Derrick commends Caribbean teams for spirited performance

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1 JANUARY 2015, VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1, CARIBBEAN FOOTBALL UNION NEWSLETTER ARTICLES 3 Webb opens USVI first FIFA Goal Project 4 Round one of FIFA World Cup CONCACAF game starts in March 4 Barbados Football Association signs with UWI 5 Some facts about CFU U-20 Men teams 6 Zackary Scott: Football Star in the Cayman Islands Derrick commends Caribbean teams for spirited performance D espite the absence of the Caribbean teams from the final four teams in the CONCACAF Under-20 Football Championship recently held in Jamaica at the Montego Bay Sports Centre in St James and the National Stadium in Kingston, CFU President Gordon Derrick is proud of the effort. The five Caribbean teams were President Gordon Derrick Aruba, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago while the other teams were El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, USA, Panama, Canada and Guatemala from the CONCACAF region. We came into the tournament knowing what we were up against and despite not achieving the desired results; we held our own for large parts of the games against our more accomplished neighbors. What we can take from this experience is a self-actualization of where we are, where we have to be and where we want to be. I am confident our day in the sun is just around the corner, said Derrick. After the staging of thirty three games, four national teams were separated from the twelve nations as contestants for the FIFA World Cup Under -20 finals set for May 30 to June 20 in New Zealand. At the end of the preliminary stages Trinidad & Tobago gained four points with a draw and a win, Cuba earned a similar figure with a draw and a win after a wobbly start. Haiti did well holding off their opponents to gain three points from three draws which included the Champions Mexico who scored first on Haiti. Cont d page 2

2 Spirited Performance...cont d However, the Haitians did not lie down dead and gave the Mexican a good fight scoring an historic equalizer to end that game 1-1while taking several shots at goal only to be stopped by the skillful actions of the Mexican custodian and an alert defense line. We also have to praise the administrators of this tournament. From the start to the end of this competition they demonstrated remarkable football action in the scheduled triple headers.there were no major serious incidents and this shows that professionalism in all aspects such as communication, organization, punctuality and coordination, said the President. Host Jamaica started off with a draw but failed to earn a win only to finish the tournament with two points after a draw with debutants Aruba who made history by scoring their first goal against Trinidad & Tobago at the CONCACAF level and earning a point as well after playing to a stalemate with Jamaica. Aruba has come a long way and what was obvious is the significant improvement displayed by the Arubans in every other game that they played while approaching the end of the competition. CONCACAF introduced a new event format specifically for this championship in order to enhance the development of the competition and to increase the number of guaranteed games for each participant to five, up from two in the previous editions. Aruba debutants in the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Men s Championship Cuba team CONCACAF U20 Men s Championship 2015 Jamaica U20 team CONCACAF Championship 2015 Haiti Team CONCACAF U 20 Men s Championship 2015 Trinidad & Tobago U20 team CONCACAF Championship

3 Webb opens USVI first FIFA Goal Project FIFA Vice President and President of CONCACAF Jeffrey Webb officially opened the US Virgin Islands Soccer Federation (USVISF) first ever Goal Project on Sunday, January 17, in St Croix marking a significant milestone for the football federation. Webb in his main address to the gathering said, The completion and opening of the new Administrative Headquarters for the U.S. Virgin Islands Soccer Federation will certainly provide further development opportunities for the islands. The Federation s strategic plans aligns with our vision for development and growth and I look forward to seeing the continued advancement of football in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Under the leadership of USVISF President Hillaren Frederick, our sport has grown tremendously in the areas of administration and development, focusing on improving technical and governance aspects, Webb added. Webb and Frederick at the opening of the USVI FIFA Goal Project Frederick in his response thanked the CONCACAF President for his visit and echoed the importance of completing the project s first phase. I would like to thank the FIFA Vice President and CONCACAF President Mr. Webb for opening the US Virgin Islands first FIFA Goal Project. This new administration building will definitely help to build and grow soccer in the USVI as we implement and keep up with FIFA and CONCACAF long term plans in developing the sport in all countries around the world. Phase two of our infrastructure development plan will be the construction of a natural turf playing field and Technical Centre. Having a solid base for their daily operations is the first step in the long term strategic vision and plans for the Federation, said Frederick. I convey my appreciation to CONCACAF and FIFA for their support, and look forward to building on this foundation to raise the profile of football in the USVI. Webb cuts ribon at opening of the USVI FIFA Goal Project For the duration of his two-day visit, Webb attended a Boys and Girls Grassroots Festival at the new headquarters and in addition met with Government officials and several members of the USVISF. He also congratulated them on harvesting a high level of support for football on all the islands. The USVISF has also started the initial planning stage of its second FIFA Goal Project, a Technical Centre to be specific, which is expected to be completed within a year. Webb and Frederick with group at the FIFA Goal Project opening 3

