Rino’s Fury Finish As Runners Up in BC Soccer Keith Millar Provincial B Cup

Rino’s Fury had a great run in the 2016 BC Soccer Keith Millar Provincial B Cup. The team cruised through the opening rounds with victories over Norvan Viking Storm and Snipers FC, but were met in the semifinals by a resilient Mundiavocat FC of the BMSL who held them to extra time. In extra time though, the Fury boys proved to be too much for the older Mundiavocat side, as a goal by Kyle Reed opened up the floodgates, and two more goals in short succession powered the team to victory.

The team then traveled to Vancouver Island to face runners of up of VMSL Div 2A, Campo Atletico, in the Provincial Final. It’s unknown whether the travel or unusually early start time wreaked havoc with the Fury lads, but they were simply caught napping as they conceded an early first minute goal when caught out by a long ball to a speedy opposition striker. A second goal conceded on a cross-cum-shot that miraculously found the far top corner put the boys behind 2-0 with only a third of the match completed. A nervy remainder of the first half played out, but no further damage was done. At half time the boys regrouped, and came out with a renewed energy, controlling position and working hard to find inroads to the opposition goal. The Campo keeper pulled off a stunning save on a free kick destined for the bottom corner, and later when Cameron Gibson’s powerful header crashed off the crossbar and the follow up shot was blocked it was clear it wasn’t going to be Rino’s day. As luck would have it, a sharp counter attack by the opposition increased the deficit to 3-0, and it was only late in the game where ageless wonder Ben Cougny managed to setup Alessandro Pace for a consolation goal which he headed into the Campo net with aplomb.

Despite the defeat, the boys were still upbeat after a fantastic promotion season and lengthy Provincial Cup run. After collecting their silver medals, most of the lads spent the night out enjoying pints in downtown Victoria before heading home to Vancouver to recharge over the summer and mount their assault on VMSL Division 1 in the fall.

Fury Provincials

For match reports and highlights of the entire Provincial Cup visit AFTN Canada. Below you can find our posts focusing on the Rino’s Fury matches:
Apr 23: Rino’s Fury 2-0 Norvan Viking Storm
May 1: Rino’s Fury 3-1 Snipers FC
May 8: Mundiavocat FC 0-3 Rino’s Fury
May 14: Campo Atletico 3-1 Rino’s Fury

Rino’s Fury crowned VMSL Division 2 Champions!

Kicking off the season with a 14 game undefeated streak, including 9 wins on the trot in October and November put Rino’s Fury in pole position to win VMSL Division 2 and gain promotion to Division 1. A late year loss in the final round before the winter break to nearest rivals Vancouver Strikers meant the pressure was on for the boys to maintain their lead in the New Year. The boys rattled off another 5 wins in 6 matches including an epic 5-3 come from behind victory over America FC, and travelling to Squamish to grind out a 1-0 win before heading to Whistler to celebrate. So on March 6, when Vancouver United FC rolled up to the Fury’s home ground, Point Grey Secondary, the Rino’s lads were feeling full of confidence, and treated their spectators to a 5-star performance as they secured the championship with a brilliant 5-1 victory. A pair of goalazos by Brooks Van Stavel and Cameron Gibson really put the gloss on the day as the champagne bottles were popped, and the celebrations began with other teams in the division unable to catch the Fury’s 54 point total despite some having as many as 3 games remaining to play.

Rino's Fury Celebration

The management duo of Andy Norton and Derrick Freedman thanked the lads for their commitment over the course of the season, and look set to guide the team to a strong run in the BC Soccer Provincial Cup starting in mid-April.

Last Call for 2015-16 Vancouver Metro Soccer League Winter Season Tryouts

Looking to play competitive soccer in the Vancouver Metro Soccer League this winter?  Look no further than Rino’s Vancouver SC!

There are limited open positions available on our teams which will participate in the following divisions of the VMSL:VMSL

  • Premier
  • Division 1
  • Division 2
  • CAT
  • Masters (Over-35)

 

Final tryouts will occur on August 25 & 27.  Player selections will follow shortly after and the season starts September 12, 2015.

