By: The BVIFA

Debutant, Allan Williams impressed everyone with his work rate and skill. Photo: Charlie Jackson

In a crazy last fifteen minutes the BVI missed a golden opportunity to put the game against French Saint Martin to bed and then handed their opponents not only an equalizer, but also two further goals to gift them a 4-2 Friendly victory at the A.O. Shirley Ground on Saturday.

The first half had ended at 1-1 after a defensive slip let in Laurent Samer, who rounded Vesquever Frett and slotted home to open the scoring for French Saint Martin. Rashedo Robinson then equalized with a low drive from 22 yards, following a long throw from the BVI Captain, Troy Caesar, that was only half cleared by the defenders and which beat the scrambling dive of the ‘keeper to nestle inside the left hand post.

Ten minutes into the second half the BVI were ahead through the persistence of Kevin Fisher as he first controlled the ball off his chest and then fired home from an acute angle, beating the keeper at the near post.

The Hosts then had a great chance to make it 3-1 after good work down the right from debutant Allan Williams, whose deep cross to the far post looked for all the world to have found Devon Letteen unmarked. However he failed to get the vital touch on the ball from inside the six yard box and the chance went begging.

Two minutes later French Saint Martin leveled the game at 2-2 with Samer climbing highest in the box to meet a corner from the right and power a net bulging header past the helpless Frett.

Philmont Louis then rubbed salt into the wounds as he beat Frett to a through ball, took a touch and slipped the ball into the opposite corner, to set off wild celebrations from Saint Martin, who were now sensing a famous win.

Williams almost restored parity as time began to run out with a flying header from another Caesar long throw, but he narrowly missed the target and then deep into stoppage time Danilo Cocks put the icing on the visitors cake to make the final score 4-2.

Although a game with no points or ranking at stake, according to futebol24.com, it was the first match of any competitive kind for the Frenchmen since 2012 and the first time they had a win since gaining a draw against the Cayman’s in 2010.

For the BVI, even though the game was a friendly, it represented a disappointing turn around after looking good for the first win in six games ahead of the 40th Anniversary International Friendly game against St Vincent and the Grenadines on September 21st.

Acting Head Coach, Jeffrey Demming, bemoaned his players lack of availability for practice “It needs time, we have to train, but the guys don’t seem to realize how important it is to make the effort to come train so we can improve as a team. Overall I’m happy with the performance, but it could have been much better if they had come training!”

Coach Demming also praised the efforts of young Williams on debut “He has come up through the Youth programme and has shown himself as a hard worker. I was very impressed with his performance”

A few more players like Williams are waiting on the side lines for their chance to shine and as products of the new focus on Youth Development; they might just get the opportunity to impress ahead of the St Vincent game.

By: The BVIFA

BVIFA U15 Girls national squad. Photo: Provided

The BVIFA U15 National Girls Team may not have reached the quarter finals of the inaugural CONCACAF Under-15 Girls’ Championship, hosted by the Cayman Islands, from August 6th – 10th, but they won the hearts of many casual observers with some fantastic performances.

Looking at the final group table does not give the whole picture, nor do the Girls justice, as apart from the first half of the first game which saw the BVI Girls, all of whom were experiencing their first taste of International Competition, overwhelmed by the occasion and a hostile home crowd, concede three early goals, on the way to a 5-0 defeat.
From then on, though, they more than matched their opponents for the rest of the Tournament and were unlucky not to progress.

In front of 1,100 fans at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex, Chelsea Green (15’, 25’, 30’) scored three goals to propel the host Cayman Islands to a 5-0 win over the Virgin Islands.

“The players got caught cold and overwhelmed by the hostile crowd, but despite conceding the early goals soon settled down and played exactly the way I had wanted them to” commented Coach Kate Rowsdon, who is a NSCAA Premier Licensed Coach and a holder of both USSF and EUFA “B” Coaching Badges.

Green, a veteran of the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship, opened the scoring with a free kick that found the target from 25-yards out, while Sabrina Suberan (23’) made it 2-0 eight minutes later. Green added two more first half strikes and Deondra Kelly (89’) completed the score line in the last minute.

“Regrouping at half time, I had chance to remind them of the basics and further strengthen their resolve and confidence which was borne out by a second half performance where we more than matched the Caymanians,” Noted Coach Kate.

Rowsdon also made use of all available subs to keep her team fresh and full of ideas during the second period until almost the last kick of the match, when, with a player off the field receiving treatment for an injury and not allowed back on by the referee for an extended period, the Cayman’s forced home a scrappy fifth goal, despite the valiant attempted save from the keeper.