4 Round one of FIFA World Cup CONCACAF game starts in March The dates have been set for Round One of the FIFA World Cup Road to Russia 2018 CONCACAF Qualifying competition. From March 23-31, fourteen nations from the CONCACAF region will enter the fray, seeking a berth in the second round of the contest in a home-and-away qualifying format. The schedules are as follows, with home teams listed first and slated to host the opening leg of games. TEAM 1 vs TEAM 2 Bahamas vs Bermuda British Virgin Islands vs Dominica Barbados vs U.S. Virgin Islands Turks and Caicos Islands vs Saint Kitts and Nevis Nicaragua vs Anguilla Belize vs Cayman Islands Curaçao vs Montserrat Round Two is scheduled to be played from June 8-16, 2015, and will pit the seven winners from the first round, along with the thirteen additional teams which were drawn into the following ten pairings: Match 8: St. Vincent & the Grenadines versus Guyana Match 9: Antigua & Barbuda versus St. Lucia Match 10: Puerto Rico versus Grenada Match 11: Canada versus Winner Match #2 Match 12: Dominican Republic versus Winner Match #6 Match 13: Guatemala versus Winner Match #1 Match 14: Aruba versus Winner Match #3 Match 15: Winner Match #4 versus El Salvador Match 16: Winner Match #7 versus Cuba Match 17: Winner Match #5 versus Suriname The Senior Men s World Cup is FIFA s flagship event and was first held in Since then, it has been hosted on a quadrennial basis by different countries. The tournament had its genesis when the then FIFA president Jules Rimet decided to stage an international football tournament. The inaugural edition, was staged in Uruguay and was contested as a final tournament with thirteen teams invited by the organization to compete in the showpiece event. The current champions are Germany, who lifted the prestigious silverware at the last staging held in Brazil between June and July, Barbados Football Association signs MoU with UWI The Barbados Football Association (BFA) made a historic move in signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of the West Indies (UWI) on Tuesday, January 20, at the First Caribbean Suite B, Solutions Centre, of the UWI Cave Hill Campus, Barbados. President of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Gordon Derrick, lauded the MOU and commented that it was in the vein of which he would like to see other regional associations form linkages. When I came to office one of the main areas I stressed was synergies and partnerships with those who can help us elevate football on a physical level as well as intellectually; and here today is testament of what I envisioned, said Derrick. President of the BFA Randy Harris, Pro Vice Chancellor Hillary Beckles and Head of Coaches at the UWI Rowland Butcher at the MoU signing President of the BFA Randy Harris signed the documents in the presence of Sir Hilary Beckles, Professor and Vice Chancellor of the UWI; Amanda Reifer, Head of the Academy of Sports Cave Hill, and Roland Butcher, Head of Coaches in the Academy of Sports. This initiative is expected to be a long term mutual partnership 4 Cont d page 5

