MLS Caribbean Combine

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][2]

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

Name Nationality Date of birth Position Notes
Damian Bailey Anguilla5 May 1991 (aged 22)D/M
Quinton Griffith Antigua and Barbuda27 February 1992 (aged 21)D/M
Stefan Smith Antigua and Barbuda11 August 1989 (aged 24)F
Leroy Oehlers Aruba12 December 1992 (aged 21)D
Drewonde Bascome Bermuda17 November 1992 (aged 21)M
Kavon Troy Ceasar British Virgin Islands13 May 1994 (aged 19)D
Ramon Sealy Cayman Islands22 April 1991 (aged 22)GK
Quinton Christina Curaçao3 May 1995 (aged 18)D/FSelected for MLS Combine
Malcolm Joseph Dominica10 October 1993 (aged 20)D
Delbert Graham Dominica2 July 1993 (aged 20)M
Vladimir Pascal Guadeloupe27 May 1992 (aged 21)F/M
Steven Davidas Guadeloupe17 March 1992 (aged 21)M
Jean Ismael Voltaire Haiti4 May 1994 (aged 19)D
Luckner Junior Horat Haiti27 September 1994 (aged 19)D
Kemar Lawrence Jamaica17 September 1992 (aged 21)M/D
Kendell Allen Montserrat2 June 1992 (aged 21)D
Joseph Marrero Puerto Rico4 September 1993 (aged 20)M
Samuel J. Soto Alvarez Puerto Rico11 August 1992 (aged 21)F/M
Jose Sandoval Puerto Rico1 January 1991 (aged 23)M
Jamal J. Francis Saint Kitts and Nevis23 March 1993 (aged 20)GK
Kimaree B.A. Rogers Saint Kitts and Nevis14 January 1994 (aged 19)M/F
Eden Charles Saint Lucia19 October 1993 (aged 20)M
Stefano Rijssel Suriname26 March 1992 (aged 21)M/FSelected for MLS Combine
Miguel Danny Darson Suriname27 May 1993 (aged 20)D

Known rejected players

Name Nationality Date of birth Position Reference
Matthew Suberan Cayman Islands3 February 1995 (aged 18)M/F[3]
Jermaine Woozencroft Jamaica19 August 1992 (aged 21)M/F[9]

Drafted players

Name Nationality Drafted by Round Drafted Pick Overall Reference
Stefano Rijssel SurinameSeattle Sounders FC3rd55[7]

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

Name Nationality Date of birth Position Notes
Mavrick Annerose Guadeloupe29 November 1995 (aged 19)MF
Julani Archibald Saint Kitts and Nevis18 May 1991 (aged 23)GK
Ronaldo Bailey Barbados5 July 1996 (aged 18)DF
Troy Caesar British Virgin Islands13 May 1994 (aged 20)DF
Emmery Edward Saint Lucia10 October 1994 (aged 20)FW
Marco Fenelus Turks and Caicos Islands22 August 1992 (aged 22)FW
Kevin Francis Saint Vincent and the Grenadines11 January 1994 (aged 20)DF
Tevaughn Harriette Antigua and Barbuda26 June 1995 (aged 19)FW
Vershawn Hodge Anguilla8 February 1992 (aged 22)MF
Sydney Lockhart Dominica3 August 1996 (aged 18)MF
Jean Carlos Lopez Moscoso Dominican Republic11 September 1993 (aged 21)MFSelected for MLS Combine
Joseph Marrero Puerto Rico4 September 1993 (aged 21)MF
Anani Mohamed Guyana10 February 1992 (aged 22)FW
Clifford Newby-Harris Montserrat23 January 1995 (aged 19)DF
Kyrhon Phillip Saint Kitts and Nevis22 September 1994 (aged 20)MF
Jonte Smith Bermuda10 July 1994 (aged 20)FW
Denny Smith U.S. Virgin Islands5 December 1992 (aged 21)GK
Reid Strain Puerto Rico4 January 1994 (aged 20)FW
Jermaine Woozencroft Jamaica19 August 1992 (aged 22)MF

Known rejected players

Name Nationality Date of birth Position Reference
Cardel Benbow Jamaica3 June 1995 (aged 18)M/F[9][14]

References

  1. ↑ "CFU, MLS ink partnership agreement". CONCACAF. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  2. ↑ "Major League Soccer partners with Caribbean Football Union to host first-ever Caribbean Player Combine". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Morales, Kevin; Watler, Kevin. "Sealy seals deal to MLS/CFU Combine". cayman27.com. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  4. ↑ "24 Players from 16 Nations Invited to 2014 Caribbean Player Combine". cfufootball.org. 16 December 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  5. ↑ Liburd, Lasana. "TTFA bungle denies local starlets of MLS opportunity". Wired868.com. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  6. ↑ "Historic CFU MLS Combine Comes To An End". Antigua and Barbuda Football Association. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "SuperDraft: Caribbean Combine star Stefano Rijssel highlights picks in Rounds 3, 4". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  8. ↑ Mayers, Joshua. "Wednesday notes: Danny O’Rourke joins training camp, first cuts made". Seattle Times. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "JFF Names Two for CFU MLS Caribbean Combine". Jamaica Football Federation. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  10. ↑ "MLS, Caribbean Football Union to host second Caribbean Player Combine in Puerto Rico". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  11. ↑ "Major League Soccer announces 19 players invited to Caribbean Combine". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  12. ↑ "Major League Soccer announces 2015 Generation adidas class". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  13. ↑ "2015 MLS SuperDraft Draft Tracker". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  14. ↑ "Woozencroft Selected By CFU for CFU/MLS Combine". www.iriefm.net. Retrieved 8 January 2015.

See also