(from left) JFF president Michael Ricketts; Concacaf president Victor Montagliani; Lyndon Cooper, St Lucia FA president; Bermuda FA president Mark Wade, and JFF general secretary Dennis Chung share a photo opportunity.
contributed
Concacaf president Victor Montagliani has underscored the significance of the Nations League, particularly for players from the smaller islands in the Caribbean, as it provides them with a platform to compete against higher-level opposition and develop their skills on the international stage.
Montagliani, who was on a visit to the island, along with Bermuda and St Lucia Football Association presidents Mark Wade and Lyndon Cooper, believes that the tournament, which started in 2018, has been a game-changer for the region, offering crucial opportunities for exposure and growth that may have otherwise been limited.
In fact, the Canadian emphasized the role it plays in not only improving the competitiveness across the confederation but also in attracting heritage players to the Caribbean islands in particular.
“You've had coaches coming to want to coach here; you have players who never would have thought of playing for a country that they play for having the opportunity. Why? Because up until the Nations League, all you can offer them is one game every four years or two games every four years. That's not much of an international career. Now a player can play in the Nations League, can go to the Gold Cup, obviously a World Cup qualifying, and they have more of a body of work to attach themselves,” Montagliani said during a press conference at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Wednesday.
Jamaica in Nations League action against Honduras.
“And at the end, the player wants to sell himself or herself because, don't forget, we also have it on our women's programme in terms of our road to the Women’s Gold Cup, which is in essence the Nations League. So, if you play five, six internationals a year versus one, you're going to be seen more, and so you see more players wanting to play international football because of it,” he added.
Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz have used the tournament to test their mettle against the region’s best teams—United States, Canada, Mexico, and Panama.
However, for other Caribbean nations like St Lucia, Bermuda, St Kitts and Nevis, and even Suriname, who will contest the quarterfinal stage for the first time, the Nations League has been a vital part of their football development, as it assists in nurturing young players who will form the core of their squad for years to come.
Montagliani pointed out that this kind of consistent international exposure is invaluable for teams aspiring to qualify for major tournaments like the World Cup or the Gold Cup.
“I know a lot of my presidents say all the time that they're getting calls from guys saying, ‘My dad was from wherever, and I play in League One or the championship.’ So it's really opening the doors to more players, more coaches, but also to more aspirations for the local players,” Montagliani reasoned.
“I just saw a great story about a 14-year-old goalie making his debut for Turks and Caicos in the Nations League group, so what I'm saying is that it gives an aspiration to a young player to say, ‘If Michail Antonio is playing at West Ham and he's playing for Jamaica now, that could be me down the road,” he shared.
Suriname celebrate their Nations League quarterfinal feat.
However, when it comes to the prospect of Jamaica hosting a future tournament or a knockout round of the Concacaf Nations League, Montagliani tempered expectations. He acknowledged that while Jamaica is a football-loving nation with passionate support, the infrastructure—most notably the National Stadium—currently isn’t up to the standard required to host a tournament of such magnitude.
“First and foremost, the National Stadium needs to be at the level that it sounds like it wants to be at. After having those discussions today (Wednesday), they tell me it's about a three- to four-year window here (for the Stadiums development). So when that happens, we can have those conversations,” he declared.
“But the reality is, just like FIFA, FIFA lives on one competition, the World Cup... that's 95% of its budget. Concacaf’s Gold Cup is about 80% of our budget. So the reality is, it's okay to move it around as it relates to a game or two, maybe even a group, but to have the significant majority of it outside a market that doesn't generate top dollar is not only unrealistic, but it's irresponsible as well. So we need to balance both,” Montagliani noted.
Montagliani went on to compare Jamaica’s situation with the Dominican Republic, in particular, as the Spanish-speaking Caribbean nation is further ahead in terms of infrastructure development, resulting in its hosting numerous club and youth tournaments.
“What's happened is that through One Concacaf funding and through FIFA, you're starting to see a lot of other nations that didn't have any facilities now having facilities as well. So it's not a bad thing, because back in the days, you only maybe had two or three of our member associations having the ability to host a U-17, and that was great for Jamaica.
“But now you have a lot of member associations that have that ability to do it, and we're spreading it around. Not to say that we would not host here (in Jamaica), but now we have more options, which is a sign of early development,” Montagliani stated.
Cayman Islands players celebrate a goal in the Nations League.
He continued: “We are building our own facility in the Dominican Republic, the home of football, where we will have pitches and a small little stadium and facilities. So, you know, we're going to be using that as well for events. The good thing about that is that we can go anywhere now, and so it pushes you (Jamaica) to build your standards.
“Before, if you were the only one in town and you had no incentive to really push the standards to a top, top level, that’s fine, but now you almost have to, because if you don't, you won't even get looked at in the RFP process. But the good news is that we no longer limit it to two or three options.”
As Concacaf continues to expand the reach and impact of the Nations League, Montagliani reiterated his commitment to ensuring that all member nations, regardless of size, have access to opportunities that will help them grow.
“Having our One Concacaf programme increases not only funding but also accountability and responsibility. You can't just keep giving people fish; you need to teach them how to fish as well, and I think we've done a good job with that. In the end, it's always about the football, and really, one of the biggest successes I think that turned around this organisation is the Nations League,” he ended.
Sherdon Cowan is a five-time award-winning journalist with 10 years' experience covering sports.
D.C. United v Charlotte FC: Lesesne says hosts' confidence is sky high
Troy Lesesne believes D.C. United's confidence is as high as it has been all season ahead of their crucial Decision-Day meeting with Charlotte FC.
