KINGSTON, Jamaica – Defending champions Cavalier SC of Jamaica will have a rematch of last year’s Concacaf Caribbean Cup competition after they were drawn alongside finalists Cibao of the Dominican Republic in Zone B of the first round set to start in August.
Cavalier SC won their first Caribbean Cup title this past season after beating Cibao in the home-and-away final and by virtue of winning the competition earned a bye to the quarter-finals of the Champions League where they faced Inter-Miami FC.
The official draw was made on Tuesday and also saw Jamaica Premier League runners-up Mt Pleasant FA drawn in Zone A where 10 clubs including the finalists from the CFU Caribbean Club Shield will join them.
Both Cavalier SC and Mt Pleasant FA qualified for the competition after contesting the final of the Jamaica Premier League, while third place team Arnett Gardens will contest the CFU Caribbean Club Shield which starts in Trinidad in late July.
Cavalier SC have been drawn alongside Cibao FC (Dominican Republic) Defence Force (Trinidad and Tobago), Juventus de Cayes (Haiti) and the CFU Club Shield runner-up.
Mount Pleasant FA are in Group “A” alongside SV Robinhood (Suriname), O&M (Dominican Republic), Central FC (Trinidad and Tobago) and the CFU Club Shield Champion.
The Concacaf Caribbean Cup is set to start on August 19, with the team playing each other, home- and- away with the top two teams in each zone advancing to the knock-out stage.
The four teams will then play a home-and-away semi-finals between October 21-30, with the winners going through to the final set for December.
– Paul Reid