Bodden Town FC find out C’bean Shield opponents

By Cayman Sports Buzz
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Updated: 15 February 2018

Bodden Town FC has been drawn to face opponents from Curacao, Martinique, and St Kitts and Nevis in the group stage of the inaugural CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield competition to be played in the Dominican Republic in April.

The Caribbean Club Shield features a dozen teams from 12 different Member Association leagues, all of which are working with CONCACAF’s Development Department towards a long-term vision to professionalise the club game across the region.

The draw was done Thursday, 15 February, to pool teams into three groups of four for the 13-21 April tournament. 2016/17 Cayman Premier League and FA Cup champion Bodden Town FC is in Pool C along with Cayon FC of St Kitts and Nevis, RKSV Centro Dominguito of Curacao, and Martinique’s Franciscain.

After the round-robin stage, the three group winners, plus the best second-place finishers will advance to the semifinals.

According to a CONCACAF release, the clubs in the competition represent Member Associations with up-and-coming leagues, working their way towards full professional standards, following the CONCACAF league professionalisation roadmap.

“Along with on-going club licensing and league development efforts in the Caribbean, the Shield represents the Confederation’s ONE CONCACAF commitment and robust efforts to support and develop club football in the Caribbean,” said the confederation’s president, Victor Montagliani.

In addition to meaningful competition on an international stage, the Caribbean Club Shield provides clubs from Member Associations from across the Caribbean a direct pathway to the Confederation’s top regional club championships.

Together with the Caribbean Club Championship, now underway and featuring eight professional clubs from the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago, the Caribbean Club Shield will serve as a qualifying tournament for the Scotiabank CONCACAF League. CONCACAF officials hope this will open the door for wider participation of Caribbean clubs in Confederation championships at the highest level.

2016/17 Cayman Premier League and CIFA FA Cup Champions – Bodden Town FC.

The winner of the 2018 CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield, if it fulfills CONCACAF Regional Club Licensing criteria, will have the opportunity to face the fourth-place finisher of the 2018 Caribbean Club Championship in a playoff match, to determine the fourth Caribbean representative in the 2018 Scotiabank CONCACAF League.

“CONCACAF’s wide-ranging club licensing and league development programs are designed to raise the level of the club game throughout the region, creating more access and opportunity for development of players and officials, and resulting in further growth and an improved level of competition throughout the CONCACAF club competitions platform,” the confederation’s release noted.