VI boys’ football teams bring home silver and gold from Caribbean Showcase

Source: BVI Football Association

The Virgin Islands Boys U13 and U10 Teams respectively won silver and gold in the 4th Global Premier Soccer (GPS) Caribbean Showcase tournament held January 25 – 27, 2019. Photo: BVIFA

The BVI Football Association and their national Boys U10 and Boys U13 football teams have outdone themselves yet again after returning from Puerto Rico with a gold and silver medal respectively in the 4th Global Premier Soccer (GPS) Caribbean Showcase tournament held January 25 – 27, 2019.

GPS hosts on average 44 tournaments each year between various states in the USA and the Caribbean Showcase held in Bayamon was one of their newest additions. It provided the children in Puerto Rico and the neighboring region the opportunity to play against some of the top footballers in the Americas without having to travel too far from home.

The Virgin Islands easily being the smallest participating territory has had its best results to date with a win in the Boys Under 10 category and placing 2nd in the Boys Under 13 category.

The VI U10 Boys – named U10 Rock BVI – first matched up with GPS Guaynabo where they won 2-0.
Rock BVI played GPS Aquadilla and won by 3-0 in the semi- finals and went on to the finals where they obliterated SA United from Massachusetts with a 7-1 hammering, to become the 2019 U10 Boys Champions.

Meanwhile, the U13 Rock BVI Team opened their account with a 1-1 draw against Athletico San Juan, with Adrian Padillo scoring the equalizer.

Game two against GPS Aquadilla ended in a tame 0-0 draw. The final game for the BVI U13 Rock saw them defeat GPS Guaynabo by 3-1. Joel Mars out of Virgin Gorda scored for the BVI while the talented Azarni Callwood found the back of the net twice to ensure the victory.

Coach Dan Neville expressed his delight with the overall success of both teams stating, “this result shows that the attitude and application by both teams during the games and in the build up to the tournament went well for our national teams and is a clear indication of them being able to make the transition as they move on to play at higher levels. Both teams played physical and very attacking football. What we are focusing on now is ensuring that we teach the same style of football at all ages so players get to learn their positions well and are able to make a smooth transition as they move up in age groups.”

President of the BVIFA, Andy Bickerton, was elated with the results saying that he was especially pleased to see the younger teams do well as this fits right into his dream of seeing a truly local VI team with youngsters born and brought up through the BVIFA system, participate and do well at the highest level in football, which of course would include the World Cup.

BDO Primary School League update

By the BVI Football Association

2018 BVIFA BDO Primary School League teams in action. Photo: BVIFA

As the BVI Football Association’s BDO sponsored Primary School League continues, in the BDO U7 League, Bregado Flax Education Center (BFEC) relied on Liam Munn to overcome Enis Adams / Althea Scatliffe (ASPS) Red by a goal to nil and Alexandrina Maduro (AMPS) Black drew 0-0 with AMPS Olive

In the U9’s Cedar School lost 1-2 to AMPS/Agape as Jaheim Bijai put the visitors ahead before Blake Kirk equalized for Cedar and then Elijah Maduro netted the winner. Kirk though had a much better result in the game against First Impressions as he scored all the goals for his team in a 4-0 victory.

Robinson O’Neal drew 0-0 with ASPS Maroons

In U12 action Cedar School hit Joyce Samuels (JSPS) for six with a hat trick from Dylan Kline, two from Ryan Lettsome and one from Oli Henderson, whilst AMPS and Willard Wheatley/ Francis Lettsome (WWPS/FLPS)  drew 1-1 as Kymani Campbell cancelled out a 23rd minute penalty from Shajahni Deport.

WWPS/FLPS also drew 0-0 with ASPS

Elsewhere, Lewis Munn grabbed a hat trick for Cedar in their 5-0 romp over First Impressions, with Kline and Niki Haycraft also on the score sheet and BFEC beat JSPS 4-0 with Andres Bailey scoring twice, Joel Mars once and Jaden Abrams once.

Results, rankings and fixtures:

Click here for U7s

Click here for U9s

Click here for U12s

Scores of goals for BDO Primary School Football League

By BVI Football Association

U7 action at BDO Primary School League. Photo: BVIFA

As the action in the BDO Sponsored Primary School Leagues continued to hot up the local football scene, future national team strikers began to serve notice on who the serious contenders are for the Golden Boots.