In their second Game played on Friday August 8th at the same venue, the Girls were unlucky to lose 2-1 to Curacao after reaching half time deadlocked at 0-0 and the going ahead early in the second period.

Katie Lowery put the Girls ahead in the 41st minute; following a smart and incisive one two move with Lilly Pierce.

As Coach Kate explained “Composed play through the midfield saw Katie and Lilly cut through the Curacao midfield and defense, before Katie unleashed a venomous drive from 20 yards which gave their keeper no chance. It was a euphoric moment. It was an amazing moment and one that Katie described as the best of her life! The whole team joined in the celebration, dashing over to our bench in sheer joy.”

The lead though was short lived, as Lindsay Hart equalized almost immediately after the re start and then scored again in the 50th minute to give her team the win.

“Their equalizer, which came almost immediately after we went ahead, was down to being caught flat footed and still celebrating,” said the Coach. “But it was a well taken goal from inside our penalty area. However their winner is still a mystery as the Referee awarded a penalty for handball despite being no obvious infringement.”

The Girls tried their best to get back to at least level terms, but were thwarted by a resolute Curacao defense and were denied any real clear cut shots on goal.

The Girls rounded out Group A action with the most famous result in recent National Team history (either male or female) with a 0-0 draw against one of the group favourites, the Bahamas.

“Playing for pride and with so much passion, the girls put in a 100 per cent effort as individuals, as units and as a team to put the Bahamians on the back foot and if it hadn’t been for a disallowed goal we would have come away victorious.”

The Goal that wasn’t came half way through the second half when Lareisha Martin slotted home into an almost empty net. Martin, bearing in on the Bahamas goal, under pressure from a Bahamian defender, had support from Lilly Pierce, but inexplicably the keeper rushed out and straight into Pierce sending the BVI girl flying. The keeper’s decision gave Martin a clear sight on goal and taking a touch past the defender, she scored. However the Referee, taking her time and to the complete surprise of everyone, including other officials, blew for a free kick against Pierce and disallowed the goal.

“The girls were gutted because they recognized that they had the Bahamas’ beaten in one on one challenges and they had stuck to their game plan for the whole 70 minutes. I am extremely proud of the squad and thoroughly believe we should have beaten the Bahamas at least 1-0. This competition is the start of a bright future for this group of Girls,” concluded Coach Kate.

The BVI U15 Girls were positively recognized for having an all female staff by the CONCACAF Technical Study Group and the same group also commented that the BVI team had the best preparation in between games, on the practice field and were the most cohesive, hard working team on the field of play.

By: BVIFA

Official logo for the 40th anniversary of Football in the VI

The Executive Members of the BVIFA and also the 40th Anniversary Committee, under the Chairmanship of 1st Vice President, Mr. Aubrey Liburd, are pleased to announce that the plans for the 40th Anniversary of the BVIFA are now confirmed and the Logo chosen.

With many highlights on the Calendar, including Youth, Women and Men’s Football events as well special Celebratory functions, according to Liburd, the Committee has come up with something special for everyone to enjoy, as Football not only acknowledges its history, but also embraces its future.

“The Committee has put together a schedule of events to accommodate all who love the sport of Football” commented Liburd “The Anniversary will be a fitting thank you to those who made sacrifices in the past to help develop the game and will also leave a lasting impression on those Fans, Players, Officials and Sponsors who are endeavoring to keep Football as the number one Sport in the Territory.”

Ag. General Secretary of the BVIFA, Mr. Alfred Reid, noted how timely it was to not only be rejoicing the mile stone, but also the importance of the 40th Anniversary as a land mark in the game’s development.

“They say life begins at 40 and it is fitting that as we begin our 40th Anniversary, the Football Association will also be celebrating the breaking of grounds in East End for a new stadium that signifies the opening of a new chapter in the development of the “Beautiful Game.”

Celebrations kick off with a Church Service planned for Tortola and Virgin Gorda on August 31st and then continue with a specific focus for each following week of September.

Youth Week will begin September 1st with the highlights being an evening at UP’s, a youth Festival and a series of Youth matches.

During the first week of Festivities there will also be the start of a Referees Certification Course and a “Big Sale” of clothing and equipment.

The focus then shifts to Women’s Football for week two with a series of visits to Schools to promote the game and encourage participation in the upcoming BDO Primary School League and High School League. On September 12th there will be an Open House at the BVIFA Office to showcase many of the available Programmes offered by the BVIFA as well as its associated Partners.