For more information on tryout locations please contact us at: info@rinosvancouver.com and provide the following details:

  1. Name
  2. Age
  3. Position
  4. Highest level played
  5. Contact information (phone number, email address)

New VMSL Premier Team to be Coached by Blaise Nkufo

Over the summer months, the club’s management has been hard at work behind the scenes, and we now have two exciting announcements to make regarding the upcoming Vancouver Metro Soccer League season:

 

Rino’s Vancouver SC and FC Tigers Vancouver have merged operations to field a team in the VMSL Premier Division

For the past several years, Rino’s Vancouver SC has fielded a Division 1 side in the VMSL which has been a perennial contender for promotion, but has never quite been able to achieve that goal. In the last two years, a new challenger has emerged, FC Tigers Vancouver, and in the 2014-15 season the Tigers successfully earned promotion to Premier by virtue of a 2nd place finish. Since the end of the winter season Tigers management came to realise the difficulty of the task at hand, and an idea sparked that if they combined forces with another well-established club they would be better suited to challenge the VMSL Premier division.  A number of clubs were considered, with Rino’s being one of them.

While the two clubs have competed across multiple fronts in VMSL Div 1 League and Imperial Cup play in winters, as well as Division 1 of the RRSL in the summers, they have also shared a lot in common. The two clubs have shared the same training facilities, numerous players have pulled on both the blue jersey of Rino’s and the red of Tigers, and of course they have a shared passion for football. Finally, an approach was made, and after weeks of hard negotiations an agreement was reached, resulting in the combined club being the only one in the city set to field teams in the top three divisions of the VMSL (Premier, Div 1, and Div 2), the pinnacle of which will be the premier team playing as FC Tigers Vancouver Rino.

fc tigers vancouver rino

 

Former Swiss International Footballer, Blaise Nkufo, has been appointed Head Coach of the FC Tigers Vancouver Rino Premier Team

Once the ink dried on the Tigers/Rino’s agreement, the next task at hand was to find a suitable coach to lead the team in its first year of VMSL Premier play. Having a third party was preferred so as to not bring any biases into the equation with regards to player selection, and the leading candidate emerged as Blaise Nkfuo. Blaise should need no introduction, but for the uninitiated here is a rundown on his playing career highlights:IMG_0542-e1352147384991[1]

  • US Open Cup Champion in 2010 (Seattle Sounders, Major League Soccer, USA)
  • Honored with a bronze statue in 2010 (FC Twente, Eredivisie, Holland)
  • FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa (Swiss National Team)
  • Eredivisie Champion in 2009-2010 (FC Twente, Eredivisie, Holland)
  • All time top scorer (FC Twente, Eredivisie, Holland)
  • UEFA Champions League and Europa League Games (FC Twente, Eredivisie, Holland)
  • Swiss Cup Champion in 1998 (FC Lausanne-Sport, Super League, Switzerland)

Since retiring as a professional player, Blaise earned a UEFA coaching license and founded two centres for the development of young footballers, N.K.U.F.O. Academy Sports in Yaoundé (Cameroon), and BlaiseSoccer Elite Training in Vancouver (Canada). Blaise is passionate about developing players into professionals, and with his expertise has already shown great results in a short period of time. In Yaoundé, N.K.U.F.O. Academy pupil Olivier Simo Kingue was selected earlier this year for the Cameroon U-23 National Team! Meanwhile in Vancouver, BlaiseSoccer Elite trainee David Genet attended open tryouts with 130 top local players, and was 1 of just 5 who earned an invitation to join the Whitecaps FC 2 in their inaugural pre-season preparations.

