By: The BVIFA

The Vincy Heat skipper, Myron Samuel, rounds Jamal Sergeant during BVIFA 40th anniversary friendly. Photo:BVIFA

The BVI Fooball Association’s 40th Anniversary International Friendly against St Vincent and the Grenadines might not have produced the right result, a 6-0 defeat, but it was certainly the right choice of opponent as hundreds of Fans descended on the A.O. Shirley Ground on Sunday.

The Vincy Heat commanded the early exchanges and threatened the BVI goal on many occasions before finally getting on the score sheet inside the first ten minutes when Myron Samuel spun onto a loose ball in the penalty box and fired home.

Azinho Johnson then doubled the advantage 15 minutes later, appearing unmarked at the far post to head home a pin point cross from Samuel.

Spurred into some attacking life having been camped in their own half, the BVI finally got a shot on target, but Andy Crossley’s effort was straight at the Vincy keeper and Andy Davis just failed to get his boot around a loose ball on the edge of the Vincy box.

The tone of the game was then restored as the Vincy Heat laid siege to the host’s goal, with Jevonne Demming clearing a Samuel free kick and then Daniel Barker alert to another stinging effort from Samuel. Kyle Edwards brought a flying save from Barker and the same player rose unmarked from the resulting corner to narrowly steer his header over the bar.

Another indecisive piece of BVI defending saw Johnson score his second and the Vincy third when Samuel latched onto a scuffed clearance from Jamal Sergeant and with quick feet fed his team mate who made no mistake from close range.

Edwards had a chance to make it four moments later following more panic and a goal mouth scramble, but then Samuel raced onto a through ball, beating the offside trap and slipped a pass into the path of Emerald George who was left with a simple tap in.

Regrouped at half time, the BVI put in a much better second half performance and put some pressure on the visitors. Crossley almost brought the home crowd to its feet dribbling his way goal ward only to be denied at the last second before getting a shot off and Eddie Cupid forced Kenyan Lynch into a flying save to be denied a goal on his Senior team home debut.

The Vincy were also dangerous on the break and were denied time and time again by Barker including one athletic single handed leaping tip over before Edwards scored his second to make it five and Shandel Samuel rounded out the scoring at six after another unselfish pass from skipper Samuel.

“I’m very proud of the team, we have some players out, but the new players came in and we still got the result we wanted. The BVI team played better than the last time I saw them (a 23-0 U20 drubbing), they are improving a lot” commented Samuel.

BVI vice Captain, Jevonne Demming, was philosophical in defeat and quick to thank the huge crowd “it was a good game, but you practice what you preach and we need to work harder. The fans came out to support us as we hoped, but we need to support each other. The Vincy played better ball and held the ball more than we did, but we tried our best”

By BVIFA

Members of the BVIFA Executive and Jeffrey Webb. Photo: BVIFA

The BVI Football Association’s 40th anniversary celebration and awards ceremony was a huge success, with a large turnout from players, supporters, parents and especially youngsters.

As the guests arrived at the Multi Purpose Sports Complex on Saturday 13th September, 2014, they were all greeted with a red carpet entrance decorated with CONCACAF and specially decorated BVIFA 40th anniversary footballs, a welcome from the mucko jumbies and an exquisitely decorated auditorium draped in commemorative 40th Anniversary flags, banners and even a mini painted football pitch with small goals.

Many of the people so instrumental in keeping the Football Family healthy and growing in the BVI were celebrated during the evening and all the assembled dignitaries were escorted by the newly created band of young football Ambassadors.

This programme, an initiative of Mrs. Arleta Bickerton, grew out of her involvement with the U15 Girls team that took part in a CONCACAF tournament earlier this year and is away of giving youths an all round perspective of what they can achieve through the sport both on and off the field.

