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Olympic Day celebrated with National Federations and a focus on Rio 2016

June 29, 2016 by Admin

Runners on BVI Olympic Day 2016. Photo: BVIOC

Adults and children kicked off Olympic Day in the VI with an early morning run in Virgin Gorda on Saturday, June 25. In Tortola, a mix of all ages came out in the afternoon to celebrate the occasion at the Tortola Sports Club by watching demonstrations in rugby, archery, taekwondo, squash and having a go at each of the sports in advance of the symbolic 2-mile run through Road Town.

Representatives for the national federations for Rugby, Archery, Taekwondo and Squash also shared information on the sports and encouraged attendees to sign up and get moving with a new activity.

Rio 2016 sailing hopeful, Chris Brockbank joined the Royal BVI Yacht Club to speak about the efforts he and his teammate, Alec Anderson had undertaken in their quest to qualify for this Summer Olympic Games. Whilst they did not meet the Rio 2016 qualification, Chris reiterated their commitment to pursuing qualification for Tokyo 2020. Club manager Tamsin Rand also spoke about the youth sailing programme.

The VI Swimming Federation represented by the president and members of the youth swimming team were also in attendance.

Ephraim Penn, president of the BVIOC gave a brief history of the BVI Olympic Committee and presented one of the founding members, Reynold ‘Rey’ O’Neal, OBE with a commemorative photo book of the tribute evening hosted for him by the BVIOC earlier in the year.

In keeping with the goal of Olympic Day to get the young involved and engaged in sports, Penn also spoke about the Long Term Athletes Development programme hosted by the BVIOC. The series of LTAD workshops will equip coaches with the resources to identify and develop promising youth athletes with a view to training them for major games such as the Olympics.

Chef de Mission for Rio 2016, Stephanie Russ-Penn followed with an update on the preparations for Rio 2016 confirming that the VI’s qualified track runners, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott (100m) and Ashley Kelly (200m) will be joined by young swimmer, Elinah Phillip (50m Freestyle) who will compete as part of the universality invitation.

Russ-Penn then went on to reveal the outerwear for the Team BVi athletes participating in major games highlighting the integration of the Vigilante in the design.

Rounding off with information on attending the summer Games, Mark Chapman, Treasurer, BVIOC said, “Rio 2016 promises to be an exciting occasion and it’s not too late to get event tickets and support Team BVI in Brazil. The BVIOC has tickets for residents and anyone else who has a connection to the territory. Recent research also shows airfare via Panama is available starting at $1006 so anyone interested in getting tickets can complete an online request on bviolympics.org or contact the BVIOC office on 494 6920. The summer Games take place August 5 – 21.”

The afternoon set up at the sports club included tips and massages by La Ambiance Spa and an information booth run by the VI branch of the Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (RADO).

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, and Red Cross volunteers were on hand to ensure the safety of the runners and walkers. Roadtown Wholesale distributed Dasani water and Powerade to participants along the route and at the sports club.

Olympic Day was established in 1948 as an annual occasion where everyone everywhere can get together in their communities to celebrate the Olympic values of Respect, Excellence and Friendship and also celebrate the Olympic Day pillars: Move. Learn. Discover.

In his Olympic Day message to people around the world, IOC President, Thomas Bach said, “Olympic Day is for everyone, regardless of age or athletic ability. The important thing is to get the couch potatoes off the couch. Although Olympic Day commemorates an historic event, its goals are aimed at the future and particularly at young people. Olympic Day is an opportunity to remind people that sport is not just for watching. We want to inspire all people to get active and to have fun. Thank you for doing your part by getting off the couch. Please encourage others to do the same — not just on Olympic Day, but as part of a healthier and happier life. Enjoy the day, and please keep the spirit of Olympic Day alive throughout the year.”