More recently, Blaise coached the Saudia Arabia team at the Nations Cup tournament in Richmond, BC. The team finished 2nd in their group, with their only loss coming to an eventual tournament finalist. What stood out most to the hundreds of spectators in attendance was the impressive style the team played, as well as the young age of many of the players, the youngest of which was just 15.  For more information on BlaiseSoccer Elite Training visit www.blaisesoccer.com

We are extremely fortunate to have the privilege to work with Blaise this season, and we hope that our current and prospective players are ready to rise to the challenge and have a great Premier season under his direction. If you are interested in opportunities to tryout, email us at info@rinosvancouver.com

Soccer Resort Vancouver Cup Champions 2015

Rino’s have once again proven their championship mettle, as they have been crowned champions of the Soccer Resort Vancouver Cup Men’s Open Division.  The 7-a-side tournament has become something of a biennial event for the club, as Rino’s teams were previously winners in 2011 and 2013.  Congratulations to this year’s team on keeping the winning tradition alive!

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Team Members: Tyson Atleo, Derrick Freedman, Brandon Hauk, Tyson Dodich, Boris Nikic, Jeff Thom, Yuda Shih, Benoit Baesel, Shaun Pejic, Kantcho Doskov, and Yuya.

Rino’s Fury to Host Opening Round Provincial Cup Match

Rino’s Fury have qualified for a second consecutive appearance in the Keith Millar Provincial B Cup, and once again have drawn opposition from the Vancouver Metro Soccer League. After bowing out in a penalty shootout to Sarajevo FC last season, the boys will be hoping for better luck as they host Vancouver-based rivals Bombastic SC. The match will take place 2pm, Sunday April 6 at Point Grey Secondary with the winners advancing to face Europa FC of the Burnaby Metro Soccer League. Come on out and support the team!

prov-1st-rd-banner

Div 2 – Match 3 – 2013/14 – GFC United Lions

The Fury finally found their scoring touch this weekend with a 5-0 thumping of GFC United Lions on Saturday at Memorial Turf South.

After a somewhat shaky start, the team in blue began to control the play and create chances. With only 2 goals in 2 games, it was necessary that they start to take advantage of scoring opportunities. Striker Cougny got them off the mark after a through ball played him in on a breakaway. He neatly tucked in under the keeper and put the Fury up by 1. Not too long after, they went up 2 on a brilliant team goal that saw a nice ball played into Cougny in the 18 yard box, who layed it off for an oncoming Arceneaux who side footed it past a outstretched keeper into the upper right part of the net. Arceneaux had redeemed himself after missing a chance earlier with his weaker left foot on a shot from a similar position. On another nice team play 10 minutes after that, he had another chance on his right foot again, but missed a nicely placed shot just wide. A first half hat trick and Fury scoring lead could of been his. Five minutes before half, it was 3-0 after Atkinson, who beat the offside trap, played a square ball into italian striker Pace, who had time to collect the ball and read a newspaper before slotting it past the keeper.

A comfortable lead at half time meant the hair dryer was unnecessary for the team talk from the coach. The instructions were to continue pressing.

With the Lions tiring, it was all the well conditioned Rinos after the break.   A few new substitutions were introduced which added to the offensive game plan that was causing the Lions all sorts of problems. 10 minutes into the half, Pace got his second of the game, who was johnny on the spot with another cross into the box that was easily put home. A few nice saves from the Lions keeper kept the game from becoming a blowout, including a spectacular one on Hanson’s “Bread n Butter” outside of the foot curler on a free kick from about 25 yards.

Substitute Kaplan brought new life into the game with a second half appearance that produced  the goal of the game. In the 65th minute, a ball was played into Kaplan just outside of the 18. A nice turn and a wonderous curving left footed shot from the right side found it’s way off the post and into the net, showing off his ambidextrous abilities. A number of chances went begging after that, keeping the score in single digits. Once again, the opposition were limited to a few half chances which caused little problems for keeper Verbeek, picking up his second clean sheet of the year, thanks to a solid back line. A hard, encouraging 90 minutes were played out that should breed confidence for the Fury going forward into the next games this season.

