Boys ready to represent BVI abroad

The BVI Football Association National Under-15 Boys team is ready to depart next week for St Maarten to participate in the inaugural Soualiga Championship, which will also feature teams such as Anguilla, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Barbados, Dominica, Martinique, and the US Virgin Islands.

Members of the BVI team have been hard at training at least three times per week, including playing practice matches against senior opposition.

The full squad comprise: Ikyjah Williams, Giovanni Grant, Jalen Prentice, Jhamal Prentice, Guillaume Parkins, Alejandro Santos, Shamoi Dore, Marcus Butler, Miquel Marshall, Justin Smith, Sheldon Harry, Luca Reich, Mekhi Walters, Luka Chalwell, Jerell Frederick, and Kahil Farrington.

Technical Director Marcos Falopa has been in charge of the training, along with Assistant Coach Richie Morton.
Falopa is happy with the progress of the squad, and is quietly confident.

“Our target at the tournament is to see how the boys will take the training into competitive match situations and show how much they have learnt. We will be looking for technical and tactical improvements from the team, and of course have to decide what system works best for the BVI.”

“We will let the boys play to their own style, comfortable on the ball, but also try to play in spaces and develop their team work,” added Falopa.

While not predicting how far he thinks the team will reach in the tournament, Falopa said he is very keen to see improvements in all aspects. “If just one or two players show they are learning new things and put them into practice, then we are on the right path.”

The tournament, which runs from June 2 to 4, is being hosted by St Maarten Football Association, and will be followed by the CONCACAF Under-15 Championship at the Florida-based IMG Academy in August 2017.

“Another important reason to put in a good performance is that we will be heading off to Florida to compete against the best from our region. So St Maarten will be the ideal preparation for our boys,” added Falopa.