The Major League Soccer Caribbean Combine is an annual showcase of Caribbean football talent between the ages of 18-21 organized jointly by Major League Soccer and the Caribbean Football Union in 2013, with the inaugural combine being held in January 2014. All 31 member associations are encouraged to send representatives that fit the criteria. The combine provides opportunities for Caribbean players to be observed by MLS scouts with the hopes of being invited to the MLS Combine, an invite-only showcase event held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida prior to the annual MLS SuperDraft. The combine is part of an agreement between the two entities as they try to promote football development throughout the Caribbean region. About the impact of Caribbean players on the league, MLS Technical Director Alfonso Mondelo said, "Quite a few players have played, continue to play in the MLS and have done so successfully...Now we are looking forward to the next generation of players who will be coming in", while MLS Executive Vice President Todd Durbin said, “We recognize that the CONCACAF area, and particularly the Caribbean, is rich with soccer talent, and this will be an opportunity for our scouts to evaluate and identify the region’s top players...Caribbean players from islands like Jamaica, Haiti, Grenada and others have been key performers in MLS. This event will help recognize the next generation of MLS stars as we look to achieve our goal of being among the best leagues in the world by 2022.” From a Caribbean perspective, CFU President Gordon Derrick stated, “As CFU Member Associations turn their attention to Russia 2018, this is an exciting developmental opportunity for the opulent young talent in the Caribbean to assess their developmental level and the growth required to play at the highest level...This partnership with MLS is another way in which we at the CFU are seeking to bridge the gap that exists between talent availability and scouting opportunities that the Caribbean region has received from professional leagues.”[1]
2014
The 2014 Caribbean Combine took place at the Antigua Recreation Ground in St. John’s, Antigua from January 2–4; and featured 24 players from 16 different Caribbean nations. Originally 32 players were nominated but eight were not invited to the final combine by the MLS technical team.[3][4] The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association did not have any representatives at the combine after an "administrative error" lead to no paperwork being submitted to the CFU by the association.[5] Of the 23 players who were invited, only Stefano Rijssel and Quinton Christina were invited to the MLS Combine.[6] Rijssel went on to be the first ever player from the Caribbean Combine to be drafted after he was selected in the 3rd round, 55th overall, by Seattle Sounders FC.[7] However, Rijssel was cut by the team during preseason and was ultimately not signed.[8]
Players
Known rejected players
Drafted players
2015
The 2015 Caribbean Combine was held between January 2–5, 2015 in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. The combine took place at the facilities of Bayamón FC, including Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, and featured matches with local clubs.[10] For the combine, 19 players representing 17 associations from the region were invited.[11] Following the Caribbean Combine, only Jean Carlos Lopez Moscoso of the Dominican Republic was invited to the MLS Combine.[12] No players from the Caribbean combine were selected as Lopez was not taken in any of the four rounds of the draft.[13]
Players
Known rejected players
2016
The 2016 edition of the MLS Caribbean Combine was held on three different islands at different times, unlike previous years in which it was held at a central location. Players were invited to specific host islands based up their country of origin. Twenty four players were invited to each location for a total of 72 players, a significant increase over previous years. The reason for decentralizing the combine was to make it easier for more nations to participate.[15]
Hosting and known players
- Saint Kitts and Nevis hosted players from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos, and the United States Virgin Islands from 13 December to 16 December[15][16] at the Warner Park Sporting Complex.[17]
- Curaçao hosted players from Aruba, Bahamas, Bermuda, Bonaire, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago from 17 December to 20 December.[15] Ten total players from Aruba, Bonaire, the Dominican Republic, and Guyana attended in addition to ten Curaçao players who met the requirements.[23]
- Martinique hosted players from Barbados, Dominica, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, St. Maarten, St. Martin, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and St. Lucia from 1 January and 4 January.[15]
2017