Filed Under: Buy Tickets for Rio 2016, BVI Olympic Committee, Rio News, Rugby, Sailing, Squash, Swimming, Taekwondo Tagged With: #olympicday, BVI Olympic Committee, BVI Olympic Day, Rio 2016, Rio 2016 tickets

Pipe Dream wins 2016 Lowell Wheatley Anegada Pursuit Race

June 29, 2016 by Admin

By BVI Royal Yacht Club

The Black Pig, 2nd overall in the 2016 Lowell Wheatley Anegada Pursuit Race.
Photo: RBVIYC /Clair Burke

Seven boats raced to Anegada on Saturday 25 June to contest the 2016 Lowell Wheatley Anegada Pursuit Race with Pipe Dream ultimately taking the win.

Starting from Road Harbour it was a beat east up the Sir Francis Drake Channel before making the turn past Beef Island, Scrub Island and the Dogs to shoot the final 13 miles to Anegada. Just 23 minutes separated the start times for the fleet so a good start was a must before deciding on the tactics up the channel.

First away was The Black Pig, a Tartan 10, skippered by Gilbo Simpson. Hot on their heels were Sheryl and Erik Groeneberg with Stella di Mare, Kevin Wrigley’s Boomerang, Chris Haycraft’s Pipe Dream with the larger cruising boats bringing up the rear with seconds between them.

The Black Pig and Pipe Dream soon stretched their legs and extended away from the fleet whilst a close battle ensued between Adagio, MJ and The Remedy.

Line honours ultimately went to Chris Haycraft’s Pipe Dream with son, Nathan on the helm and crewed by Giles Wood, Matt Hood, Clair Burke, Nici Haycraft, Ryan Lettsome and Scott Kirk. Second across the line was The Black Pig, with the all female team on MJ chasing hard to take third.

Three generations of the Hirst family sailing their Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 51 Adagio finished in fourth place just ahead of The Remedy, a Jeanneau 45.3, skippered by Tom Parish.

With most boats racing short-handed it was a tough day on the water but spirits were high as the fleet enjoyed the hospitality of the Anegada Reef Hotel.

Race sponsors inlcuded the Anegada Reef Hotel, Tico and Nanny Cay, Dick Schoonover.

Results
1. Pipe Dream – Chris Haycraft
2. The Black Pig – Gilbo Simpson
3. MJ – Mandi Atack & Tamsin Rand
4. Adagio – Bill Hirst
5. The Remedy – Tom Parish
6. Stella di Mare – Erik & Sheryl Groeneberg
7. Boomerang – Kevin Wrigley

Filed Under: Sailing Tagged With: Lowell Wheatley Anegada Pursuit Race, Pipe Dream, RBVIYC, Royal BVI Yacht Club, sailing, The Black Pig

Road Town F.C. wins League and U16 Cup

June 28, 2016 by Admin

By BVI Football Association

the victorious Road Town F.C. who won both the League and the Cup in 2016. Photo: BVIFA

Road Town F.C. secured a League and Cup double with a 5-0 victory against North Sound F.C. in the U16 Cup Final on Sunday 26th June, 2016 at the A.O. Shirley Ground.

Whilst Road Town was dominant in the early exchanges it could not make the all important breakthrough and North Sound always looked dangerous on the break. However the introduction of Phillip Jules into the Road Town midfield brought coach Lenroy ‘Left’ Henry instant success and some relief when Jules rose, unmarked, on the edge of the six yard box to put his side ahead.

From that moment it wasn’t quite all one way traffic, but Road Town grew in confidence and scored again through Sheldon Harry. Marcus Butler also fired home to give Road Town breathing space and in the second half, Harry notched his second and Liam Blok rounded out the 5-0 win, sliding home from close range.

“We had been practicing and put in place what we had practiced,” commented Coach ‘Left’. “We looked much better as a team today and played the way I always wanted them too. Their quick breaks gave us some concern early on, but the introduction of Phillip Jules changed things around for us and he even got his head on the ball to score the opener.”

Coach ‘Left’ was also full of praise for young Sheldon Harry, who he feels is coming into his game after some stern words on the training ground

“I was looking for a performance like today from him all season. He is growing up as a player and once he keeps working hard, then he will get better and better.”

