Former Rough Riders lead U-17 at World Cup
October 26, 2009
(Plainview,N.Y.)- Two years after being named to the coaching staff of the U.S. 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 Rice.
In 2003, Cabrera joined the 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 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.
About the Long Island Rough Riders
The Long Island Rough Riders have been part of the Long Island soccer scene since their inception in 1994. The Rough Riders men and women’s team won their first National Championship in 1995. The Rough Riders men’s team featured former US National Team members Chris Armas, Tony Meola, and MLS star Giovanni Savarese. Since their initial success, the Rough Riders men’s team has gone on to win the United Soccer League (USL) 2nd Division National Championship in 2002 and has sent numerous players to Major League Soccer (MLS).
In 2007 the Rough Riders reacquired a W-League franchise, which was formerly known as the Lady Riders. The Rough Riders women’s team qualified for the Eastern Conference Finals in 2008.
In recent years, the Rough Riders organization has expanded to include the Junior Rough Riders program, featuring elite level players from 8 to 17 years of age. Junior Rough Riders teams from 13 to 17 years old participate in the Super Y-League (SYL), the youth component of the USL.
About the United Soccer Leagues (USL)
As United Soccer Leagues starts its third decade of operation, soccer at all levels continues to grow in the U.S., Canada, and Caribbean. The largest organization of elite-level soccer leagues in North America, United Soccer Leagues is dedicated to growing the sport at the grassroots level in every community. The USL First Division and Second Division (North American men’s professional soccer), the USL Premier Development League (U23 North American men’s amateur), the USL W-League (North American women’s amateur), the USL Super-20 League (U20 North American men’s and women’s amateur) and the USL Super Y-League (North American boy’s and girl’s elite youth amateur) have provided a platform for thousands of players to reach their dreams since 1986. This vision and commitment to develop a soccer nation by fans, investors, administrators, coaches, and players has created the foundation for the growth of the sport, while presenting affordable, exciting family entertainment in over 100 cities and towns on the continent.
Long Island Rough Riders
Sean Leahy
Tel 516.622.3900
Fax 516.622.3901
sleahy@liroughriders.com
www.liroughriders.com
Posted by News LI Editor · Filed Under Sports
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