With the bar set high by the U14 squad and its recent success at the CFU Challenge Series, the U17 Squad is off to compete at the CONCACAF U17 Championship in Florida.
To follow in the footsteps of their younger brothers in arms, the U17’s have been preparing over the last few months with a high intensity and plenty of tough friendlies against local Men’s teams from the National League as well as a short trip to take on the USVI.
The team will be in a group containing Bermuda, Bahamas, Saint Martin, Bonaire, and Guyana
Additionally, they will round off the pre-tournament preparation with a friendly game in Miami against David Beckham’s Inter Miami FC.
The Head Coach will be Jermain Abrams, who steps up from Assistant as Coach Manley is unavailable. Men’s National team Coach, Chris Kiwomya is also travelling with the squad as are Maurice Mark as Goalkeeper Coach, Richie Morton as Equipment Manager, Humphry Leue as Team Manager and Levy James as team physio.
The full squad, Oliver Henderson, Devon Letteen, Sean Samuel, T’Khoi Morton, Jaden Abrams,Orrett Kennedy, Jefferson Frank, Curtis Lane, Nathaniel Williams, Rush Broderick, Johari Lacey, Azarni Callwood, Dylan Cline, Kyran Samadi,Sebastian Santos, Emmanuel Etienn, Joel Mars, Samuel Gilford, Jadon Abrams, and Johnny Jay Rowe.
Despite unable to travel Coach Manley was full of optimism for how well the team would do at the Tournament “we have been preparing the team for a couple of months now and I have seen them develop and genuinely believe in them. They were a bit shaky to begin with, but the level of their play has gotten higher and higher. They are ready, have it inside of them to win this tournament, and I am proud of them”
Abrams echoed those thoughts “unfortunately Coach Manley can’t be with us, but we will do him proud. The Boys all know each other and have shown great team spirit. They are excited to go and excited to represent their country. Once we are competitive and relentless on the pitch, we will live with the results we get”
Jaden Abrams is the captain of the team “I feel we can do something really good during the tournament” he commented “we have been practicing Monday, Wednesday and Friday in July and stepped up the intensity this month so are well prepared”
FA President, Mr. Andy Bickerton, who has overseen the implementation of the various youth programs, along with other members of the Executive, that are now showing vast improvements in performances is understandably proud of the successes on the field “yes, we benefit from funding from our Governing bodies, and we are dependent on that, but we also have to reach benchmarks in terms of development and performance in order to be entitled to that money. Our emphasis has been in putting money into our youth programs and we are now seeing the rewards for that, but I would really like to thank the Coaches, support staff and other stakeholders for helping us make it happen”
All the games will be streamed live and the BVI begin their campaign on Tuesday 30th August against Bermuda at 11.00am.
Full schedule
Thursday 1st September v Bonaire at 9.00am
Saturday 3rd September v Bahamas at 11.00am.
Monday 5th September v Guyana at 9.00am
Wednesday 7th September v Saint Martin at 9.00am