Digicel Pro League clubs, San Juan Jabloteh and bmobile Joe Public were handed tough 2010/2011 Concacaf Champions League ties when the preliminary round pairings and group stage brackets were drawn yesterday.
The draw was conducted by deputy general secretaries Ted Howard and Italo Zanzi at the confederation’s New York headquarters.
Jabloteh, which competed in the group stages of the tournament last year and is a one-time Caribbean Football Union Club Championship winners, will face Mexican Clausura runner-up either Santos or Toluca on July 27-29.
Local club champion, Joe Public, a two-time CFU club winner will be away to Costa Rica’s Brujas on the same weekend before hosting the return-leg a week later.
Joe Public and Jabloteh qualified for this year’s tournament after placing second and third, respectively, behind Puerto Rico Islanders, in the CFU Club Championships held in T&T earlier this month.
In other preliminary round clashes, Los Angeles Galaxy tackles Islanders, the club of four T&T players in recently signed, Keon Daniel, Osei Telesford, Nigel Henry and Kevon Villaroel.
Two berths in the draw were allocated to El Salvador, but Fifa has suspended the country due to governmental interference in the federation’s affairs.
The government has until June 8 to comply with Fifa’s non-intervention requirements or its teams will be barred from international competition, including the Champions League—and its berths will be reassigned.
CD FAS has already qualified with one of El Salvador’s berths, and the second would go to either Aguila or Metapan. The preliminary round winners will advance to the first round selected four groups of four clubs group stage set to begin August 17-19.
Matches
Preliminary Round:
(Host of first leg listed first)
Central America 11 vs. Xelaju (Guat)
Brujas (C/Rico) vs Joe Public (T&T)
Jabloteh (T&TI) vs Santos/Toluca (Mexican runner-up)
San Francisco (Pan) vs Cruz Azul (Mex)
LA Galaxy (USA) vs P/Rico Islanders
Tauro FC (Pan) vs. Marathon (Hon)
Seattle Sounders (USA) vs Central America 12
Toronto/Vancouver (Canadian champion) vs Motagua (Hon)
Group Stages
Group A:
Real Salt Lake (USA)
Arabe Unido (Pan),
San Francisco/Cruz Azul,
Toronto-Vancouver/Motagua
Group B:
Columbus Crew (USA),
Municipal (Gua),
Jabloteh/Santos-Toluca (Mexican Clausura runner-up) winner,
Brujas/Joe Public winner
Group C:
Monterrey (Mex),
Saprissa (C/Rica),
Seattle/Central America 12,
Tauro/Marathon
Group D:
Santos/Toluca (Mexican Clausura champion),
Olimpia (HON)
Los Angeles Galaxy/Puerto Rico Islanders winner
Central America 11/Xelaju winner.
King confident of Joe Public in Champions League.
T&T Guardian Reports.
Derek King, coach of bmobile Joe Public said he is confident his club can win its preliminary round home and away series against Costa Rica’s Brujas FC and qualify for the group stages of the 2010/2011 Concacaf Champions League.
The draw for the preliminary round pairings and group stage brackets was made on Wednesday by Concacaf deputy general secretaries Ted Howard and Italo Zanzi at the confederation’s New York headquarters.
The first match between Joe Public, winners of the Digicel Pro League and runners-up in the Caribbean Football Union Club Champions Cup Puerto Rico Islanders is carded for July 27 to 29 before the local club host the return-leg seven days later.
Brujas qualified for the tournament after it won its first Costa Rican league title in its five-year existence last season, having replaced the folded Guanacasteca in the Costa Rican First Division in 2004.
It has qualified for the domestic league playoffs in eight of the 11 seasons since its founding, and every season since the playoffs were expanded to eight teams.
Commenting on the draw, the 29-year-old King who led Joe Public to a historic five domestic titles last season and the CFU Club Champions Cup runner-up behind the Puerto Rico Islanders first admitted he knew little about his opposition, but was confident in his players ability. “We don’t know much about Brujas,” said King.
“We did a little research and what we have gathered is that they have been around for about five years now in the top division in Costa Rica.
With just over two months before their tie, King, a former national defender stated he was hoping to see his opponents in one or two live matches. “I will like to see them in action before our series, so I’m hoping to go over to Costa Rica and so some scouting.
With the second-leg match at home King also feels his team has the edge in the tie. “Having the first-leg away from home means we will have to go out there and get a good result that will put us in a great position for the return leg at home.
The winners of the Joe Public/Brujas tie will advance to Group A of the group stages where it will join MLS club, Columbus Crew (USA), Municipal of Guatemala and the winners of another preliminary round clash involving T&T’s San Juan Jabloteh and the runner-up between Mexican duo Santos and Toluca.
Joe Public and Jabloteh qualified for this year’s tournament after placing second and third, respectively, behind Puerto Rico Islanders, in the CFU Club Championships held in T&T earlier this month.
The Islanders, the club of T&T quartet Keon Daniel, Osei Telesford, Nigel Henry and Kevon Villaroel meet Christopher Birchall’s Los Angeles Galaxy in another preliminary round duel.
The preliminary round winners will advance to the first round selected four groups of four clubs group stage set to begin August 17-19.