TCIFA Takes On The 2018 Weston Cup & Showcase

For the second consecutive year, Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association (TCIFA), entered Youth Teams in Florida’s Premier Presidents’ Day Weekend Football Tournament, the Weston Cup & Showcase. Organized by Weston FC, it is the largest youth football tournament for both boys and girls, in all of Florida, and one of the top 15 youth tournaments in the United States of America. With four options for levels of play; namely showcase (highest level), gold, silver and bronze (lower level, division 2 for recreational and new travel teams), four TCIFA teams took on the competition in the Bronze Division. These teams were the U11 Girls, U10 Boys, U12 Boys and U13 Boys. In seeking to be inclusive and expand the game amongst the sister islands, the TCIFA teams all had at least one youth player from each of the sister islands except Salt Cay.

U11 Girls

U10 Boys

U12 Boys

U13 Boys

It was an eye opening experience to have so many nationalities, languages, and unique cultures represented; embracing the beauty in the diversity of football, and meeting on one common ground. In reflecting on the Tournament President Sonia Bien-Aime expressed that “at the TCIFA, we recognize that our youth programme is critical to the development of football in the islands, and our aim is to provide playing opportunities for our young players. The Weston Cup is one such instance. We have played against teams that experience competitive games at least once per week for most of the year, but we did not let that intimidate us. We are very proud of every single one of the players and coaches, and we are happy to be able to make a significant difference in the ability of players to access these quality football tournaments.”

In 2017, TCIFA boys U12 received the Champions award of the boys U12 Bronze division. This year, both the TCIFA Boys U10 and U12 groups returned as the 2nd place winners of the Bronze Division.

Though the two other TCIFA teams did not place in the competition, their improvement throughout tournament was quite evident. Despite a slow start in their first game, TCIFA U11 Girls vs. Real Miami U11 Madrid, our young ladies did not allow this setback to interfere with their performance or undercut their motivation. Instead, they showed a great deal of commitment to their goal, and scored in a tight game against Miami Shores Soccer – Black. The U13 Boys won two of three games, but failed to advance to the finals based on goal difference.