BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – DESPITE the Sugar Boyz not qualifying for the region’s top football competition, the CONCACAF Gold Cup, two popular officials will keep the Federation’s flag fluttering in the wind.
The names of Kimbell Ward and Graeme Browne are on the list of officials who will be officiating at games during the 2017 Gold Cup in the United States slated for July.
In a statement issued yesterday (June 22) by CONCACAF, it indicated that referee designations for the CONCACAF Gold Cup has featured 17 experienced match officials from 10 countries within the region.
These elite match officials were required to pass several assessments, including the FIFA World Cup Candidate Fitness Test, so that they could potentially be considered for an appointment to CONCACAF’s most important competition, the statement said, adding that “the tournament will be played from July 7-26, 2017 in 14 stadiums in 13 metropolitan areas across the United States”.
“CONCACAF has selected top-class referees to officiate at the Confederation’s premier championship. These officials have undergone strenuous preparation and vetting as our commitment is to ensure consistent high-quality performance on the field,” said CONCACAF Director of Refereeing, Brian Hall. “For the 14th edition of Gold Cup, officials will be based in Dallas in an effort to maximize the training and flow of crucial information to enhance game management.”
In addition to Ward, the referees are Joel Aguilar (SLV), Henry Bejarano (CRC), Drew Fischer (CAN), Roberto Garcia (MEX), Mark Geiger (USA), Fernando Guerrero (MEX), Walter Lopez (GUA), Jair Marrufo (USA), Yadel Martinez (CUB), Melvin Matamoros (HON), Oscar Moncada (HON), Ricardo Montero (CRC), John Pitti (PAN), Cesar Ramos (MEX), Hector Rodriguez (HON), and Armando Villarreal (USA).
The assistant referees are Graeme Browne of SKN, Frank Anderson (USA), Joseph Bertrand (TRI), Ronald Bruna (PAN), Jose Luis Camargo (MEX), Keytzel Corrales (NCA), Melvyn Cruz (HON), Carlos Fernandez (CRC), Geonvany Garcia (SLV), Miguel Hernandez (MEX), Hermenerito Leal (GUA), Gerson Lopez (GUA), Juan Carlos Mora (CRC), Charles Morgante (USA), Alberto Morin (MEX), Marcos Quintero (MEX), Christian Ramirez (HON), Ainsley Rochard (TRI), Corey Rockwell (USA), Jesus Tabora (HON), Marvin Torrentera (MEX), William Torres (SLV); Gabriel Victoria (PAN), Daniel Williamson (PAN), and Juan Francisco Zumba (SLV).
According to CONCACAF, the CONCACAF Referee Committee approved the list of participants, who were reviewed and selected by the CONCACAF Referee Technical Advisory Team, a cross regional group of refereeing experts.
This team includes 60 participants, 17 referees, 25 assistant referees, six assessors and 12 members of the Targeted Advanced Referee Program (TARP).
TARP referees are part of the development strategy of the Confederation to provide an opportunity of working with elite officials in order to prepare them for future competitions. Game assignments will be announced prior to each match.
The Gold Cup is a bi-yearly event which is mostly held in the United States for football nations in the CONCACAF region.