5 Barbados MoU...cont d for developing football in Barbados. This agreement speaks to hosting of workshops and conferences, FIFA certified coaching courses, staging of tournaments at the Usain Bolt Sporting Complex, access to our sports labs in biomechanics and exercise physiology for testing and research, stated Reifer. Sir Hilary Beckles who was more than elated to sign the MoU with the Barbados Football Association for a number of reasons had this to say, The BFA is deserving of the resources from the universities, I hope that the University can lift the standard of football in Barbados because for a long time we are unable to sustain what we achieve in sports, though we have produced some of the best sports men and women per capita out of all of the regions in the world. Moreover, the University facilities will be used for tournaments, training, education, policy, community and citizenship programs. The University of the West Indies sees it as part of its long term strategic plan to be the sporting university of the Caribbean. We are building an institution of learning to give respect for the science and art of sports, Beckles stated. The UWI Blackbirds which is affiliated to UWI will be competing in the Barbados top flight for the first time this year and the BFA has been making major strides in the reorganization of its administration and the development of football. Most recently, UWI hosted a regional certification course for coaches and two friendly matches for the senior women s national team. Harris welcomed the union between the BFA and the University and pointed out that the MOU would allow for Barbados national teams to use the University of the West Indies facility for international games and Premier League fixtures. Some facts about CFU U-20 Men teams core of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Member A Association teams have consistently competed in the CONCACAF U-20 World Cup Qualifiers since Cuba made it to the U-20 World Cup once and that was in 2013 and were placed fourth. This year, 2015 is their 12th appearance at a CONCACAF Championship and their best finish was 2nd in 1970 and In 1973 they were placed 3rd and in 1986, 1988 and 2013 they were placed 4th. Haiti have never qualified for the U-20 FIFA World Cup was their 7th appearance at a CONCACAF U-20 Championship. Their best finish was a Second Round appearance in 1978 and their historic 1-1 draw with Champions Mexico in 2015, at the Montego Bay Sports Complex, in St James, Jamaica. Jamaica have been to the U-20 FIFA World Cup once in is their 19th appearance at a CONCACAF U-20 Championship and their best finish was second in 2001 and third in Trinidad and Tobago have been to the U-20 World Cup twice in 1991 and This was their 15th appearance at a CONCACAF U-20 Championship and their best finish was second in 1990, 3rd in 1974 and 1986 and 4th in 2009 when they were the hosts of the tournament. Aruba has never qualified for the U-20 FIFA World Cup. As debutants of the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship the team scored one goal against Trinidad and Tobago and earned a point by playing to a stalemate with seasoned team Jamaica. They came 4th in the CFU U-20 Qualifiers to reach this CONCACAF Stage. The CONCACAF Under-20 Championship is the second longest running international Football Association event in the North America, Central America and the Caribbean region. It is the qualification tournament for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. The format of the tournament has undergone changes over the years. In 2015, the competition changed its format to the two group winners securing a place in the final and the groups second and third placed teams competed in a play-off to determine the other two qualifiers for the U-20 World Cup. The number of preliminary games played per team was increased from 2 to 5 and the semi-final stage was removed. 5

6 Zackary Scott: Football Star in the Cayman Islands Sixteen-year-old Caymanian football star Zachary Ismeal Scott was born in George Town, Cayman Islands, and has been playing the game since he was just four years old. Scott is a graduate of the St. Ignatius Catholic School which he attended from kindergarten until 2014 when he graduated. He is the recipient of many special awards, such as successive Player of Year in the Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA) U-15 FA Cup. He was also voted Most Valuable player at the CIFA U-17 awards; the Golden Boot Award in the CIFA U 17 League; was a member of the Academy Sports Club team when they won the league in 2012, 2013 and in 2014, and was Man of the Match in the CONCACAF U15 Boys Championship Tournament when the Cayman Islands played against The Bahamas. The right-footed striker has also donned the colours of the Cayman Islands National team and the Academy Sports Club from 2009 at the age of eleven, and still does so. Zackary Scott Caymanian Football star Scott s two older brothers and his dad also played football. His father grew up in Jamaica and played for Calabar High School. I have had a number of coaches who have helped me develop my skills such as Coach Paolo Polloni, who was my first football coach. He taught me how to think about the game. Coach Renard Moxam and Coach Glenn Whewell also played their part by pushing me to do better and demanded a lot of quality from me, he explained. However, there is one coach who has helped me so much to the point that I wouldn t be the player I am today without him, Coach Virgil Seymour. He has helped me to gain a lot of football experiences which are vital to my development. In an interview with the CFU BEACON, Scott said: I started playing football at age four in kindergarten as an afterschool extra-curricular activity. My brother, who is 18 months older than me, was taking part in the Primary School football team. He and my mom influenced me to start playing and from there I loved it and started playing the game. Coach Renard saw how much energy I had and allowed me to participate on my older brother s team. According to the talented youngster: I was coached by Renard Moxam, Virgil Seymour and Paolo Polloni throughout my primary school years. They all taught me a lot and made the game a lot of fun during my development. After choosing football over baseball, Scott, for a brief stint, had the privilege of being guided by the legendary Coach Winston, who taught him some of the finer techniques of the game and told him inspirational stories of his life and football. Scott is a utility player, but his primary position is central attacking midfield. He is a role model and a great teacher. He has helped me to travel all over the world where I have experienced many footballing styles and got the structured environment I needed. Scott asserted that Through Coach Virgil I also had the chance to work with people that have been involved in the game professionally, such as coaches from Watford and Ipswich and competed against professional clubs in England. Coach Virgil has also brought coaches to Cayman such as Coach George Davis from England, Coach Roy Wilhelm from the Netherlands who has given me the insight into how professionals train. Wilhelm invited me to Holland when I was thirteen years old where I played with the Willem 11 team in Tilburg in Netherlands. Scott is a utility player, but his primary position is central attacking midfield. He can also play as a central defence midfielder, on the wing as well as as a striker. He is presently 6 Cont d page 7

