Long Island Rough Riders Press Release – www.liroughriders.com
Monday, October 26, 2009
PLAINVIEW, NY - Two years after being named to the coaching staff of the US Under-17 National Team, three former Long Island Rough Riders will lead the team at this week’s FIFA 2009 U-17 World Cup in Nigeria. Wilmer Cabrera, Paul Caffrey and Paul Grafer are all hoping to build upon the team’s quarterfinal finish at the 2007 World Cup in the Korea Republic.
Beginning Monday, the United States U-17’s will play against Spain, Malawi and the United Arab Emirates in the group phase of the tournament.
As head coach, Cabrera brings an international resume that includes two FIFA World Cups, 48 caps with the Colombian national team, and 18 years playing professionally in Colombia, Argentina and Costa Rica.
In 2003, Cabrera joined the then USL Second Division Rough Riders and played two seasons on defense with the club appearing in 25 matches, scoring four goals and assisting on five others. In 2004 he was named to the USL-2 All-League Second Team.
A teammate of Cabrera’s on Long Island, Paul Caffrey was a member of the 2004 and 2005 Rough Riders teams and appeared in seven games with the team before becoming an assistant coach with the club and later their Director of Coaching.
After a well-traveled career that found him playing in Major League Soccer with the Colorado Rapids and New York MetroStars as well as three different stops with the Rough Riders, Paul Grafer joined his former teammates Cabrera and Caffrey as the U.S. Under-17’s goalkeeper coach in 2007. Known for his long black pants he’d wear in goal, Grafer made 47 appearances with the Rough Riders and was named to the All-League Second Team in 2005, his last season as a professional.
“We’re proud to see members of the Rough Riders family further their careers in soccer," said Rough Riders general manager Flavio Ferri. "We hope they can lead the U.S. to a successful run in this week’s World Cup.”
Another member of the U.S. U-17 team that was a part of the Rough Riders family is forward Dominick Sarle who played for the Junior Rough Riders in 2005 and 2006.
All of the United States’ games will be live on ESPNU and streamed online at www.espn360.com. For more information on the Long Island Rough Riders, please visit www.liroughriders.com or call (516) 622-3900.