In October 2016 it was announced that the base of the 2017 MLS Caribbean Combine would be merged with the final round of CFU 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship qualification taking place that same month. The qualifiers would be attended directly by scouts from MLS teams, with representatives from at least the Philadelphia Union, Real Salt Lake, and Seattle Sounders FC confirmed to attend. The decision to combine the two events was logistical since many of the region's best young players and national teams from the desired age group would be participating.[31] The new format meant that players from nations that were not part of the competition would not have the opportunity to be scouted at this edition of the combine.[32]
References
- ↑ "CFU, MLS ink partnership agreement". CONCACAF. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
- 1 2 Morales, Kevin; Watler, Kevin. "Sealy seals deal to MLS/CFU Combine". cayman27.com. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
- ↑ "24 Players from 16 Nations Invited to 2014 Caribbean Player Combine". cfufootball.org. 16 December 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
- ↑ Liburd, Lasana. "TTFA bungle denies local starlets of MLS opportunity". Wired868.com. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
- ↑ "Historic CFU MLS Combine Comes To An End". Antigua and Barbuda Football Association. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
- 1 2 "SuperDraft: Caribbean Combine star Stefano Rijssel highlights picks in Rounds 3, 4". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
- ↑ Mayers, Joshua. "Wednesday notes: Danny O'Rourke joins training camp, first cuts made". Seattle Times. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
- 1 2 "JFF Names Two for CFU MLS Caribbean Combine". Jamaica Football Federation. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
- ↑ "MLS, Caribbean Football Union to host second Caribbean Player Combine in Puerto Rico". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
- ↑ "Major League Soccer announces 19 players invited to Caribbean Combine". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
- ↑ "Major League Soccer announces 2015 Generation adidas class". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
- ↑ "2015 MLS SuperDraft Draft Tracker". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ↑ "Woozencroft Selected By CFU for CFU/MLS Combine". www.iriefm.net. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 "2015 MLS Combine to be held across three islands". Caribbean Football Union. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Major League Soccer try-outs in St. Kitts for the first time". miyvue.com. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
- ↑ Abel, Jermine. "MLS Combine expected to raise the level of local". The Saint Kitts and Nevis Observer. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Six Antiguans to attend St. Kitts leg of 2015 MLS Combine". antiguafootball.com. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Happening now, Press conference for the MLS Combine. This afternoon the players take to stage at 5:00 p.m at Warner Park. Come on out and see your St. Kitts-Nevis Players showcase their talents. The players competing are:". Saint Kitts and Nevis Football Association. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
- ↑ "Jamaica's Jorginho James gets MLS Combine nod". Caribbean Football Union. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
- ↑ "Thompson off to MLS Caribbean Soccer Combine". /www.virginislandsnewsonline.com. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
- ↑ Molenaar, Lidanel. "Major Soccer League Combine selection matches on Curacao". FFK. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
- 1 2 "Footballers depart for CFU/MLS Combine in Curacao". gnngy.com. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
- ↑ "Jurick Seinpaal ta Hasi Tryout". ExtraBon. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
- ↑ Grullon, Franklin. "Alexánder Vidal seleccionado para MLS Caribbean Combine". balompiedominicano.com. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
- 1 2 "Thomas and Frederick to participate in CFU MLS Combine tryout". Dominica Football Association. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
- ↑ "Lejuan Simmons To Participate In MLS Combine". Retrieved 30 December 2015.
- 1 2 "Opportunities for Bajan footballers". Barbados today. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Des footballeurs martiniquais bientôt professionnels aux États-Unis ?". Martinique 1ère. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
- ↑ "Annual MLS-CFU Combine merges with CFU U-20 Qualifiers". Caribbean Football Union. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ↑ Webster, Jade. "MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER CARIBBEAN COMBINE CHANGES FORMAT". Cayman 27. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
See also
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Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Aruba
Bermuda
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Curaçao
Dominica.svg.png){kind=small}
Guadeloupe
Haiti
Jamaica
Montserrat
Puerto Rico
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Suriname
Guadeloupe
Barbados
Turks and Caicos Islands
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Dominican Republic
Guyana
U.S. Virgin Islands
Bonaire
Martinique