In the U12’s, Orett Kennedy continued his goal scoring spree as his brace sent First Impressions Primary School (FIPS) on their way to a 5-0 win over St Georges Green. Daniel Manning, Marc Tan and Adrian Sherone also scoring and then Kennedy repeated the effort as his two goals saw FIPS secure a 3-3 draw with Joyce Samuel Primary (JSPS). Michael Findley replied with a hat trick for JSPS after Kennedy’s first goal had put FIPS ahead. Daniel Manning made it 3-2 and with time running out Kennedy popped up to net the equalizer.

Alexandrina Maduro (AMPS) got another win under their belts, 3-0 against Pelican Gate with goals coming from Delvin Freeman, Khamari Smith and Kymani Campbell.

Althea Scatliffe (ASPS) benefited from an own goal to share the points in a 1-1 after Miseal Venzen of St Georges Black had put his team ahead.

Cedar overcame Althea Scatliffe 4-1 led by two goals from K’Lam Williams and one apiece from rush Broderick and Niki Haycraft. Jahmani Titley was the lone scorer for ASPS. Willard Wheatley Primary School (WWPS) then beat SDA 2-0 with Shajahni Deport netting in the 3rd and 24th minutes. Bregado Flax Education Center (BFEC) beat Pelican Gate, 1-0 on a goal by Benjamin Moore and WWPS/ Francis Lettsome, 4-0, on a brace from Jadon Abrams, one from Joel Mars and one from Deshawn Richardson, JSPS and Pelican Gate draw 2-2 as Michael Findlay’s two goal salvo was matched by late goals from Ethan George and Connor Chalwell

In U9 action, Bregado Flax beat Cedar School, 3-1, courtesy of two goals from Kyle Farrington and one from Nicholas Moore. Blake Kirk had made it 1-1 with his first half strike. Althea Scatliffe Maroons, Willard Wheatley 3-0 as Othniel Gillings scored twice either side of a Tiondre Frett strike and Cedar School beat Pelican Gate, 4-1 on the back of four goals from Blake Kirk, whilst Niklaus Vergel scored for the Pelicans.

AMPS/ Agape beat First Impressions, 7-0 with Jaheim Bijai scoring three, Kenley Williams one, Elijah Maduro one, Caleb Toussaint one and Rushane Dixon also one.

ASPS Maroons beat SDA 7-0 as Gillings netted four and Latriel Williams three.

In U7’s, Enid/Althea Scatliffe Reds drew 1-1 with AMPS as Bryson Walters opener in the 11th minute was cancelled out by a 21st minute goal from Kester Agard and then drew 0-0 with Seventh Day Adventist School, before AMPS Blacks beat SDA 2-0 with Alessandro Peters scoring both goals. St Georges overcame AMPS, 2-1 as Demauri Turnbull and Devonte Smith replied after Amari Goodwill had given AMPS an early lead. Peters then netted a hat trick as AMPS Black then beat Pelican Gate 4-0. Johnathon Bijai scoring the other goal and BFEC beat AMPS Olives with Liam Munn scoring twice and Mayan Baptiste also on the score sheet in a 3-0 victory.

Click here for fixtures, results and standings.

BDO Primary School League and BVIFA High School League underway

By the BVI Football Association

Photo: BVIFA

The BVI Football Association BDO sponsored Primary School Leagues are well underway with Bregado Flax Educational Center (BFEC) in fine, free flowing scoring style.

Their U7 team had already recorded a 4-0 win over Enid Adams Maroons (EAM), courtesy of a hat trick by Shamari Lennard and a further strike from J’Leah Morton. Lennard went one better and scored all the goals as BFEC beat Alexandrina Maduro Primary School (AMPS) beat 4-1

AMPS Olive recorded a 2-1 win over Enid/Althea Scatliffe with Zavee Matthias scoring the winner after Ronell Jefferson’s goal cancelled out an own goal.