Phillip Jules was named as MVP for the Final and received a gift voucher from Amazon.com, whilst at the Trophy Presentation ceremony for both the Cup and League, other awards went to Sheldon Harry and Liam Blok as Golden Boot recipients, Diego Jiminez as Golden Glove, Miquel Marshall and Devante Samuel of North Sound F.C. the Cup and League MVPs, Justin Smith, the overall Best Defender.

Kyreek Gardiner was named as Man of the Match for the 3rd place play off between West End F.C and the Valley F.C after inspiring his team to fight back from a goal down against West End and take a 2-1 lead, before they conceded a penalty in the dyeing seconds, which Guillaume Parkins miscued, but saw bobble its way into the net to send the tie to a penalty shoot out.

Morgan Creque had put West End up in the 15th minute, but their wasteful approach in front of goal cost them dear when Gardiner equalized on a fast break first and then Kimron Tillack made it 2-1.

In the penalty shoot out it all went wrong for West End from the start and although the Valley missed a couple of attempts as well, it was left to Joshua Ramprasad to fire home the winner.

Filed Under: Football Tagged With: BVI Football Association, U16 Cup Final

Hawks overpower West End Warriors to reach softball final

June 28, 2016 by Admin

Photo: provided

By VINO

As the Juliette Penn Fast Pitch Softball Play Offs continued, the Hawks finally stamped their authority over the Warriors with a decisive 14-1 victory in game 4 on Sunday June 26, 2016 to reach the championship.

The Hawks defeated the West End Warriors 3-1 in the series with 14 runs on 15 hits. They made 1 error and left 6 runners on base. The Warriors had 1 run, 1 hit, 6 errors and left 3 runners on base.

The winning pitcher was Perline Leonard and the loser was Sarah Potter. Jheane Niles of Hawks went 2-3 with 3 runs scored and 3 runs batted in, Sheniqua Fahie of Hawks went 3-4 with 2 runs scored and 4 runs batted in and Erica Frederick went 3-3 with 2 runs scored.

After recording their first win of the season in game 2 last week, the Warriors put themselves in a hole with defeat in game 3 on Saturday June 25, 2016, losing 20-13.

The Hawks had 16 hits, 6 errors and left 7 runners on base. West End Warriors had 7 hits, 5 errors and left 8 runners on base. The winning pitcher was Sheniqua Fahie and the loser was Sarah Potter.

Fahie of Hawks went 3-5 with 2 home runs, 5 runs scored and 5 runs batted in, Jelisa Potter went 4-4 with a double, a triple 4 runs scored and 5 runs batted in and Javelyn Frett went 2-4 with a triple, 2 runs scored and 3 runs batted in. Kayanna Parsons of West End Warriors went 3-4 with 2 runs scored and a run batted in and Celine Thomas went 3-4 with a double, a triple, 2 runs scored and a run batted in.

Pirates defeat Reds to take series 3-1

Meanwhile, in the Men’s Division the Pirates went on to the Championship game with a 18-13 defeat of the Reds, to win the series 3-1. The Pirates had 16 hits, 7 errors and left 8 runners on base. The Reds had 14 hits, 0 errors and left 8 runners on base. The winning pitcher was Allen Smith and the loser was Roy Hill.

Nelson Ramirez of Pirates went 3-3 with 2 triples, 4 runs scored and 2 runs batted in, Rico Penn went 3-4 with 3 home runs, 4 runs scored and 8 runs batted in and Allison Leonard went 3-3 with 2 home runs, 3 runs scored and 5 runs batted in. Leon Martin of Reds went 2-4 with 2 runs scored and 2 runs batted in, Franklyn Mercado went 2-5 with 2 runs scored and 2 runs batted in and Lloyd Jackson went 3-5 with a run scored and a run batted in.

Power Outage then swept the Mobsters, 3-0 in the series with a 19-4 win in game 3. Power Outage had 12 hits, 0 errors and left 2 runners on base. Mobsters had 6 hits, 5 errors and left 3 runners on base. The winning pitcher was Dariel Robinson and the loser was Andrew Stoutt.

Jamarli James of Power Outage went 3-4 with a home run and 4 runs batted in, Jeremy Penn went 2-2 with a triple, a home run, 2 runs scored and 4 runs batted in. Jamal Allen and Sylvester Johnson also homered for Power Outage.

