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.