Goal of the Match: Max Kaplan

Team: Verbeek, Jefford (Hawkins), Hanson, O’Carroll, Gazin (Orech), Atkinson, Arceneaux, Wilhelm, Bradbury(Shih), Pace (Crowe), Cougny (Kaplan)

Goals:  Cougny, Arceneaux, Pace (2), Kaplan

Assists: Cougny, Pace, Hawkins, Shih, Atkinson

The next match against FC Romania will be played Sunday September 29th @ 4pm, Point Grey Turf.

Div 1 Match 2 2013/14 – Serbian White Eagles

Rino’s desire to mimic last season exactly took another step in the right direction after a 0-0 tie with Serbia.

Rino’s started brightly, holding possession well, and created an inviting chance for Norton in the 10th minute after some sexy build up play through the right, but the shot was too close to the spry ‘young’ Serbian keeper.

What happened next was nothing short of shitting the bed, and for the remainder of the half Rino’s lived a charmed life, with Serbia’s inability to field good strikers the only thing that kept the score 0-0.

A more even 2nd half ensued, but neither side created any clear-cut chances. A quick shot on the turn from O’Sullivan rattled the Serbian bar, and a beautiful delivery from O’Genski was met by Bligh to yet again head the ball just past the post, but that was all that Rino’s produced (or all that I can remember 6 days later) in a frustrating 90mins. A sense of inevitability set in with 20 mins to go, that for the third meeting in a row the two tams would share the spoils.

Serbia look a much improved side from last year, with their tactic of sitting more Serbians on the bench, and non nationals on the field seemingly a wise decision.

Man of the Match went to David Moore for tirelessly working up top trying to force the breakthrough off broken supply.

Rino’s go on to face Akal on Friday night, while Serbia, as with

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Campobasso last week, go on to face Vancouver Olympics, which will in fact be the team most teams face after playing Rino’s due to some lazy scheduling by the VMSL.

Team: Thom, Stoakes, Southern, Bligh, O’Genski, Billingham, Norton, Greenall, Duff, O’Sullivan, Moore
Subs: Atleo, Carr, Hauk, Dodich

Div 2 Match 2 2013/14 – Caspian FC

Rino’s Fury 1 – 0 Caspian FC

In the second match of the season, Rino’s Fury faced Div 2 debutantes Caspian FC, who’s staunch defending proved a tough nut to crack.  Eventually a fine bit of service from Rino’s new-boy Diego Marchi was spectacularly finished by Ian Solven to give Rino’s the all important 3 points.

The match began with the Fury boys dominating possession.  Caspian it seemed were content to play with 11 men behind the ball, waiting for an opportunity on the counter.  The centre back pairing of O’Carroll and Hanson were again dominant in the air, limiting the Caspian forays forward which were often based on a long ball to chase.  In fact the only chance Caspian had in the first half came from an errant goal kick by goalkeeper Verbeek who was clearly put off by the paparazzi filming his every move.  Fortunately for him the Caspian forward spared his blushes by missing the net with his strike that was a good 10 feet wide.  Rino’s most notable chance came on a well worked move up the left side of the pitch.  The ball was pulled back towards the top of the penalty area and a low drive from Wilhelm was smartly saved by the Caspian keeper.  Despite the dominance in possession which was roughly 70-30 in favour of the home side, they lacked the cutting edge and came off the pitch at half time with the scores knotted at 0-0.

A shift in formation saw Rino’s return to the pitch for the second half in a 4-4-2 and instructions from the manager to focus on wing play and a focus on attacking the far post.  Substitutions saw the introduction of Diego Marchi and Emmanuel Orech, both who would play key roles in the remainder of the match.  In fact, it took less than 15 minutes for Marchi to make his impact as he whipped a cross towards the far post that striker Ian Solven powered into the net beyond the bewildered Caspian keeper.  With the deadlock finally broken, Caspian began to throw men forward and space began to open up on the field.  A fine throughball found Orech in behind the Caspian defence, but in rounding the keeper his touch was heavy and it was all he could do to keep the ball from crossing the endline, nevermind getting a sight of the gaping net.  A Caspain free kick from 35 yards was driven towards the top corner, and Verbeek did well to catch and hold it.  The teams traded chances again as a Caspian corner kick was headed at the near post, deflected by Verbeek, and cleared off the line by Orech.  Shortly after that a Rino’s counter attack saw substitute Crowe running at the Caspian defence and taken down by their last man just outside the penalty area.  The referee however only opted to issue a caution to the Caspian defender and Rino’s attempt at the free kick was wasted.  Rino’s then held firm for the remaining minutes and celebrated their first victory and clean sheet of the season.