Also, in U7 action the Seventh Day Adventist School got a forfeit win against Pelican Gate, Willard Wheatley Primary School (WWPS) drew 0-0 with AMPS Black and 1-1 with AMPS Olive with Ricardo Blair equalizing after Matthias had put the AMPS Olive ahead.

Blake Kirk headlined in the u9 Division with a hat trick that put Cedar School well on the way to an 8-0 win over Althea Scatliffe Red. Ronaldo Estridge and Christian Esser both scored a pair each and Hugo Hlacer was also on the score sheet.

AMPS also beat the Reds, 6-0, with Elijah Maduro scoring four, Jaheim Bijai one and Amayao Walker also one. And the Seventh Day Adventist School, 7-0, with Bijai scoring six and Damion Miller the seventh. A 3-2 victory over WWPS followed with Maduro (2) and Rushane Dixon securing the win after Twariba Jacob had scored twice for WWPS.

In the U12’s, BFEC hit ten unanswered goals against Alexandrina Maduro/ Agape School, with Jaden Abrams scoring twice, Joel Mars and Jaeden Brown also notched a brace, whilst there was one apiece for Tikhoy Morton, Jadon Abrams, Andres Bailey and Benjamin Moore.

First Impressions had a much tougher time against AMPS/Agape, coming out 4-3 winners thanks to a last ditch own goal. Earlie Orrett Kennedy smashed home a hat trick which was cancelled out by two goals from Kymani Campbell and one from Jadon Glasgow.

Willard Wheatley / Francis Lettsome Primary combined also had a 7-1 victory over Claudia Creque Educational Centre (CCEC) with Sajahni Duports scoring three, Felix Walters two and both Antonio Bramble and Mervin Latouche one. Henrique Warren scored for CCEC.

WWPS then beat the five brave boys of St Georges by the same score line with a Walters hat trick matched by one from Antonio Bramble and Duporte also scoring

AMPS/Agape also had a 5-3 victory over Joyce Samuel Primary School thanks to a hat trick by Jaden Glasgow and one each for Khamari Smith and Kymani Campbell. BFEC beat Althea Scatliffe Primary School, 2-0, with T’Khoy Morton and Deshawn Richardson both finding the net.

St Georges beat Pelican Gate 3-0 on two goals from Jefferson Frank and one from Miseal Venzen, but then lost 10-0 to BFEC as Jaden Abrams scored a hat trick, Joel Mars two, Jaden Brown two, Deshawn Richardson one, Jadon Abrams one and Andres Bailey one.

In the High School League U15 Division, BFEC beat CCEC, 2-1, with Quelahni Nickie and Sheldon Toney scoring for BFEC and Kiara Fahie for CCEC.

In the Open Division, BFEC beat Elmore Stout High School, 2-1, with a late Timothy Louis goal coming as consolation after Devante Samuel put BFEC ahead and Kyreek Gardiner doubled the advantage.

Sugar Boys, One Love and Panthers hold top spots in BVIFA National League

By BVI Football Association

Derol Redhead, who notched his 7th goal of the season in the 3-3 draw with One Love, to be the leading goal scorer so far. Photo: BVIFA

The points were shared between the top two clubs in the BVI Football Association National League, the Sugar Boys F.C. and One Love F.C. in a six-goal thriller on Sunday 15th April 2018 over on the Virgin Gorda Recreation Ground.

Mohammed Kachour had put the home side ahead in the 10th minute, Carl Stewart then equalized for One Love in the 34th minute. Okeyne Thenstead put One Love up 2-1 in the 52nd minute, Derol Redhead made it 2-2 in the 65th minute and Michael Castello restored the advantage to the hosts with his 68th minute goal making it 3-2, but almost as the home fans began celebrating another win, up popped Richard Morgan in the 85th minute to make it 3-3.

The Sugar Boys have still to suffer defeat this season and top the table with 16 points, One Love are second on 13, but the surprise of the season so far occurred back on the A.O. Shirley ground, when against the odds, the Panthers F.C. snatched a 1-0 win over the Islanders F.C.

The 3 points, courtesy of Nigel Saunderson’s 82nd minute goal puts the Panthers third on 7 points, whilst the Islanders and the Wolues F.C. share 4th on six points, with the Wolues losing 2-1 to VG Utd, who climbed up to sixth, in Sunday’s Prime Time game back on Virgin Gorda.

