Twenty teams from across the Caribbean, including defending champions SV Robinhood from Suriname, are gearing up for the 2024 CFU Club Shield slated for July 25 to August 4 in Willemstad, Curaçao.
This year’s edition marks the first time that the CFU is organizing and managing the competition hitherto run by Concacaf and called the Caribbean Club Shield. As in previous editions, the 2024 competition will still qualify two teams to the Concacaf Caribbean Cup.
The number of teams in the hunt for top honors is up by five from 2023 when 15 clubs participated. This has necessitated a change in format to a straight knockout competition, raising the stakes on the teams and bringing intensity to the contest from the first whistle.
In addition to the defending champs SV Robinhood, the contenders are: America FC (Haiti); Arnett Gardens FC (Jamaica); AS Étoile De Matoury (French Guiana); AS Junior Stars (Sint Martin); B.A.Y.S FC (St. Lucia); CCCUL Dublanc FC (Dominica); Club Atlético Pantoja (Dominican Republic); CRKSV Jong Holland (Curaçao); Defence Force FC (Trinidad and Tobago); Grenades FC (Antigua and Barbuda); Guyana Defence Force FC (Guyana); Metropolitan FC (Puerto Rico); Paradise FC International (Grenada); RAMS Village Superstars FC (St. Kitts and Nevis); Scholars International SC (Cayman Islands); SCSA Eagles (St. Maarten); SV Racing Club Aruba (Aruba); SV Real Rincon (Bonaire); and SWA Sharks FC (Turks and Caicos Islands).
The competition, which was established in 2018, has a primary objective of advancing professional football throughout the Caribbean. Participation is open to semi-professional clubs and amateur teams holding current championship titles in their respective domestic leagues.
CFU General Secretary Camara David said all systems are go for an exciting completion.
“From an organizing perspective, we have worked between both organizations to ensure a seamless transition of the competition from Concacaf to the CFU. We have enjoyed that same level of collegiality with the Curaçao Football Federation, and I can assure regional football fans that the teams are ready to battle for Caribbean supremacy,” David said.
CFU President Randolph Harris noted the importance of the CFU Club Shield to the developmental agenda for regional football. “The competition aims to help professionalize football in the Caribbean. I am on the record many times noting the need for us to keep developing and advancing football in the region for many reasons, not least amongst them opening up pathways for our footballers. The CFU is pleased to collaborate with Concacaf on this competition and look forward to working closely with the confederation to advance football in the Caribbean,” Harris said.
Defending champions SV Robinhood won both the Club Shield and the Caribbean Cup in 2023, making them a definite team to watch.
Fans may watch livestreams of the matches on the CFU’s YouTube page, CFU Official, and follow the CFU’s social media platforms for updates.
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