In Game 1 of the Men’s Championship, Power Outage defeated Pirates 13-6. Power Outage had 13 runs, 12 hits, 1 error and left 3 runners on base. Pirates had 6 runs, 5 hits, 5 errors and left 3 runners on base. The winning pitcher was Yervis Rodriguez and the loser was Nikos Penn.

Jamarli James of Power Outage went 3-3 with a double, 2 runs scored and 2 runs batted in, Jeremy Penn went 3-4 with a home run and 2 runs batted in and Khoy Frett went 2-3 with a home run 2 runs scored and 3 runs batted in. Rico Penn, Kye Rymer and George Burrows each knocked in 2 runs for Pirates.

Championship Series Schedule – Best of seven series

Friday July 1, 2016 7:00PM Hawks VS That’s Your Problem (Game 1)

Sunday July 3, 2016 6:00PM That’s Your Problem VS Hawks (Game 2)

Sunday July 3, 2016 8:00PM Power Outage VS Pirates (Game 2)

Friday July 8, 2016 7:00PM Hawks VS That’s Your Problem (Game 3)

Saturday July 9, 2016 6:00PM Pirates VS Power Outage (Game3)

Sunday July 10, 2016 6:00PM That’s Your Problem VS Hawks (Game 4)

Sunday July 10, 2016 8:00PM Power Outage VS Pirates (Game 4)

Friday July 15, 2016 7:00PM Pirates VS Power Outage (Game 5 if necessary)

Saturday July 16, 2016 6.00PM Hawks VS That’s Your Problem (Game 5 if necessary)

Sunday July 17, 2016 6:00PM That’s Your Problem VS Hawks (Game 6 if necessary)

Sunday July 17, 2016 8:00PM Power Outage VS Pirates (Game 6 if necessary)

Friday July 22, 2016 7:00PM Hawks VS That’s Your Problem (Game 7 if necessary)

Saturday July 23, 2016 6:00PM Pirates VS Power Outage (Game 7 if necessary)

Filed Under: Softball-Baseball

Sugar Boys Win With Freak Goal

June 23, 2016 by Admin

Photo by BVI Platinum

By BVI Platinum

A freak own goal, conceded by Islanders‘ keeper, Monty Butler, handed the Sugar Boys the Wendoll Williams Cup for a third time on Sunday, 19th June, 2016 at the A.O. Shirley Grounds.

According to a release from the BVI Football Association, the goal, the only one of the game, came in the 90th minute from a cross shot by Keron Daniel out on the Islanders left hand side.

The ball headed directly to Butler, who fumbled the ball and managed to let it bounce behind him and into the empty net.

“To be honest, it was a cross, but the keeper made a mistake and overall we deserved a bit of luck,” commented Daniel.

Derol Redhead was in a celebratory mood and satisfied with the win. “It was an enjoyable game; we played tough and kept going until the final whistle. The goal was maybe the break we deserved.”

Terry Nanton of the Sugar Boys was named as Tournament MVP, an honor that Redhead thought was well deserved.

“We expect a lot from him. He pulls strings for us from midfield and once he plays his role, we are all on top of our game.”

Javon Carty offered congratulations to the Sugar Boys, but felt his team should have been well ahead by half time.

“We battled hard, missed a few good chances through poor finishing and then conceded a very unfortunate goal right at the death. The Sugar Boys played a good game and we will go back to the drawing board to plan for the next tournament.”

Franis Primo and Allesandro Pallandino were jointly named as Golden Boot recipients, whilst the next tournament could well be taking place on the new Astro pitch at the association’s soon to be new home in East End, starting in September of this year.

Filed Under: Football Tagged With: Sugar Boys, Wendoll Williams Cup

Strong Fields Set To Compete In 2nd OECS Championships

June 23, 2016 by Admin

Grenada’s Lindon Victor, 2016 NCAA Division I Decathlon champion

By BVI Athletics Association

Organizers are expecting 150 visiting athletes and officials for the 2^nd OECS Track and Field Championships scheduled for Tortola on July 2-3, at the A. O. Shirley Grounds, with non OECS member Puerto Rico’s Women’s 4x100m Relay team seeking to solidify their #16 ranking for the Rio Olympic Games.

The Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago, have also shown interest, with the Bahamas looking at its Women and Men’s 4x100m and Women’s 4x400m and Trinidad and Tobago’s Women’s 4x400m Relay squad.

The meet, which will be the final opportunity to qualify for the Rio Olympic Games for the region’s athletes will also be a tune up for the July 15-17 NACAC U23 Championships in El Salvador and the IAAF World Jr. Championships in Poland, will also showcase more than a dozen Olympic Games qualifiers.

Teams from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts-Nevis, Montserrat, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and host BVI, will be battling for the overall team title. There will also be a women and men’s title at stake.

Grenada will feature 2016 NCAA Decathlon Champion Lindon Victor along with his brother Kurt Felix-the 2012 NCAA Decathlon champion-competing in individual events. Both have qualified for Rio with Victor ranked at No. 8 with 8446 points and Felix at No. 13 with 8302. Their lineup also included Carifta Games Javelin Throw Record holder Anderson Peters-who broke 2012 Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott’s meet record with a heave of 78.28m on his home soil in March. Female equivalent Candesha Scott who threw the spear 51.13m, will be trying to improve her mark.

The women’s High Jump will feature the St. Lucian pair of Jeanelle Schepper and Levern Spencer-both currently ranked among the top 15 jumpers in the world-with marks of 1.96 and 1.95m respectively. They will be joined by Antigua and Barbuda’s Priscilla Frederick who had a 1.91m best.

The meet’s Most Outstanding Male Athlete will walk off with the Joseph “Reds” Perreira Award, named in honor to the founder of the OECS Championships while the Female Athlete of the Meet will take home the Veda Bruno-Victor award, in honor of the longtime regional administrator.

St. Kitts-Nevis 10.03/20.41 Olympic sprinter Antoine Adams, and his 4x100m Rio bound relay teammates, will lead their squad that also includes OECS Record holder Tameka who has a 23.05 seconds 200m season’s best. Adams will find Antigua and Barbuda’s Daniel Bailey with a 10.09 season best and Montserrat’s Julius Morris, an NCAA 200m semifinalist with a 20.52 best this season will set up the sprinting fire works.

Dominica’s Dillon Simon and the BVI’s Eldred Henry will do tango in the Shot Put, where the strong men have seasons bests of 19.18m and 19.39m respectively.

Tahesia Harrigan-Scott-coming off a season’s best of 23.24 seconds in the 200m victory in Belgium and 11.39 seconds in the 100m and Ashley Kelly who has a 23.17 seconds 200m time this season, will lead the BVI sprint corps. Chantel Malone will lead the female field events charge in the Long Jump, after a 6.48m victory in California last weekend and has a 6.66m seasons best.

Harrigan-Scott, Kelly, Malone and Karene King, will seek to improve on their 44.05 seconds time against the Puerto Rican quartet of Beatrice Cruz, Genoiska Cancel Celiangely Morales and Carol Rodriguez, will seek to match their 43.55 seconds run in Rio last month.

Many of the OECS Championships Meet Records are expected to be destroyed as well as several BVI All Comers Records.

Filed Under: Athletics Tagged With: OECS Track and Field Championships

A challenging weekend in St Thomas for VI youth sailors

June 22, 2016 by Admin

By BVI Royal Yacht Club

Ryan Lettsome placed second in U10 white fleet at St Thomas International Optimist Regatta. Photo: Matias Capizzano

The 2016 St Thomas International Optimist Regatta, presented by EMS Virgin Islands, took place from 17-19 June with the BVI represented by five sailors. Conditions throughout the weekend were very challenging with strong winds and big swell on the race course.

Four sailors raced in the 80-boat Championship fleet, Rayne Duff (red), Nathan Haycraft (blue), Ryan Lettsome (white) and Max Reshetiloff (red).

