By: BVI Football Association

The U15 Girls squad with Coach’s Kate Rowsdon (far left) and Benjamin Camille (far right)

Last Saturday, July 25th, 2014 the BVIFA welcomed the U15 Girls and U14 Boys teams from the St Thomas based Laraza F.C. for a one day Football Festival on the A.O. Shirley Ground.

Up first the U15 Girls, who have been training under the watchful gaze of Coach Kate Rowsdon in preparation for the CONCACAF U15 Girls Tournament being hosted by the Cayman Islands in August, played their St Thomas counterparts and came out with an impressive 5-0 victory.

More pleasing than the margin of victory was the manner in which the BVI Girls stuck to their match strategy and held their shape, as Coach Kate explained “we worked specifically, in the first half and second half, on two different objectives and I’m really pleased we were able to work through those objectives and come out with the confidence boosting result”

After racing into a 4-0 half time lead through a penalty from Davian Williams, a brace from Morgan Creque and a first time long range shot by Lilly Pierce. Keithriece Smith rounded out the scoring in a much more even second half when the BVI Girls had to contend with the wind in their faces and a change of strategy.

“In the first half we took advantage of Laraza playing a deep back line, with us pushing the ball forward quickly, which made sure we had the ball in their half a lot. In the second half I wanted the Girls to take a little more time, relax on the ball, take a touch and look for a pass to feet. It was a struggle at first, but the Girls tried to apply it and I’m pleased with the way they stuck to the plan” stated Coach Kate

It was just the second competitive outing for the Girls as a team and Coach Kate was also aware that the Girls will need to learn how to play in Tournaments and play in a more controlled manner for the entire game.

“like a lot of games, the first few minutes were erratic and being only their second game, they still had a touch of the jitters “commented Coach Kate “In the Tournament we need to get on the pitch and be calm, we have to understand the speed of play, control the speed of play and bring the ball down and play it how we want to”

Overall Coach Kate was very pleased with the team and learnt a lot during the game, which was a great performance, great result and highlighted how, with a lot of hard work and dedication the Girls can become a talented group of players for years to come.

The final squad for the CONCACAF Tournament in Cayman will be leaving Monday 4th August and according to the official schedule on www.concacaf.com will face the hosts on Wednesday, August 6th at 7.30pm.

On Friday, August 8th, the team faces Curacao also at 7.30pm and then concludes group play with a game against the Bahamas on Sunday, August 10th at 5.30pm.

The Final is scheduled for Sunday 17th August.

The U14 Boys then played two nine a side games with the first being a 1-1 tie and the second resulting in a 3-2 win for the visitors.

Coach Thomas Albert noted the BVI Boys had played well, being able to press their larger opponents for large parts of each game, but also saw some areas that still needed improvements

“Attendance by the boys at the Digicel Centre of Excellence, where most of the team are honing their skills, has improved discipline and ball work as well as greater strength. However we need to keep working on their understanding of the game and encouraging them to work harder still to improve”

The Centre of Excellence takes a break this Saturday and will continue from August 9th each and every Saturday at the A.O. Shirley Ground and over on Virgin Gorda.

The U14 National Squad will be receiving some specific ball skills training, utilizing the Multi Purpose Sports Complex on Tuesday August 12th and Thursday August 14th and then on the same days each week until August 28th, from 9.30am until 12 noon.

On Saturday 26th July, 2014, the BVIFA will be undertaking the next step in the continued development of Youth Football when the U15 and U14 Girls and Boys teams from Lazara F.C., which forms a major part of the USVI’s Youth Programme, pay a one day visit to the Territory.

The first game, scheduled for 10.00am on the A.O. Shirley Ground, features the U15 BVI Girls up against their Female counterparts from the Lazara Club and then the first of two Boys nine a side matches will take place between the U14 teams.

Those two games are scheduled for 11.20am and 12.30pm.

The Girls game will be a good indicator of how well the BVI has progressed under Coach Kate, who is back for a second term, having previously been at the helm for the U20 team in last year’s World Cup Qualifying Campaign. She has been overseeing the group that our preparation for the CONCACAF U15 Tournament being hosted by the Cayman Islands, in early August.

The Girls, who train every day, both on the field and in a classroom environment, have been pitched in a group with the host Nation as well as Curacao and the Turks and Caicos.

“The girls have been in training and doing well. They have picked up on what I’ve been trying to coach them and improving. We’ve established our values and implemented the building blocks to ensure that we are competitive in the competition”

The BVIFA is quickly establishing a new model for its National Team’s and the U14 Boys are the first to get a more focused approach, through arranged fixtures and attendance at the Digicel Centre of Excellence, which was spearheaded by the BVIFA Technical Director, Mr. Keith Griffith.

“I believe that the BVIFA will continue to ensure that this group will be prepared professionally and positively to enhance the future development of Football within the Territory. The Association has identified this age group as the ideal starting point to strengthen its grassroots foundations and as part of its new long term strategy will continue to build upon the skill sets shown by the youngsters going forward.” Noted Griffith.

The same group will kept together for participation in the U15 Boys CONCACAF Tournament slated for 2015 and have already played Friendly games against Nevis as well as participating in an Easter Tournament in St Maarten.

This will not be the first time that the Boys have faced Lazara F.C as back in the Easter Tournament both the “Rockers” and the “Babes” came up against the St Thomas team.

The “Babes” suffered a 1-0 defeat to them in Group play, but in the match to determine 5th and 6th place overall, the Rockers played the game of their lives to rout their opponents 4-1.

Luca Reich hit a sublime half volley from 20 yards out to give the Rockers a 1-0 half time lead and in the second half they really turned up the heat, scoring their second via the boot of Miguel Marshall, the third direct from a Parkins corner and the fourth, a fantastic solo effort from Hash Banthia.