Having gone 2-0 down, after goals from Jose Antonio scored a consolation goal for the Wolues in the 89th minute. This after Thomas Albert opened the scoring in the 52nd minute and Delano Barbour doubled the home sides advantage in the 84th.

BVIFA schoolboys play in Football Club Barcelona

By BVI Football Association

Ryan Lettsome (L) and Azarni Callwood participated in the Football Club Barcelona 2018 International Youth Tournament (April 7 – 8) in Spain. Photo: BVIFA

Azarni Callwood and Ryan Lettsome concluded successful participation at the 2018 Football Club Barcelona International Youth Football Tournament in Spain, playing with the Champion Sports Group out of England. The event took place April 7 – 8.

The pair, products of the BVI Football Association’s schools’ programme, played in the U11 Age Group which included 28 other teams from a whole range of Countries such as Brazil, France, Belgium, Scotland, Romania and Ireland, with all games played at a very high standard.

Callwood and Lettsome were instrumental in their team finishing 11th, winning five, drawing one and losing two of the eight games played and had a wonderful experience playing intense football.

“This is exactly what we wanted from the football association’s view point,” commented BVIFA President, Andy Bickerton. “We want our young players exposed to international competition, so they begin to realise that, while they might be a big fish in a small pool at home, there are many big fish overseas.”

Callwood finished up as one of the leading goal scorers and is a shining example of the production line of young talent coming out of the School Leagues. “Once you can believe in yourself and keep on going despite knock backs you can achieve what you want to achieve in football. The opposition were big and technically good, with lots of passes, but I was able to score goals and it was a great experience,” he said.

Callwood was also quick to point out that he learned a lot from playing against foreign teams: “they don’t give you as much time on the ball as I’m used to, so you have to be very good at knowing when to pass and when to dribble,” said Callwood.

Lettsome also had a great experience and soon got to grips with the higher expectations and new style of play.

As for the future Callwood fully intends to pursue a World Cup dream. “All of us dream of being able to represent our country and especially on such a big stage,” he said.

BVI to participate in CONCACAF Nations League

By BVI Football Association

BVI Football Association President, Mr. Andy Bickerton, Mrs. Julianna Luke (BVIFA General Secretary) and Mr. Avanel Morton (BVIFA Vice President). Photo: BVIFA

The BVI Football Association President, Mr. Andy Bickerton has expressed optimism and confidence following the inaugural CONCACAF Nations League Draw held in Miami, Florida.

The Senior Men’s team will be facing Martinique, Suriname, Bonaire and the Turks and Caicos in the Nations League qualifying rounds, with the first fixture, against Martinique, scheduled for September 18th, 2018.

Further games will follow on October 18th (Suriname) and then an enticing home game against Bonaire on November 18th, before the final game, also at home, features the Turks and Caicos.

“It’s a good draw for us as we are confident we can be competitive in each game, especially the two home games, given we can use the A.O. Shirley Ground,” commented Bickerton.

The CONCACAF Nations League begins in September with a one-off qualifying phase, while the group phase, consisting of three tiered leagues, will kick off in 2019.

The top league will end with a Final to crown the Nations League champion, and the competition will also serve to unify the qualifying path for the region’s national teams to the newly expanded Gold Cup.

League A will contain four groups of three teams. The winners of each League A group will qualify to the CONCACAF Nations League Final Championship, which will determine the champion of the new competition. The teams at the bottom of each League A group will be relegated to League B for the next edition of the tournament.

League B will contain four groups of four teams. The winner of each League B group will be promoted to League A, and the bottom team of each League B group will be relegated to League C for the next edition.

League C will consist of the remaining MAs divided into four groups. The winner of each League C group will be promoted to League B.

The first edition of the CONCACAF Nations League will begin with a one-off CONCACAF Nations League Qualifying phase, which will determine which teams are assigned to each league.

By virtue of having qualified for the Hexagonal Round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Russia 2018, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, the United States and Trinidad & Tobago have earned the right to be seeded directly into League A and therefore will not participate in Nations League qualifyiers.