Puerto Rico FC head Adrian Whitbread (center) addresses his players during a recent training session ahead of their 2017 Caribbean Club Championship opener. (Photo courtesy of Puerto Rico FC)

BAYAMON, Puerto Rico – Puerto Rico FC will open its inaugural campaign in the Caribbean Club Championship (CCC) on Tuesday night, when it hosts Suriname’s Transvaal in Group D play at the Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel.

The prospect of rubbing shoulders with some of the region’s powers in the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League (SCCL) is motivation for a side that is entering just its second year of play. 

In 2018, the eventual CCC champion will compete in the newly re-formatted CONCACAF Champions League, while the second-, third- and fourth-placed clubs will participate in the Confederation’s newly launched club championship for Caribbean and Central American teams that kicks off in August.

“The Caribbean Club Championship is extremely important for us and our players, but, most importantly, our fans,” said head coach Adrian Whitbread.  “The opportunity of qualifying to the Champions League and possibly hosting MLS teams or Mexican teams is something that not all the teams in our league have a chance to do, so we have to take advantage of.

“Also, the fans in Puerto Rico are very proud of their island, so it is an honor and a huge responsibility for everyone in our club to represent the island with pride.”

PRFC plays in the North American Soccer League, finishing ninth in the 2016 Fall standings.  In order to qualify for the CCC, it captured the 2016 Copa Luis Villarejo title by earning a 4-1 win over Criollos de Caguas FC in the final.

The team squad features forward Hector Ramos, who has four career SCCL goals – two with the Puerto Rico Islanders and two with El Salvador’s Isidro Metapan.

“I am very proud for the opportunity to represent my Island, my flag, my family and my people,” Ramos expressed.  “We worked hard to qualify for this tournament and we showed a lot of quality through the local cup.  We have a team that can definitely go all the way in the Caribbean.”

2017 CARIBBEAN CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

First Round, Group D

Puerto Rico FC Schedule (all games at Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel – Bayamon, Puerto Rico)

March 14, 2017: v SV Transvaal (Suriname)

March 16, 2017: v Scholars International (Cayman Islands)

March 18, 2017: v Portmore United (Jamaica)