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Football
BVI Facing Grenada Today in CONCACAF Tourney
By Dean Greenaway
May 14, 2008, 08:35

BVIFA president Franka Pickering, right, coach Vincent "Nabu" Samuel, left and members of the Under 20 Team before they departed for Grenada. Photo>Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

TORTOLA--The British Virgin Islands’ Under 20 Football team will face Grenada at 2 p.m. today in the 2009 CONCACAF qualifying tournament at the Panteen Recreational Grounds in St. Georges, where it will also they will also face St. Vincent and Guyana, in the tournament that runs from today through Sunday.

Team BVI will face St. Vincent and the Grenadines at 2 p.m. on Friday and Guyana at 2 p.m. on Sunday, before returning home on Monday.  

Head coach Vincent “Nabu” Samuel said the BVI is fielding a young team which averages just over 16 years. “We are in the development process and we are basically hoping that these guys can put their best foot forward,” he said. “We have a number of individuals that have been in the game for sometime who have a bit of ability, but we are merging it with some 13 and 14 year olds. We are coming up against some power houses as far as football in the Caribbean is concerned so it’s a great opportunity for these individuals.”

Samuel said he’s hoping the team gains valuable experience so that in time, they’ll be able to gain and gather from the experience and get more exposure.  He said all three teams that the BVI will face, is rated high on the CONCACAF list. “We’ll try and see how much as possible, we can match our skills against these teams,” he stated.

He’s asking BVI fans for patience as it’s a new development era. He said a 4-year development plan has been put in place with the backing of the new executive. He commended the executive for having the foresight to send the team to the competition for the requisite exposure.

“The public must realize this is a development process and we need all forces behind of us and their support,” he said. “I must commend the parents and the various schools—Bregado Flax Educational Center, Elmore Stoutt and Cedar Schools—for giving the students the time off to travel during a challenging time, so we do need the support of everyone. Development has a price and the winning will come. At this point, we are very hopeful.”

The team is comprised of: Jevon Demming, Romano King, Christopher Telemaque, Lee Evans Jacobs, Andrell Bailey, Troy Caesar,  Khiry Creque, Arondel Francois, Clayton Mcogg, James Felix, Jumaane Morton, Tishaun Samuel, Akeem Bascombe,  Damien Farrell, David Isaac, Christopher Brockbank, Fladimir Septus, Akimo Demming, Matthew Stevens, Kimani Stevens and Vernal Williams.