The U.S. Virgin Islands Soccer Association boys’ and girls’ teams will travel to the Dominican Republic to compete in an International Soccer Tournament, held by the Caribbean Football Union. The teams will leave the territory on August 20 and scheduled to return on August 30, 2021.
The Caribbean Football Union (CFU) announced that the Dominican Republic will be the venue for the 2021 Boys’ and Girls’ U-14 Challenge Series, which runs from August 22-29, 2021. The inaugural development competition was held for boys in 2018 and 2019 for girls. Due to the COVID pandemic, the boys’ competition was postponed until this year.
Accommodations were made to allow the boys that were of age to play last year will still be eligible to compete in 2021. The Caribbean Football Union President Randolph Harris said, “We are extremely pleased to present our developmental competitions this year. Football is returning in our region, and our members are keen to have their youngsters get back on the pitch.” This tournament is geared to developing not only players, but also match officials, coaches and team support staff, and tournament organizers.
In previous years of the competition, groups were hosted by different Caribbean Islands. This year all teams play in the same location and will be grouped by skillset. When it is all finished a champion per tier will be celebrated. The USVI children are two of 23 teams being exposed to the International Soccer Tournament experience.
For both competitions, the teams are divided into two tiers. Curacao, Dominican Republic, Grenada and Haiti are drawn into the Boys’ Tier 1 group A, while Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia are in Tier 1 group B. Tier 2 for the boys consists of Aruba, Bonaire, Turks and Caicos Islands and United States Virgin Islands.
For the girls, Grenada, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and Puerto Rico make up Tier 1. While Tier 2 is comprised of Aruba, Curacao, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Girls Team:
Goalkeeper: Elsa Holmes, Samantha Dennis
Defenders: Yadayyah Leo, Angelina Quezada, Norma Tyson, Nailah Addison, Isabella Quezada, Chaney Smith
Midfielders: Marleigh Andersen, Kirsten Jones, Lauren Jones, Taylor Roy, Vigga Tyson, Jade Browne, Yahsenah Leo
Forwards: Charlotte Nairns, Hana Bronstein, Chaney Smith
The Girls Staff:
Director of Football: Vinimore Blaine
Head Coach: Claudia Lombard
Team Manager: Bernetta Browne
Equipment Manager: Orngel Erskine
Performance Coach: Harry Nelson
Team Doctor: Wandalee Homer
The Boys Team:
Goalkeeper: Amir Yusuf, Caden Cox
Defenders: Ronaldo Mathurin, Rodel Johnson Jr., Damien Victorin, Aarron Delsol, Maliek Southwell, Matthew Meyers, Zach Mitchell
Midfielders: Vinesh Naik, Khafri Francios, Devante Larsen, Jackson Watkins, Yannic Elizee, Jaeden Joseph, Andrew Bornn, Amorie Carty
Forwards: Marcus Sydney
The Boys Staff:
Head of Delegation: Gilberto Damiano
Head Coach: Felix St. Rose
Assistant Coach: Raejae Joseph
Team Manager: Danté Nicholas
Equipment Manager: Davie Bannis
Team Physician: Kirk Goldson
For more information on USVI Soccer Association programs, contact the USVI Soccer Association office at 719-9707 or email usvisoccer@gmail.com. Follow on Facebook at: USVI Soccer Association