MLS Caribbean Combine
The Major League Soccer Caribbean Combine is an annual showcase of Caribbean football talent between the ages of 18-21 organized jointly by Major League Soccer and the Caribbean Football Union in 2013, with the inaugural combine being held in January 2014. All 31 member associations are encouraged to send representatives that fit the criteria. The combine provides opportunities for Caribbean players to be observed by MLS scouts with the hopes of being invited to the MLS Combine, an invite-only showcase event held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida prior to the annual MLS SuperDraft. The combine is part of an agreement between the two entities as they try to promote football development throughout the Caribbean region. About the impact of Caribbean players on the league, MLS Technical Director Alfonso Mondelo said, "Quite a few players have played, continue to play in the MLS and have done so successfully...Now we are looking forward to the next generation of players who will be coming in", while MLS Executive Vice President Todd Durbin said, "We recognize that the CONCACAF area, and particularly the Caribbean, is rich with soccer talent, and this will be an opportunity for our scouts to evaluate and identify the region’s top players...Caribbean players from islands like Jamaica, Haiti, Grenada and others have been key performers in MLS. This event will help recognize the next generation of MLS stars as we look to achieve our goal of being among the best leagues in the world by 2022." From a Caribbean perspective, CFU President Gordon Derrick stated, "As CFU Member Associations turn their attention to Russia 2018, this is an exciting developmental opportunity for the opulent young talent in the Caribbean to assess their developmental level and the growth required to play at the highest level...This partnership with MLS is another way in which we at the CFU are seeking to bridge the gap that exists between talent availability and scouting opportunities that the Caribbean region has received from professional leagues."
2014
The 2014 Caribbean Combine took place at the Antigua Recreation Ground in St. John’s, Antigua from January 2–4; and featured 24 players from 16 different Caribbean nations. Originally 32 players were nominated but eight were not invited to the final combine by the MLS technical team. The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association did not have any representatives at the combine after an "administrative error" lead to no paperwork being submitted to the CFU by the association. Of the 23 players who were invited, only Stefano Rijssel and Quinton Christina were invited to the MLS Combine. Rijssel went on to be the first ever player from the Caribbean Combine to be drafted after he was selected in the 3rd round, 55th overall, by Seattle Sounders FC. However, Rijssel was cut by the team during preseason and was ultimately not signed.Players
Name | Nationality | Date of birth | Position | Notes |
Damian Bailey | D/M | |||
Quinton Griffith | D/M | |||
Stefan Smith | F | |||
Leroy Oehlers | D | |||
Drewonde Bascome | M | |||
Kavon Troy Ceasar | D | |||
Ramon Sealy | GK | |||
Quinton Christina | D/F | Selected for MLS Combine | ||
Malcolm Joseph | D | |||
Delbert Graham | M | |||
Vladimir Pascal | F/M | |||
Steven Davidas | M | |||
Jean Ismael Voltaire | D | |||
Luckner Junior Horat | D | |||
Kemar Lawrence | M/D | |||
Kendell Allen | D | |||
Joseph Marrero | M | |||
Samuel J. Soto Alvarez | F/M | |||
Jose Sandoval | M | |||
Jamal J. Francis | GK | |||
Kimaree B.A. Rogers | M/F | |||
Eden Charles | M | |||
Stefano Rijssel | M/F | Selected for MLS Combine | ||
Miguel Danny Darson | D |
Known rejected players
Drafted players
2015
The 2015 Caribbean Combine was held between January 2–5, 2015 in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. The combine took place at the facilities of Bayamón FC, including Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, and featured matches with local clubs. For the combine, 19 players representing 17 associations from the region were invited. Following the Caribbean Combine, only Jean Carlos Lopez Moscoso of the Dominican Republic was invited to the MLS Combine. No players from the Caribbean combine were selected as Lopez was not taken in any of the four rounds of the draft.Players
Known rejected players
2016
The 2016 edition of the MLS Caribbean Combine was held on three different islands at different times, unlike previous years in which it was held at a central location. Players were invited to specific host islands based up their country of origin. Twenty four players were invited to each location for a total of 72 players, a significant increase over previous years. The reason for decentralizing the combine was to make it easier for more nations to participate.Hosting and known players
- Saint Kitts and Nevis hosted players from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos, and the United States Virgin Islands from 13 December to 16 December at the Warner Park Sporting Complex.
