The National Women’s football team is eager to go and put up a good showing at the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers, the Road to New Zealand / Australia, when it faces Cuba and Honduras next week, in Honduras.
The youthful, inexperienced team, led by Ariel Mohamed and coached by Wayne Phillip , concluded a long weekend camp at the East End / Long Look venue followed by a practice match before traveling to Honduras on Thursday for its first ever Senior World Cup games.
“We have been training very consistently as we focus on qualifying for the Women’s World Cup,” said Mohamed. “We have just concluded a two-night residential football camp where we were able to work on our fitness and sharpen our skills together as a team. Everyone is extremely optimistic about the opportunity to represent the BVI on the international stage and about our match-up first with Cuba then Honduras. We are pleased with the assistance and support from the Football Association, coaches and the public.”
The full squad includes Mohamed (Wolues FC) as Captain, Kimberly Smith (Wolues FC), Britney Peters (Avengers FC), Darci Reich (Wolues FC), Zolita Bamford (Wolues FC), Sheniece St Jean (University of Maine), Keeley Brickwood (Holland FC), Chandni Wattley (Panthers FC), Kezia Gumbs (VG Utd), Shevonne Vanterpool (Avengers FC), Kara Lewis (Panthers FC), Jmya Mark (Avengers FC), Gabrielle Jermyn (Wolues FC), Lil-Makeda Fahie (Avengers FC), Zariya Smith (Panthers FC), Olivia Messum (De Montfort University), Morgan Creque (Panthers FC), Jasmine Cox (Holland FC) , Zina Cheikh (Oakham FC), Alicia King (De Montfort University), Jackisha Rigobert (VG Utd) and Kiara Woodley (Wolues FC)
Head Coach is Wayne Phillip, Assistant Coach, Jeffrey Demming, Team Physio, Sheldon Harry, Team Manager, Linda Magloire, Logistics and Equipment Manager, Priya Mohamed.
“It was good to see how well the girls gelled over the weekend considering it was the first time together as a group.” commented BVI Football Association Technical Director, Dan Neville. “The coaches worked hard and the girls took onboard the message from the men’s national team coach, Chris Kiwomya. They have a tough task ahead, but definitely seem well prepared and ready.”
According to Magliore, participation in the World Cup Qualifiers is a historical moment and whilst the girls are looking forward to the tournament, her expectation for them is “to learn, grow, and take as much as they can from the experience of playing Internationally. I want them to develop a mindset that one day they can get to the next level, and that with dedication, adequate preparation, and physical conditioning, they will get there. This is a start of a journey, and the BVI National Women’s Team is going places.”
Head Coach Phillip, who has been ably helped by coaches Morris Mark, Javon Carty, and Thomas Albert along the way, as well as Demming, was naturally full of confidence in his charges
“We are going out there fully prepared. Our team is young, but has been training and playing together for a while now and they are looking forward to going out and competing,” said Phillip. “We are on a mission to give a good account of ourselves, have fun, enjoy the games, and go from strength to strength. The girls are really excited and feel good about what they are being asked to do.”
The first game sees the team play Cuba on February 19 at 5.30pm (BVI time) and then their second game is scheduled for February 22 against Honduras.
