With much deserved fanfare and celebration the BVI Football Association launched its 2020/21 Women’s Futsal League at Cedar School on Saturday, October 31 and was rewarded by a tantalizing game of football between two evenly matched teams, which was highlighted by a hat trick from Darci Reich and saw the Wolues beat VG Utd 6-2.
BVIFA Executive member in charge of Women’s Football, Mrs. Loralee Walters-Abrams, 1st Vice President, Mr. Avanell Morton, 2nd Vice President, Mr. Aubrey Liburd, FA Treasurer, Mr. Kenrick Grant and Mr. Eustace Freeman, representing the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports were all on hand to welcome the clubs and also to compliment the hard work of the coaches and event organisers that had gone into making the League possible.
“Women’s Football has been absent for a while,” commented Grant. “But after all the things that have taken place it is nice to see all the teams that are ready to take part and over the coming months this participation will only get bigger.”
Playing two 25-minute halves, the action was fast, furious and full of action-packed excitement with both teams looking to gain the technical and tactical advantage.
VG Utd went ahead on a goal by Kezia Gumbs which was cancelled out by Zolita Bamford, but it was Reich who provided that little bit of magic that turned the game in favour of the Wolues, scoring a quick fire brace to make it 3-1.
Gabrielle Jermain made it 4-1 to the Wolues before Reich completed her hat trick. Gumbs then scored her second to make it 5-2, but any chance of a VG comeback was snuffed out by Tola Broderick who made it 6-2.
BVIFA President, Mr. Andy Bickerton was unable to attend due to Covid 19 restrictions but was very proud of the work carried out by the coaching and technical staff in getting the competition off the ground. “Whilst definitely long overdue, the patience of our women players and their dedication to the sport is a wonderful indication that the League will be just the start of many things to come. The coaches and technical staff are working tirelessly to get the women to a high level of play, and it won’t be long before the BVIFA can select a national team to be competitive in the region,” said Bickerton.
The Panthers FC will play the Avengers FC with a 4.30pm kick off on Saturday, November 7 at Cedar School.