BVIFA President, Mr. Andy Bickerton opened the proceedings, welcoming the Guests including Mr. Ralph T O’Neal, leader of the Opposition Government, Mr. Jeffrey Webb, President of CONCACAF, Mr. Gordon Derrick, President of the Caribbean Football Union, the Honourable Marlon Penn, Mr. Lloyd Black, General Secretary of the BVI Olympic Committee, Mr. Paul Hewlett, on behalf of the Minister Responsible for Sport and Ms. Avelinda Freeman, from the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports.

Marlon Penn, who spoke on behalf of the Premier, noted that FIFA had been around in the Territory longer than he had and also commented on how the sport is developing the youths: “In most recent times Mr. Bickerton and his team have been working diligently to develop a youth programme and it has already borne fruit with over 1000 projected young people to be playing football. Through Football, new avenues can be created for young people, Track and Field used to be the sport of choice for young people and then Basketball, but it seems like Football is now taking the lead and becoming the number one sport.”

Mr. Gordon Derrick then alluded to some of the problems faced by World Football Associations including the BVI and including Social Disorder, inevitable rise in crime and FIFA’s eligibility Rules.

“You will see these are real and credible threats to association’s growth and potential progress,” said Mr. Derrick. “I urge you, I implore you, the assembled government dignitaries, I beg you to put your heads together so that the BVI will have it’s best representatives. I find it very unreal and unthinkable that someone born in the British Virgin Islands, attended Primary School in the British Virgin Islands, went to High School in the British Virgin Islands, they work here, pay taxes, but for some reason are unable to get a BVI Passport and are unable to represent the BVI. That is unheard of! Maybe many years ago, I understand that might have been a fact, but this 2014.”

Mr Derrick concluded with words of caution and encouragement: “Such an achievement as this shows, it is important to celebrate our past it is also important to keep looking and forging ahead. As you begin to look to the next 40 years I want to encourage you to continue to take risks, because in doing so you will learn how to fail. After all it is only in learning how to fail that you learn resilience.”

Mr. Webb got the crowd to its feet in thanking the entire Football family for reaching 40 years stating, “So much struggle, so much commitment, so much sacrifice, so many people who have given their lives for a dream, so many people who have given their lives for opportunity to others.”

Mr Webb began playing Football when he was 9 years old and never dreamed of where the game would take him.

“I never dreamed where the game would take me. I never dreamed that I would travel to 140 something countries around the world. That I would be representing, in my region of 41 countries, over 500 million people. And it all started out because of a love for Football.”

Mr Webb also praised the Goal Project that is intended to highlight the next few years of Football development and provide a home for Football in the territory.

“The BVI, I believe, is the only member of CONCAF not to take advantage of, or benefit from, the Goal Programme which started in 1999 with a vision of building a home for every National Football Association. Let’s build a home for the BVI Football Association!”

By the BVIFA

women in action during BVI vs USVI match. Photo: BVIFA

Following the conclusion of Youth Week the BVI Football Association (BVIFA) is moving its 40th Anniversary Celebrations into high gear with a series of Events starting this Friday, September 12th, with an Open House at the Associations Office across from the Botanic Gardens.

Bingo Night is also scheduled for Friday Night at the Rock Café over on Virgin Gorda.

On Saturday 13th the Annual Awards Presentation and Anniversary Celebration takes place in the Multi Purpose Sports Complex from 5pm with Guest Speaker Jeffrey Webb, the President of CONCACAF. Also speaking will be Gordon Derrick, Caribbean Football Union President, the Governor, his Excellency John Duncan and members of the Government.

“Celebrating this milestone is indeed a special moment for the British Virgin Islands; the Association has built an excellent reputation with stakeholders over the past 40 years. The Club teams continue to play with passion and determination and the next 40 years is well set!”

Everyone, Players, Family, Friends, and Fans are invited to the Ceremony, which is a formal attire function, but free of charge, to support their favourite players and witness a little bit of history as the Association celebrates its past and embraces its future.