Name | Nationality | Date of birth | Position | Notes | Ref. |
Carlos Bertie | |||||
Javiem Blanchette | FW | ||||
Raheem Francis | MF | ||||
Novelle Francis Jr. | |||||
Keithroy Freeman | DF | ||||
Jonathan Guishard | DF | ||||
Tevaughn Harriette | MF | ||||
Germain Hughes | MF | ||||
Jorginho James | MF | Selected for MLS Combine | |||
Eugene Kirwan | MF | ||||
Amal Knight | MF | ||||
Malik Liburd | |||||
Chevone Marsh | GK | ||||
Lorne Maxime Jr. | FW | ||||
Ryan Miller | MF | ||||
Clyde Mitchum | DF | ||||
Aljah Newton | |||||
Shavorn Phillip | DF | ||||
Alrique Rogers | FW | ||||
Jamoy Stevens | DF | ||||
Elvis Thomas | FW | ||||
Shamoy Thompson | MF |
- Curaçao hosted players from Aruba, Bahamas, Bermuda, Bonaire, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago from 17 December to 20 December. Ten total players from Aruba, Bonaire, the Dominican Republic, and Guyana attended in addition to ten Curaçao players who met the requirements.
Name | Nationality | Date of birth | Position | Notes | Ref. |
Delon Lanferman | FW | ||||
Yurick Seinpaal | FW | ||||
Jumane Somerset | DF | ||||
Alexander Vidal Ceballos | DF |
- Martinique hosted players from Barbados, Dominica, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, St. Maarten, St. Martin, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and St. Lucia from 1 January and 4 January.
Name | Nationality | Date of birth | Position | Notes | Ref. |
Anfernee Frederick | MF | ||||
Briel Thomas | MF | ||||
Lejuan Simmons | FW | ||||
Jomo Harris | MF | ||||
Romario Harewood | MF | ||||
Jordy Delem | MF | ||||
Johnny Marajo | FW | ||||
Franck-Olivier Rochambeau | FW | ||||
Jean-Manuel Nédra | DF | ||||
Ambroise Félicité |
2017
In October 2016 it was announced that the base of the 2017 MLS Caribbean Combine would be merged with the final round of CFU 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship qualification taking place that same month. The qualifiers would be attended directly by scouts from MLS teams, with representatives from at least the Philadelphia Union, Real Salt Lake, and Seattle Sounders FC confirmed to attend. The decision to combine the two events was logistical since many of the region's best young players and national teams from the desired age group would be participating. The new format meant that players from nations that were not part of the competition would not have the opportunity to be scouted at this edition of the combine.2018
The combine returned to a single-venue, invite-only format in 2018. This edition of the combine was the first held outside of the Caribbean with the three-day event taking place at the Sawgrass Hotel and Suites Sports Complex outside of Fort Lauderdale, Florida from January 9–11, 2018. Chosen invitees will then attend the MLS Player Combine from January 11–17 in Orlando. In total, 22 players were invited to attend the event. Ultimately, no players from the Caribbean Combine were invited to the MLS Combine.Players
Name | Nationality | Date of birth | Position | Notes |
Oniel Anderson | D | |||
Jeff Beljour | D/M | |||
Mazhye Burchall | F | |||
Thierry Catherine | M | |||
Jonah Ebanks | M | |||
Kyle Edwards | M | |||
Djai Essed | D | |||
Maalique Foster | F | |||
Jules Haabo | M | |||
Hadan Holligan | M | |||
Germain Hughes | M/D | |||
Andrez Joseph | D | |||
Tyrique Lake | M/D | |||
Alex Marshall | F/M | |||
Gylles Mitchel | M/D | |||
G'Vaune Amory | M | |||
Nickenson Paul | M | |||
Na-jir Jacques Peney | M | |||
Jamarlie Stevens | D | |||
Kathon St. Hillaire | M/F | |||
Gilbert Tilus | D | |||
Josiah Trimmingham | M |