By BVI Football Association
The BVI National Football Team competing in official CONCACAF double header against Suriname on October 13th and Martinique on the 16th of October. Photo: BVIFA
The British Virgin Islands National Football Team is facing its biggest challenges in recent years and certainly the biggest challenge for this present squad of young men competing in an official CONCACAF double header against Suriname on October 13th and Martinique on the 16th of October.
According to coach Dan Neville, due to the postponement of the CONCACAF sanctioned Martinique game , compounded by the fact that the BVI national team have to play all of their “home” games away from home because of the ongoing repairs to the new facility, the BVI is faced with the two very challenging match ups.
Coach Neville has accepted the reality that his team is walking straight into the fire but feels his players are mentally prepared after their previous tournament a few months ago when the BVI team went to St Barths and returned home, for the first time victorious in over a decade, being undefeated in all four games – drawing one and winning the other three out right in a three way tournament which also included a warm up game in St. Martin.
Coach Neville said, “we believe it is important that we adhere to our long-term plan for the 2026 World Cup qualification, and with that in mind, we have selected a youthful but able squad. There is some terrific young talent from our island and that, alongside some experience, will hopefully provide a basis for us to develop and evolve both now and in the future.”
According to President of the BVI Football Association, Andrew Bickerton, “The BVIFA has for some time now been putting together a strategy with a long term approach of the development of its youngsters from the under 13 level and above in order to, not only qualify to play in the 2026 World Cup, but to qualify with a group of youngsters all of whom are very capable and have developed and learned all their skills at home here with our local BVI coaches.”
The 21 man squad includes three goal keepers: Ben Chapman (Leek Town FC), Phil Jules (Panthers FC) and Will Skingley, (Shortford FC). The defenders are Liam Blok (International school, The Hague), Charles Medway (Champion Education Academy), Phil Nelson (Wolues FC), James Drury (Wolues FC), Chris Pease (Wolues FC), Josh Bertie (Andover Town FC), and Troy Ceaser (Andrew University). The Midfielders are Jamie Wilson (Wolues FC), Carlos Septus (The Rebels FC), Leo Forte (Wolues FC), Christian Zavier (Peachtree City FC), Trevor Peters (The Rebels FC), Robbie Green (Hyde Utd FC) and Tosh Gallimore (Westfield FC). The strikers are Jordan Johnson (Leek Town FC), Bailey Rowe (Champion Education Academy) and Tyler Forbes (Maldon and Tiptree FC).
