Women’s football will swing into high gear
ahead of next weekend’s BVI Football Association women’s league opener, when the Virgin Islands will host the U.S. Virgin Islands at 6 p.m. on Friday and Sunday at the A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds.
“Currently, we have five teams and we are hoping that when the general public see the performance of the ladies, that in time to come, we’ll probably have 10 ladies teams,” said Mary Phillips, Chair of the BVIFA Women’s Committee on the upcoming league.
Ms. Phillips said the players have been preparing with a series of intra-squad matches and competition against Under 20 Boys to prepare for the competition.
“Over the years there has been talk about starting a women’s league. It has started but never finished,” she said. “With this in mind and FIFA being committed to having the women push forward because the men are so much advanced and in the Caribbean, you don’t hear as much about the women, so we are hoping to open eyes and improve women’s soccer generally.”
Ms. Phillips said the response has been good and to have five teams lined up for the league, she’s hoping things get better. Specifically against the St. Thomas team on Friday and Sunday. She is looking for a good start to the women’s programme this weekend. The coaches have been working diligently with them and she is looking for a good show, she added.
When asked where she would like to see the women’s game going, Ms. Phillips said she wants to see them eventually going against the best teams in the CONCACAF region.
In the past, the territory’s team has not had a good showing against their regional counterparts. However, Ms. Phillips said the current crop is fitter and has more skills than past teams. “I’m looking for good things from them,” she said.
The overall aim is to develop a national side that will be competitive against their counterparts. “This is where we are starting and it will take some time,” she added. “They have shown interest in this so, I see we’ll go far with this.”
The team consists of Manager Mary Phillips, Head Coach Vincent Samuel, Goal Keeper Coach Morris Mark, coaches: Jeffrey Demming, Glen Bascombe, and Timon Robinson. Goal keepers: Britney Peters, Amadona Creese. Defenders: Laura Pompey, Jeanne James, Kia Foreman, Tahirah Bascombe, Keliene Smith, Dalia Sonny, Rachael Saxton. Midfielders: Lavern Fahie, Kyria Ali, Murcella Gordon, Kezia Gumbs, Jacinta Weekes, Michelle Jiminez, Molisia Haywood, Lil Makeda Fahie. Forwards: Sapphire Flax – Charles, Victoria Medley-Parkins, Jennelle Joseph.
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