to the matches, Charles-Fevrier conveyed that he was confident that his very youthful team will step up to the challenge and do well while he also urged the local fans to come out and support the team.

“Playing at home has always given us a boost in this competition and this time around its no different as we aim to play our brand of attractive, entertaining football. So we are calling out all the football lovers to come out and give us their support,” ended Charles-Fevrier.

W Connection and Antigua Barracudas advanced to the second round after they were given first round byes. Inter Moengotapoe won its three matches in its First Round Group Two series against Curacao’s Hubentut Fortuna (3-2), Guyana’s Alpha United (1-0) and Guyana’s Milerock (7-1).

Victory, meanwhile won Group Three after it snatched a 1-1 draw with fellow Haitian club Baltimore to top the group on goal-difference after both teams ended with four points. This after Victory crushed Puerto Rico’s Bayamon FC 5-1 in its other match and Baltimore had a 2-0 win over the same Puerto Ricans.

Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA, the other T&T club in the competition will compete in Group Four at TE Mc Field Sports Centre, George Town, Cayman Islands alongside two-time defending champion Puerto Rico Islanders, Group One winner and host club George Town and Haiti’s Baltimore which advanced as the best runner-up from the three groups. Baltimore got the best runner-up ahead of Alpha United from Group Two.

This was because Groups One and Three both had a team withdraw, leaving them with three teams each compared to four teams in Group Two which meant the results of the last-place team in Group Two - Milerock - were voided and the standings recalculated.

That reduced Alpha United from six points to three in Group Two, same as Elite from Group One but one point behind Baltimore.

The top two from each second-round group will advance to a four-team final round, but only the professional clubs: the Puerto Rico Islanders, Caledonia AIA, W Connection and Barracudas will be eligible for the three berths in next season’s Concacaf Champions League per tournament regulations.
 
CFU Club Championship Second Round:

Group Five:

May 6

Venue: Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella
W Connection vs Victory (Haiti), 5.30pm
Inter Moengotapoe (Suriname) vs Antigua Barracuda, 7.30pm

May 8

Venue: Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva
Victory vs Antigua Barracuda, 5.30pm
W Connection vs Inter Moengotapoe, 7.30pm

May 10

Venue: Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella
Victory vs Inter Moengotapoe, 5.30pm
W Connection vs Antigua Barracuda, 7.30pm
 
Group Four:

May 20:

Venue: T.E Mc Field Sports Centre, George Town, Cayman Islands
Caledonia vs Baltimore (Haiti)
Georg Town (Cayman Islands) vs Puerto Rico Islanders

May 22:

Puerto Rico Islanders vs Caledonia AIA
George Town vs Baltimore

May 24:
Baltimore vs Puerto Rico Islanders
Caledonia AIA vs George Town

[soccerrama]

The top two from each second-round group will advance to a four-team final round, but only the professional clubs: the Puerto Rico Islanders, Caledonia AIA, W Connection and Barracudas will be eligible for the three berths in next season’s Concacaf Champions League per tournament regulations.
 
Let me try to understand this, only the Professional teams will advance, so why have this tournament, shouldn't they just have the 4 Professional Teams Caledonia AIA, W Connection, Puerto Rico Islanders and Antigua Barracudas just play that one round of matches and then the top 3 advance. So I suppose if the Pro Teams fail then we will have no Caribbean representative then in the Concacaf Champions League...smh!!!

[Tallman]

So what Group T&TEC in  ?

What is de rell scene? Dey in, or dey out?

[vb]

Congrats. I glad for TTEC. But they get a special token. How is that possible? And another thing. How come TTEC getting resources for their team, and Petrotrin can't do that anymore.

Whole week I saying dis.

In fact what TTEC has done in their first season is what I had expected from Petrotrin. This could've been a great club.

VB

[truehaitian]

What if

The top two from each second-round group will advance to a four-team final round, but only the professional clubs: the Puerto Rico Islanders, Caledonia AIA, W Connection and Barracudas will be eligible for the three berths in next season’s Concacaf Champions League per tournament regulations.
 
Let me try to understand this, only the Professional teams will advance, so why have this tournament, shouldn't they just have the 4 Professional Teams Caledonia AIA, W Connection, Puerto Rico Islanders and Antigua Barracudas just play that one round of matches and then the top 3 advance. So I suppose if the Pro Teams fail then we will have no Caribbean representative then in the Concacaf Champions League...smh!!!

I don't understand this..last year when Tempete FC from Haiti beat Alpha United from Guyana, both Defensive force and Caledonia from Trinidad...they did advance..why not now...is this a new rule?

[Sam]

Dont believe everything you read from de T&T Press, we have some of de worst writers and they lazy, they dont research they work.

Even if is true.

Where the hell is T&TEC ?

Ah glad W Connection in de tournament, they does do well, ah just hope they sign one or two top defenders though...

[JRtheWriter]

Hey guys,
talked to my budy writing for the CFU.  Apparently, T&TEC were suppose to be in Group 3, but for some reason didn't make the deadline before the games started?? I'm just as confused as y'all, and will look more into it when I'm back in town.  (Traveling to Seattle for the Philadelphia Union game) Go Keon!