D.C. need a point to clinch a playoff place for the first time since 2019, which would end their joint-longest playoff drought (also four years between 2008 and 2011).
They are in contention with CF Montreal and the Philadelphia Union, with two wild-card spots still to be decided on the final matchday in the Eastern Conference, after recording back-to-back victories over Nashville SC (4-3) and the New England Revolution (2-1).
"When challenges come – and we've had many this year – it's easy for us to use those as excuses and pack it up," Lesesne told reporters.
"But our group has never done that, just look at all the things we've gone through this year, the mental endurance that these guys have displayed to be in this position...
"You learn so much about yourself and your players and I'm really proud of the group.
"You expected all along that it would go right down to the last game, but the confidence of this team right now seems to be at the highest it has been all year."
Charlotte, on the other hand, have already confirmed their postseason spot, though a victory could see them move from sixth to fifth and improve their playoff seeding.
"I know this game is more for seeding than anything else, but the main thing for us is to keep this going," forward Patrick Agyemang said.
"The main thing is to just continue on the road we're on, which is positive results. We want the season to end with a bang to put us in a good position for the playoffs."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
D.C. United – Christian Benteke
Benteke has scored 23 goals this season, equalling Raul Diaz Arce (1996) for the most in a single season in D.C.'s MLS history.
His nine headed goals, meanwhile, are tied for the second-most in a single year by any player since Opta began detailed data collection of MLS in 2010, behind Josef Martinez's 10 in 2018. Can he draw level with the Venezuelan?
Charlotte FC – Patrick Agyemang
Agyemang's goal for Charlotte last Saturday, in a 2-0 win over Montreal, was his 15th goal contribution of the season (nine goals, six assists).
He is one goal contribution shy of the single-season club record of 16, achieved by Karol Swiderski in each of the team's first two MLS campaigns.
MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW
The home side has not lost any of the five previous meetings between D.C. and Charlotte, with D.C. recording a pair of 3-0 wins in their two home matches against the Crown.
Charlotte, though, have lost only four of their last 11 regular-season away matches dating back to the beginning of May (four wins, three draws).
D.C. United only need a point to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2019, ending a four-year postseason drought, and with home advantage on their side, they should get it.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
D.C. United – 37.1%
Charlotte FC – 36.6%
Draw – 26.3%
Bompastor's 100% start continues as Chelsea overcome Twente
Sonia Bompastor's perfect start to life at Chelsea continued on Thursday as the Blues beat Twente 3-1 to go three points clear at the top of their Women's Champions League group.
Having overcome Real Madrid in their Group B opener last week, Chelsea cruised to victory in the Netherlands to strengthen their grip on top spot.
Aggie Beever-Jones saw her 25-yard strike deflect in for a seventh-minute opener, and Chelsea were 2-0 up within 18 minutes as Maika Hamano lobbed goalkeeper Olivia Clarke.
Guro Reiten scored Chelsea's third from the penalty spot when Lieske Carleer fouled Mayra Ramirez just after the hour mark, with Nikee van Dijk netting a consolation for Twente five minutes later.
In the other match in Group B, Madrid got up and running with a resounding 4-0 victory over Celtic, with Scotland's Caroline Weir among the goals for Los Blancos.
Weir curled in a terrific opener from distance after just seven minutes, though Celtic then held firm and stayed in the contest until the latter stages.
However, Signe Bruun, Caroline Moller and Linda Caicedo all got on the scoresheet in the final 20 minutes as Madrid put some gloss on the scoreline at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium.
They were not the only convincing winners on Thursday, as Roma crushed Galatasaray 6-1 to go top of Group A on goal difference, with captain Manuela Giugliano scoring twice and laying on two assists.
The other game in Group A saw European heavyweights Wolfsburg and Lyon go head-to-head, with the French giants leaving Germany with a statement 2-0 victory.
Wolfsburg's Alexandra Popp joined Wendie Renard as the only players to make 100 Women's Champions League appearances, but the French centre-back overshadowed her by nodding in an eighth-minute opener.
Lyon had the better of the contest throughout, finishing with 2.75 expected goals (xG) to Wolfsburg's 0.83, and they killed the match from the penalty spot eight minutes into the second half, Lindsey Horan scoring after Melchie Dumornay was felled by Janina Minge.
Man Utd confirm Mainoo out for 'a few weeks' with muscle injury
Manchester United have suffered another injury blow with the news that midfielder Kobbie Mainoo will be sidelined for several weeks due to a muscle issue.
Mainoo, alongside centre-back Harry Maguire, was forced off during United's goalless draw with Aston Villa prior to the international break.
The teenager then joined Morgan Gibbs-White and Ezri Konsa in withdrawing from England's squad for their Nations League fixtures against Greece and Finland.
Ahead of their return to Premier League action against Brentford on Saturday, United issued a comprehensive fitness update, confirming Mainoo had joined Maguire on the sidelines.
While Manuel Ugarte took part in a recovery session after returning from international duty with Uruguay, the club said long-term absentees Mason Mount, Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw are making "steady" progress in their recovery.
Noussair Mazraoui, Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo all missed games for their respective national teams during the hiatus, but the trio are back in training.
Mainoo has played all seven of United's Premier League games this season, with the Red Devils earning their fewest points (eight) at this stage of any campaign in the competition.
He has the best pass completion rate (88.3%) of any ever-present United midfielder, with only Bruno Fernandes (261, 49) bettering his 250 completed passes or his 35 successful passes into the final third.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