7 Zackary Scott...cont d attending Merrist Wood College in England where he is doing Sports in A Level to pursue a career in the sports industry. At the tender age of sixteen, this Cayman national player has definitely carved out a niche in the football arena, having played in the CIFA League and Cup competitions from U13 to U17. In February 2012 he competed in the West Bay Sports Foundation Tournament versus England Swindon Town FC Youth Academy. In October 2012 Scott played in the West Bay Sports Foundation Tournament against Club Social and Deportivo CD Vida from Honduras. In November of that same year he played for Academy Sports Club in a friendly match against Harbour View FC of Jamaica. In February 2013, he played in the West Bay Sports Foundation Tournament versus England s Swindon Town FC Youth Academy, and in July of that same year he was a part of the CIFA U15 team which tackled Club Deportivo Victoria of Honduras in a friendly fixture. August 2013 in the Prestigious CONCACAF U15 Boys Championship Tournament. Feb 2014 C3 Cayman International Youth Football Tournament versus England Swindon Town FC Youth Academy and Houston Dynamo Youth Academy from USA. In 2014, he was the captain for the U17 Cayman Islands National Team in the Under 17 Caribbean Football Union World Cup Qualifier which was staged in Jamaica Scott said that he liked to watch Isco Coutinho, Thiago Alcantre, Oscar dos Santos and Alex Chamberlin as well as local talents such as Jedd Ebanks and Matthew Suberan. He continued to point out that he had some bad experiences and disappointments in the game which he has turned into positive lessons. He has expressed how he learnt how to accept constructive criticism to become a better player by working harder and to keep smiling while believing and having faith in God s timing. I have been blessed to have had many wonderful experiences and hold each one dear to my heart. The most memorable experience I have had as a footballer is representing my country in the CONCACAF U15 Boys Tournament which was held in the Cayman Islands The feeling of representing your country with the support of my Caymanian people at home was such an honour and extraordinary feeling. I most definitely will never forget participating in the Digicel Kick Start Competition. Here I proved that hard work pays off. I worked hard and was placed in the top 3 spots. This resulted in my privilege to be coached by the Chelsea FC coaches. I was thrilled and honoured to have been contacted by the Chelsea FC coaches to come to England. This experience has helped me gain a spot at the Chelsea FC Foundation team to study my A levels in England. The biggest challenge I ve ever had during my football career was when I was training with Ipswich Town FC and played in a tournament at Tottenham s training ground against Tottenham, Chelsea and Aston Villa s U-18. The players that took part in this tournament played at a very high level and it was a big challenge. It was a big learning experience for me to play against some of the best young players in the world. I am a fan of Manchester United but would love to play for Chelsea. My dream is to make it professional in England but I would be grateful to make it in any country if the opportunity arises. Scott when asked how Football has affected his life said, Football has affected my life in a positive way. It has taught me many qualities such as: dedication, determination, leadership, teamwork, desire and attitude. The game has helped me to keep out of trouble and to respect the Academy s motto with the books and the balls you have it all. Every Saturday morning I give back to my community by helping to coach younger kids from 5-8 years old as well as Autistic kids assisting them to learn social skills through playing football and interacting with other kids. Through football I have travelled all over the world and learnt many other cultures while interacting with other nationalities. These are experiences I could have never experienced without football. I have learnt life lessons such as doing my best at all times, how to be a leader and how to work as a team. Without football I would not be the person I am today. 7

8 For further information please contact the CFU General Secretariat, Communications Department The Towers - 10th Floor 25 Dominica Drive, Kingston 5. Jamaica Tel: +1(876) / 4657 Fax: +1(876) media@cfufootball.org, info@cfufootball.org 8