TCIFA Hosts U15 Boys Invitational Tournament Versus Bahamas
The TCIFA Invitational Tournament offers a opportunity for the neighboring teams of Turks and Caicos Islands and Bahamas to compete in preparation for the upcoming Concacaf Tournament. . In May of this year, the Boys U15 and Girls U14 groups invited respective teams from the Cayman Islands to participate in a total of six 70-minute matches. On July 26-27th, the Turks and Caios Islands Football Association (TCIFA) welcomed the Boys U15 National Team of the Bahamas for two 70-minute matches. Both tournaments served as preparation for the upcoming Concacaf Boys U15 Championship in Bradenton Florida for the Boys team.
When asked about the team’s ongoing preparation for its forthcoming international representation, Head Coach Omar Edwards commented, “We have intensified our preparation for the upcoming tournament in August. There have been double training sessions three days per week to improve the team, technically, physically, tactically and psychologically for the challenge ahead.” Coach Edwards continued, “The future generation understands the importance of doing well at the tournament, despite it being a development competition. The boys have been working hard and smart on a daily basis with the intention to make everyone proud. I expect our national youth team to do well in the near future, simply because of the positive attitude and commitment displayed so far. The unit has been guided by the mantra: ‘the will to win is worthless, if you don't have the will to prepare.’ I trust God that all our players will be in the best of health, mentally and physically to carry out their dreams and aspirations.”
Newly appointed Governor of the Turks & Caicos Islands, His Excellency Nigel Dakin, and his family greeted the teams and attended the invitational tournament on Saturday July 27, 2019. Likewise, The Premier Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson, Minister of Health and Sports Hon. Edwin Astwood, Minister of Education Hon. Karen Malcolm, and Director of Sports Jarette Forbes, and TCIFA youth development programme partners, with special mention of Fortis TCI also attended on various dates of the tournament. The attendance of these officials displays a recognition of the significance of national teams competing and provides a further impetus to the players to excel in the presence of the nation’s leaders.
TCI vs. Bahamas, Boys U15 Invitational Tournament Scores and Awards:
Match #1 TCI-2, BAH-0
Match #2 TCI-0, BAH-1
Golden Boot- Hayden Williams (Turks & Caicos Islands)
Golden Glove – Ashton Malcolm (Turks & Caicos Islands)
MVP TCI – Michael Saunders
MVP BAH- Roen Davis
The Concacaf Boys Under-15 Championship will be held on August 4-11 at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida USA. The tournament will provide access to international football for over 750 boys and 42 teams from across the Concacaf region and will be contested over two rounds. The teams are divided into three divisions according to the Concacaf Men’s Under-17 ranking as of 2019, ensuring sporting balance and a minimum number of four matches for each team.
Division one is made of the top 14 ranked Concacaf teams, and Slovenia and Portugal. The 16 teams are divided into four groups of four teams each (Groups A-D). After round robin play, the four group winners and four second-place finishers will advance to the quarterfinals to play for the Championship. The third and fourth place finishers will play an additional match to determine their final position in the division.
Division two is made up of the next 15 best ranked Concacaf Teams and Israel. The 16 teams are divided into four groups of four teams each (Groups E-H). After round robin play, the four group winners will advance to the semifinals to play for the divisional championship. The second third and fourth place finishers will play an additional match to determine their final position in the division.
Division three is made up of the final 10 ranked Concacaf Teams. They are divided into two groups of five teams each (Groups I -J. After round robin play, the group winners will advance to the divisional final, while the remaining teams will play an additional match to determine their final position in the division. Turks and Caicos Islands is drawn to Division 3, Group J, together with Saint Martin, Dominica, British Virgin Islands, and Montserrat.