A group of “bright and talented” BVI footballers are off to compete in the CONCACAF U15 Championship hosted by the Dominican Republic from August 6 – 13, 2023. The team is expected to put in a good performance.
The BVI team came top of Division C the last time the Championship was held in 2019. The team is now the top seed in the group, which includes Dominica and the Turks and Caicos Islands. The other teams which are in the same division as the BVI, but in separate groups, include Sint Marten, St Vincent and the Grenadines, the USVI, French Guiana, Anguilla, and Saint Maarten.
The squad, all members of which are based within the territory, is coached by Cassandra Gregg. Preparations have been intensive with a combination of regular training, tournaments and a series of friendly games all taking place in the past few months.
“Originally we were in a group of four and playing in Curacao, but how we are a group of 3 and playing in DR,” commented Coach Gregg. “We had a very successful tournament over Easter and, more recently, made a trip to play St Kitts, which was a great experience for the boys. What I always say to my players is anything they can do, we can do better,” she added.
First up will be a game next Tuesday, August 8th against TCI. The team will then play Dominica on Wednesday August 9th. Both games kick off at 9.00am local time.
Captain Mario Carter is feeling very positive about the teams’ chances. “Not too long ago we were in St Kitts and when we came back, we analyzed the games, saw the kinds of mistakes we made and worked hard in practice to correct them. We are mentally and physically prepared and although we have to work on a couple of things, like chemistry and discipline, I am very confidant,” he said.
The Assistant coach is Jeffrey Demming and the Goalkeeper Coach is Morris Mark.
The traveling squad includes Carter as Captain, Latreil Williams as vice-captain, Marc Tan, Christian Vanterpool, Tiandre Frett, Quyl Billingy, Myles Penn, Kyle Farrington, Akeem Paddy, Lashaun Gibbs, Temari Nanton, Othniel Gillings, Michael Findlay, Morris Mark III, Kenley Williams, Zeviah Abrahams, roman Nibbs, Malique Fenton, and D’Andre McSheen
“Our defense is very hard to get past and is really good, so once our midfield do their jobs, I’m pretty sure we will come out on top of our group,” said Coach Gregg.
BVI Football Association President, Andy Bickerton also noted that the young players were now well and truly on the pathway to Senior National team levels. “These boys are now playing at U15 levels and the next step from the BVIFA’s point of view is to be looking at the squad for U17 level. Two thirds of our Men’s National team have already come through our Youth Programs, so they all know that they way they behave on and off the field, with their studies and how well they represent the territory will keep them on that pathway.”