2014 champion, Rayne Duff was looking to re-take the title from rival, Mia Nicolosi but it was not to be this year. Despite winning more races than the ISV sailor, Duff also posted uncharacteristic scores on day one. A capsize in the first race lead to a 25th place finish and 21st in the final race on Friday was too much to recover from.

Unable to discard both of these double-digit scores, Duff ended the championship on a high with wins in the final two races but had to settle for fourth overall and third in the red fleet. Also racing in the red fleet was Max Reshetiloff who finished in 62nd overall and 34th in the red fleet.

Blue fleet racer Nathan Haycraft had a consistent weekend, taking his best finish in race six with a sixth. Finishing in 15th place overall secured fourth place in the blue fleet.

Ryan Lettsome finished in 56th place overall which earned him second place in the white fleet for sailors under 10. Lettsome sailed a consistent series with his best result coming in race seven which he finished in 37th place.

Twenty eight sailors competed in the green fleet and over the three days they completed 25 races. Kael Chalwell, who recently graduated from the KATS programme and joined the BVI Race Team, was competing at his first overseas regatta and finished an excellent 15th position. Chalwell put in a very solid performance, with seven race finishes in the top ten and a best race finish of third.

Next up for Team BVI is the Optimist North American Championships from 10-18 July in Antigua. Representing the BVI will be Rayne Duff, Nathan Haycraft, Kyle Roose and Ryan Lettsome.

Results
Red Fleet
3 Rayne Duff (4th overall)
34 Max Reshetiloff (62 overall)

Blue Fleet
4 Nathan Haycraft (15 overall)

White Fleet
2 – Ryan Lettsome (56 overall)

Green Fleet
15 – Kael Chalwell

Click here for photos

Filed Under: Sailing Tagged With: BVI youth sailors, Royal BVI Yacht Club, St Thomas International Optimist Regatta

Olympic day activities celebrate the countdown to Rio 2016

June 21, 2016 by Admin

The BVI Olympic Committee (BVIOC) will be celebrating its annual Olympic Day event with multi-sport activities hosted at the Tortola Sports Club on Saturday, June 25th, 2016 from 2:30 pm – 6pm.

Based on the Olympic Day pillars of ‘Discover’, ‘Learn’, ‘Move’, activities kick off at 2:30pm with an opportunity for the public to discover a new sport and learn about Archery, Rugby, Taekwondo, Squash, and Sailing from the representative national federations and by taking part in the interactive demonstrations.

Other highlights include the announcement of confirmed athletes to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the Rio 2016 athletes’ slideshow, the unveiling of major Games uniforms, Rio ticketing information, tips and massages from Professionals for La Ambience Spa, the reading of the Olympic Day Message, and concluding with movement with the symbolic Olympic Day 2 mile run/walk through Road Town at 4:45pm.

The Virgin Gorda community will celebrate by assembling at the College grounds, Enid Pickering Building at the HLSCC Virgin Gorda Centre at 6:30am for the Olympic Day Run/Walk. Interested persons may contact Gloria L. Geoge at leolafoye@gmail.com and by mobile ‘phone on (284) 547 7404.

Free Olympic Day T-Shirts and Dasani water and Powerade, compliments of Road Town Wholesale (1975) Ltd., will be distributed to all participants.

Activities are open to adults and children of all ages and ability levels. Come out, take part and together let’s support the Olympic Movement!

For more information, please contact Cleave Farrigton, Executive Director, BVIOC by email at cmfarrington@bviolympics.org or by telephone on (284) 494 6920.

Filed Under: BVI Olympic Committee, Rio News Tagged With: BVI Olympic Committee, BVI Olympic Day, Olympic Day, Rio 2016, Rio 2016 tickets

Ballstars Champions of Wendoll Williams Women’s Cup

June 21, 2016 by Admin

Champion Ballstars on the left and VG United Girls on the right. Photo: provided.

A Lilly Pierce hat trick sped the Lady Ballstars to a hard fought, but ultimately emphatic 5-0 win against Virgin Gorda United Ladies on Sunday 19^th June in the Final of the Wendoll Williams Women’s Cup Final.

