The Caribbean’s top regional club competition, the 2021 Flow Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship is being held in the Dominican Republic, with the matches taking place 14-26 May. The 2021 Flow Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship is for professional clubs. The region’s Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield (CCCS) will be played in Curacao, 23 April and 2 May 2021.
The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted club competition in many Caribbean countries, and the solution has been to centralize the competitions. The Dominican Republic has had experience with running major sports tournaments and measures in place facilitate travel, reports Paul Nicholson for Inside World Football.
The winning club will qualify for the Concacaf Champions League with the next two placed clubs qualifying for the Scotiabank Concacaf League. The fourth-placed team will play off against the Shield competition winner for a spot in the Concacaf League.
Two clubs from each of the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica – Delfines del Este FC (DOM), O&M FC (DOM), Cavaly AS (HAI), Don Bosco FC (HAI), Portmore United FC (JAM), Waterhouse FC (JAM) – will compete in to groups of three, with the top two going forward to semi-finals, explains Inside World Football.
The Caribbean Club Shield is played between 14 clubs from 14 Caribbean Member Associations. The effort is part of a long-term vision to professionalize the club game across the region.
The 14 clubs that will play in Willemstad, Curacao, are: SV Racing Club Aruba (ARU), SV Real Rincon (BOE), RKSV Scherpenheuvel (CUW), South East FC (DMA), Olympique de Cayenne (GUF), AS Gosier (GLP), Fruta Conquerors FC (GUY), AS Samaritaine (MTQ), Metropolitan FA (PUR), St. Paul’s United FC (SKN), Platinum FC (LCA), Hope International FC (VIN), Flames United SC (SMA), and Inter Moengo Tapoe (SUR).
Inside World Football highlights: “In a year when club competition has been halted in many Caribbean countries due to the coronavirus pandemic, centralizing the competitions was the only realistic chance of ensuring play took place with the various Covid travel restrictions and health protocols required.”
Read more:
Inside World Football
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