Man of the Match: Keith O’Carroll

Team:  Verbeek, Gazin, Hanson, O’Carroll, Hawkins (Marchi), Wilhelm, Sanders (Arceneaux), Cougny (Crowe), Pace (Orech), Bradbury, Solven (Packham)

Goals: Ian Solven

Assists: Diego Marchi

Div 2 – Match 1 – 2013/14 – NK Hrvat

Rino’s Fury 1 – NK Hrvat -1

The much anticipated 2013/14 season kicked off Saturday with an afternoon fixture away to NK Hrvat at Memorial Turf. The newly demoted Div 1 side would prove to be a good first test for the Fury. With a tough pre-season camp and a few new international DP additions to the squad (Keith O’Carroll, Guy Packham and Diego Marchi), the team looked to improve on last years season and challenge for promotion once again . First teamer, Brent Hanson also joined the squad after long-term injury struggles held him out of action last season, no doubt bolstering the Fury back line this year. A couple of missing players this year were stand out winger, Francois Clark, defender Evan Jones and last years captain, Vincent Martin, definitely leaving a hole to fill for this years squad.

The game got underway with a strong start by the Fury, showing early signs of composure, hustle and a team-first mentality, putting NK Hrvat on the backheel. A few decent chances were created, but the Fury were unable to capitalize on them. Strong defensive play, left Hrvat with little, opportunity to create anything dangerous going forward. In the 30th minute, Fury midfielder Francarlos Leon was given a (questionable) straight red after a coming together in the Hrvat 6 yard box. A man down with an hour to go would be a tough test to start the season for any team, but this only seemed to spark the Fury into action. A physical game continued into half time with a 0-0 scoreline.

NK Hrvat came out strong in the 2nd half, starting to show signs of being a man up. 5 minutes in, a nice passing play by the opposition ended with a cross into the box that bounced around and was unable to be cleared, only to fall to a Hrvat midfielder at the top of the box who smashed it through several bodies and made it through goalkeeper Nathan Verbeeks legs, barely seeing it.

The game shifted a bit as Hrvat seemed content with holding onto the dangerous 1-0 lead. The Fury pressed for an equalizer but came up short on a few occasions. A scrappy game continued with a few more yellows being handed out. On a 70th minute corner, the big defensive pairing of Hanson and O’Carroll combined for the Fury’s first goal of the 21013/14 season. A beautifully whipped in corner by Wilhelm to the far post was headed back across goal by O’Carroll, where a waiting Hanson was there to pounce on it and blasted a well placed shot into the right side of the net. The Rino’s men continued to push for 3 points, seemingly unsatisfied with a tie, finding weaknesses in the Hrvat defense. Strong play by second half sub, Packham, earning his first cap, impressed with composure and provided several quality balls up to strikers and wingers creating chances to take the lead. In the 85th minute, 3

points were surely locked up as a shot by striker Cougny was parried to Shih who missed from close range, unable to complete the comeback.

The fans were pleased as the final whistle blew. A quality performance by the Rino’s Fury to build on as the season progresses.

Man of the Match: Keith O’Carroll

Team: Verbeek, Atkinson (Packham), Hanson, O’Carroll, Hawkins, Cougny, Sanders (Arceneaux), Leon, Wilhelm (Sanders), Pace, Solven (Shih)

Goals: Brent Hanson

Assists: Keith O’Carroll

 

The next match against Caspian FC will be played Sunday September 15th @ 4pm, Point Grey Turf.