A battling performance from the younger, less experienced VG Girls all came undone mid way through the second half after the half time break had been reached with the Ballstars up 1-0 following a fine volley come lobbed shot by Emily Lockhart.

Lockhart played a deeper mid field role in the second half and earned the MVP honour for creating much of the danger and attacking goal scoring moves for her team.

Pierce’s goals, which also gave her the Tournament’s Golden Boot award, finally broke the resistance of VG.

“It feels great to win, I really enjoyed the curling effort from the edge of the box, but the whole team played well and put together some good moves”.

Pierce was full of praise for her opponents, but saw the Ballstars experience as a decisive factor in the win.

Captain, Sharlene Pond, also thought VG had played well and will be a team to watch out for in the future.

“We started short of players, but as a team we were able to hold ourselves together and come out as Champions. I am looking forward to seeing those VG girls again though, if they stick together and keep improving, it can only be good for the Women’s game as a whole”.

Yasmin Ruffel-Smith scored the 5^th and final goal for the Ballstars.

Filed Under: Football Tagged With: BVI Football Association

Digicel Centre of Excellence closes for summer with gala performance

June 20, 2016 by Admin

By BVI Football Association

Digicel Centre of Excellence 2016 participants. Photo: BVIFA

The participants of the Digicel Centre of Excellence from both Virgin Gorda and Tortola, put on a gala performance in front of coaches, peers, family and friends on Saturday at the Millicent Mercer Playing Field in Baughers Bay as the programme closed for summer.

The various age groups from Under 7’s right through to Under 17’s, Boys and Girls, showed off their newly honed technical skills and teamwork tactical plays in small sided games and each was viewed with appreciation from all those braving the hot sun.

Head coach of the Virgin Gorda Centre of Excellence, Thomas Albert, was very enthused by what he saw on the day and also from what he seen over the course of the programme this year. “20 – 25 kids have come out on a regular basis and I have seen a lot of progress, even more so today, when I see the players I have worked with doing so well with their Tortola counterparts. The support of Digicel has been great as have the efforts of all the coaches and parents. Together we can show the world what having Digicel as Sponsors means to the F.A. and how they are supporting our youths.”

In the years to come, Albert believes that those with responsibility for selecting national teams are going to have a lot of problems. “In the next two to three years there will be a lot of talented players out there. The Under 13’s, especially are looking very good and even though the girls are now in a separate programme in preparation for a regional tournament, they too are getting better and better.”

Albert also believes that as more and more girls are becoming interested in playing and are also improving technically, it is time to plan separate leagues for them. “The Women’s League has created a pathway all the way from grassroots to the top levels of senior national teams and we have looked at the U9’s and U13’s and how to get them playing competitive leagues amongst themselves, to further improve the standards. I believe we can do it and, with the support of Digicel in the Centre of Excellence, have already seen increased participation and interest.”

The Digicel Centre of Excellence has already produced dividends at U13 level, when a team came back from a tournament in St Maarten, unbeaten but in third place, following a penalty shoot out loss and still the best performance of any team the Association had sent previously.

As F.A. President, Andy Bickerton explained to the participants as he thanked Digicel for its support of the Centre, the next focus is on U17 Boys. “We are delighted to have Digicel on board and today the boys and girls were able to showcase the progress being made with constant high level coaching. What was also important was that the U17 boys were here and they are off to a CONCACAF Championship Qualifier in Suriname at the end of July. They are a good example to the younger players as to what can be experienced and achieved through playing football. Peers are very important to help develop and encourage youngsters in any sport and that’s why I wanted to make sure the U17 were recognized and the younger ones who go to the same schools and live in the same areas realize that the opportunity of flying off to tournaments is there for all of them one day.”

Mr. Bickerton also commented that there was much to look forward to in Football with the new stadium getting closer and closer and how important the relationship is with Digicel. “The importance of the partnership with Digicel is obvious today and they should feel proud of what they are helping to create with the development of our youths. When we start playing on the Astro in East End, things will get even better, as the surface will enable the youths to get even better technically and we hope the partnership with Digicel will be a long term one.”

Filed Under: Football Tagged With: BVI Football Association, BVIFA, Digicel Centre of Excellence