Focus turns to Women’s Football on Sunday September 14th, when the BVI Women’s team takes on their USVI counterparts in a re run of a game back in 2012 when the BVI took care of their guests, 2-1 over two legs.

Many of the Girls playing this time were involved back then, but also some new faces have turned up to regular training as well as some of the more experienced players.

Sharlene Pond, who is on the Women’s Committee, has been instrumental in rejuvenating the women’s football programme and has also been practicing hard with her team mates “The turnout has been steadily increasing since we began training three weeks ago and all the girls are showing progress as well as being excited about the chance to play as part of such a huge celebration”

The game, scheduled for 5pm on the A.O. Shirley Ground, will also be the spark that unites a new Women’s League for 2014/15.

It is also just over a week until the BVI Men’s team faces their biggest challenge since the Caribbean Cup, when they face St Vincent and the Grenadines in an International Friendly on the A.O. Shirley Ground, September 21st, 2014.

The Vincy team, ranked 16th in the recent CONCACAF standings and 134th in FIFA’s World Rankings, are a formidable foe for the BVI and of course will have tremendous support from the vast contingent of Vincentians living in the Territory.

For the record the teams drew 1-1 back in 2005 when a Michael Haynes goal gave the BVI a share of the points in a Caribbean Cup Group match.

The Captain that day, Avondale Williams, is now the National Team Coach and a Vincentian commented that the match will represent one of his toughest challenges, but is quietly confidant.

“Training has intensified as we approach the last few days and we are now concentrating on finalizing tactics. We hope to play our normal game, but have been working on variations to suit any situations that may arise.”

Two or three players are recovering from slight knocks, but Williams hopes to be able to choose from his full squad and are looking forward to welcoming some old friends from St Vincent.

“There are a lot of connections with Vincy in the Football Family and we are expecting a large crowd on Sunday and will be hoping to mark the 40th Anniversary with a win!”

By: The BVIFA

U14 Boys practicing at the Digicel Center of Excellence. Photo: BVIFA

The BVIFA’s 40th Anniversary Celebrations kicked off in true style on Sunday 31st August with two Church Services, one at the New Testament Church of God in Baughers Bay, Tortola and the other at the Sanctuary of Hope, the Valley, Virgin Gorda.

As Chairman of the 40th Anniversary Committee and BVIFA.1st Vice President, Mr. Aubrey Liburd explained,
“The 40th Anniversary is finally here and after a lot of planning, the events, beginning with the Tortola Church service at 9am and then moving onto the Sanctuary of Hope in Virgin Gorda at 10.30am, will provide excitement and entertainment for the entire Football Family as well as attract some new Fans to the game.”

The BVIFA will be hosting various events throughout the Month of September to mark the milestone and each week has been given a focus, with the first week from September 1st to 7th earmarked to showcase and promote the Youths.

Whilst the highlight of the Youth week will undoubtedly be the Boys U14 and the Girls U15 Girls games against Laraza F.C. from St Thomas, USVI, on Saturday 6th September, there will also be trips to Schools and a Night at UP’s to savour.

“The Youth week will give another tremendous opportunity for the Boys and Girls to showcase their skills and comes on the back of the Girls putting up some fantastic performances in the recent CONCACAF Tournament hosted by the Cayman Islands,”
noted Alfred Reid, the BVIFA Ag. General Secretary.

Both squads are earmarked as the way forward for National Team development in terms of a long term plan with short term goals and apart from already showing great improvement in skill and tactical awareness are also proving that they are dedicated, willing to work hard to improve and put the BVI on the Football map.

As Liburd concluded, “We, the Committee, have put together a schedule of events to accommodate all who love Football; our players, our supporters, our fans, both young and old, as well as our sponsors. We hope everyone will enjoy the activities as we look forward to be able to live in safer, healthier and better communities in the Territory of the British Virgin Islands.”

The matches start on the A.O.Shirley Ground at 10.00am with the Girls and then the Boys take center stage at 11.30am.

http://bviolympics.org/1280/