From Jamaica Observer

THOMAS… it is very important, because it is another platform where we can showcase our talent and it is also another chance to win a trophy (Photo: Observer file)

Freshly minted Red Stripe Premier League champions Portmore United will host the FLOW CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championship (FCCCC) four-team tournament at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex, May 11-13.

The tournament will be launched on Tuesday at the headquarters of the Jamaica Football Federation.

Portmore United will square off against Arnett Gardens (Jamaica), Central FC (Trinidad and Tobago), and Club Atlético Pantoja (Dominican Republic) during the championships.

The winners qualify for the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League, while the runners-up and third-placed team earn spots in the 2018 CONCACAF League.

The fourth-placed team enters the play-off against the winners of Tier Two for a place in the 2018 CONCACAF League.

Portmore United coach Shavar Thomas said his players are looking forward to the championships and is confident they will do well.

“It is very important, because it is another platform where we can showcase our talent and it is also another chance to win a trophy,” said Thomas.

“The players are looking forward to another opportunity for them to showcase their talent on the international stage,” he added.

The FLOW CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championship was last staged in Jamaica in 2015, when Montego Bay United hosted the event at Montego Bay Sports Complex.

The 2018 Caribbean Club Championship is the 20th edition of the Caribbean Club Championship, the annual international club football competition in the Caribbean region, held among clubs whose football associations are affiliated with the Caribbean Football Union, a sub-confederation of CONCACAF.

The CONCACAF Council, at its meeting on July 25, 2017 in San Francisco, California, approved the implementation of the following two-tier competitions for affiliated clubs of Caribbean member associations starting in 2018.

The Tier One competition, known as the CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championship, is contested by the champions and runners-up of the top professional and semi-professional leagues in year one in 2018, and open to only fully professional leagues in year two in 2019 and onwards.

The Tier Two competition, known as the CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield, is contested by the champions of the top leagues in member associations that have no professional or semi-professional leagues in year one in 2018, and open to amateur and semi-professional leagues in year two in 2019 and onwards.

Portmore United have been one of the most consistent teams in the Premier League in the last three years, which resulted in them advancing to three consecutive finals.

Striker Javon East was the team’s top scorer in the Premier League this season with 15 goals.

Meanwhile, Arnett Gardens are five-time national champions. The team, which won the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) title in the 2016-2017 season, finished fourth in this year’s competition.

The team boasts a very powerful attacking unit, which includes the likes of Fabian Reid who netted 16 RSPL goals along with Marvin Morgan, Vishinul Harris and Renae Lloyd.

Club Atlético Pantoja are based in Santo Domingo and currently play in the Dominican Republic’s First Division.

Club Atlético Pantoja, which was founded in 2000, were runners-up in the Dominican Republic play-offs last season. Pedro Muñoz and Jean Carlos Lopez will be relied on to lead the team in its hunt for the trophy this season.

Central FC, meantime, are reigning champions of the Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) Professional League. They have won the T&T League in the last three seasons and are coached by former Trinidad and Tobago striker Stern John.

Central will look to marksman Tyrone Charles, as well as Jason Marcano and Cornell Glen for big performances in the competition.

For more on this story go to: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/portmore-to-host-flow-concacaf-caribbean-club-championship-tourney_131785?profile=1511