In a historic move towards developing players for Team Cascadia, the Cascadian Association Football Federation (CAFF) has partnered with the Western Washington Premier League (WWPL). After breaking onto the world soccer stage at the 2017 CONIFA World Cup in London, Team Cascadia showed our colors and skills on the pitch placing sixth out of 16 teams. Considering most of the players met the night before the first match makes the result all the more impressive. Since then, Team Cascadia has continued playing matches across the globe with their most recent, a victory against Darfur United played in Kent, Washington.
“This may turn out to be one of the most important even pivotal moments in the development of the Cascadian side.” - Team Cascadia Coach James Nichols
With an eye to the future, a partnership with the Western Washington Premier League offers players from 11 teams around the state the opportunity to work with CAFF Team Coach James Nichols and Former Seattle Sounder Team Captain James Riley as “The Dougs” of Team Cascadia continue building a side to represent our bioregion around the world. Coach Nichols, said of the partnership, “I’m delighted to be partnering with the WWPL. It will be an amazing advantage to have a league supplying players to us who are playing their club football in Cascadia. This may turn out to be one of the most important even pivotal moments in the development of the Cascadian side.” President Mitch James of the WWPL responded, “The WWPL looks forward to partnering with CAFF and thereby strengthening both organizations while increasing soccer player opportunities in our region,”
“Partnering with leagues and supporting the growth of the local soccer community is very important to us.” - CAFF President Aaron Johnson
This spirit of collaboration and local connection speaks to the mission of the Cascadian side and the goal of Caff ‘To allow Cascadia as distinct cultural entity, bioregion and growing society with common interests to be represented at the international level in the sport we are all passionate about.’ CAFF President Aaron Johnson added in a statement, “This is a very exciting time for CAFF as well as soccer in the northwest in general. Partnering with leagues and supporting the growth of the local soccer community is very important to us.” We at the Department of Bioregion certainly look forward to seeing “The Dougs” sprout up with more talent drawn from our local players and continued cheers from our vocal supporters.
