Tuesday, March 9, 2010

TAMPA, FL – The Puerto Rico Islanders will begin their quest to reach the CONCACAF Champions League tournament for a third consecutive time when they enter the Caribbean Football Union’s Club Championship tournament as a seeded team in the Second Round April 13. The regional tournament kicks off with First Round group play March 16 in four locations.

The 2010 edition of the CFU Club Championship features three rounds of group play to determine a champion. The top three clubs in the Final Round will advance to the CONCACAF Champions League.

The First Round features 14 clubs playing in two groups of four and two groups of three in four different locations, beginning as early as March 16 and closing as late as March 27 depending on location. The top two teams in each group and a wild card (nine total) will advance to the second round, where they will join the three seeded clubs.

As one of the three seeded teams, the Islanders will play host to two of the four Second Round groups. In their group, the Islanders will face the winner of Group D from the First Round and the Group A runners-up. The other Puerto Rico-based group will feature seeded side Tempete of Haiti.

Trinidad & Tobago will host the other two Second Round groups with San Juan Jabloteh as the third seeded club. The fourth group will be composed entirely of First Round participants.

The Second Round will be played simultaneously from April 13-17 with the four group winners advancing to the Final Round, a group phase to be played in Puerto Rico May 4-8.

Groups & Schedule (pdf) [+]