Sports
BVIFA working to revive local women’s football: Greenaway
By MERRICK ANDREWS
Online News Editor
A British Virgin Islands women’s football league, run entirely by women.
That’s the ultimate goal of BVI Football Association Competitions Manager, Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway, who’s spearheading this Saturday’s Women’s Football Festival on Virgin Gorda.
The Festival, which will be held between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., is one step towards reviving women’s football in the territory.
According to a press release from the BVI Football Association (BVIFA), women — during the festival — will be exposed to a number of activities besides the skills used in the game, including nutrition, blood sugar, blood pressure checks, communication, media, conditioning and physiotherapy.
Sprinter, Karene King, will be the guest speaker on both Virgin Gorda and Tortola, the release stated.
“The focus of all the presentations in these two events will be solely by women, which I think is very important,” Greenaway was quoted as saying in the press release. “The aim is to eventually see a Women’s League run entirely by women. Since taking up the position, I have come across a number of enthusiastic, dedicated, competent women with the requisite skills and they know what they want. I’m just the facilitator in the process.”
In November and early December, the BVIFA said “meetings with women were held on Virgin Gorda and Tortola, to get an understanding of their concerns and what they’d like to see for themselves. Their respective ideas were canvassed and having a Women’s Football Festival on both Virgin Gorda and Tortola, was seen as an important event in bringing women together, as building blocks for future development”.
“There are a number of women in the process of obtaining their coaching license and at the end of January, several completed a referees course,” Greenaway was further quoted as saying in the release.
“Chandni Wattley and Shevorne “Sha Sha” Vanterpool for example, have been the first two women to work in men league games as assistant referees. Vanterpool and Keliene Smith—both from Virgin Gorda— worked a Feb 5 men’s game in Virgin Gorda, becoming the first two women from the island to do so, so the foundation for women’s development is being laid. They will also be part of the foundation for a women’s league,” Greenaway added.
On Saturdays, the BVIFA said Coach Cassandra “Coach Cass” has been working with a number of girls in Greenland and they’re joined by girls from Virgin Gorda.
“Coach Cass has a goal of having 100 girls in the program by Dec 31 and we’re seeing the response of girls to this quest,” Greenaway continued. “They will participate in the festival and help spread the seeds for getting their peers into the football program.”
The British Virgin Islands will be well represented on the global stage later this month as sprinters Beyoncé Defreitas and Rikkoi Brathwaite prepare to compete at the 2025 World Indoor Championships in Tokyo. The BVI Athletics Association officially announced their selection for the prestigious competition, set to take place from March 21 to 23 at the Nanjing Sports Training Center.
Brathwaite, a semi-finalist at last year’s Indoor World Athletics meet, will take to the track on March 21 for the 60m preliminaries at 9:10 a.m. local time. If he advances, he will return for the semifinals at 4:10 p.m. the same day. Defreitas will follow on March 22, with her 60m preliminaries scheduled for 7:15 a.m. and semifinals at 4:15 p.m.
The BVI is aiming to add to its medal count at the World Indoor Championships, with its sole podium finish coming in 2008 when Tahesia Harrigan-Scott secured bronze in the 60m sprint in Valencia, Spain. Now, Brathwaite and Defreitas look to make history once again for their nation.
Accompanying the athletes will be Ralston Henry, a World Athletics-certified senior coach, who will serve as both coach and team manager for the Championships.
The team is set to depart for Tokyo on March 13, ready to compete against the world’s best.
Local News
Lanzarote Calero Sailing Team Wraps Up 44Cup Nanny Cay with Solid Progress and Eyes on Porto Cervo
The Lanzarote Calero Sailing Team completed its participation in the 44Cup Nanny Cay on a strong note, with all races finished under ideal conditions, including 15-18 knot winds and clear skies. The team’s performance showcased marked progress as they competed in a high-level fleet, demonstrating their growing capabilities within the class.
Throughout the day, the team made strategic adjustments to adapt to the changing conditions. Starting with the J3 jib for the first few races, they switched to the J2 jib for later races, maintaining consistent performance. Particularly noteworthy were their starts and the first windward mark roundings, where the team matched up well against the top contenders in the field. Although Charisma and Aleph Racing battled it out for the title, newer teams like GeMera and Lanzarote Calero Sailing Team used the final race to refine their coordination and continue gaining experience.
Looking ahead, the Lanzarote Calero Sailing Team is now focused on the next stop of the 44Cup circuit in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, scheduled for May 15-18, 2025. With key learnings from Nanny Cay, the team is eager to make further strides, especially with the anticipation of racing with their own boat in Porto Cervo.
“We’ve completed a very demanding event, facing some of the world’s best crews. While the results don’t yet reflect our full potential, we leave with invaluable experience and the certainty that with our own boat at the next event, we will be able to compete under better conditions,” said tactician Alfredo González.
As the 44Cup continues to grow, the Lanzarote Calero Sailing Team remains committed to using the competition as a platform for talent development, combining experienced sailors with promising young prospects. With their new boat designed specifically to meet their needs, the team aims to close the gap and emerge as a stronger contender in future events, including the overall standings.
For more information on the 44Cup Nanny Cay and race results, visit 44cup.org.
For more on the Lanzarote Calero Sailing Team, visit lanzarotecalerosailingteam.com.
16 February 2025 – 44Cup Nanny Cay
The British Virgin Islands cricket team claim the USVI President’s Cup title, defeating the St. Thomas All-Stars by 57 runs in the championship final at the George E. Goodwin Cricket Ground on February 16.
After winning the toss, BVI elected to bat first and posted a competitive total of 170 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs. Joel Williams led the scoring with 36 off 27 deliveries, supported by contributions from Ameri Hinds and Yohann Lezama, who each added 25 runs. Shelan Isidore provided late momentum, smashing 30 off just 15 balls. St. Thomas struggled to contain the BVI batting lineup, with bowler Dane Weston conceding 46 runs in his four overs while managing to claim one wicket.
Chasing 171 for victory, the St. Thomas All-Stars struggled against a disciplined BVI bowling attack and were dismissed for 113 in their full 20 overs. Collin Joseph was the top scorer for St. Thomas with 31 off 32 balls, while Samuel Jones added 18. BVI’s Julian St. Clair was instrumental in restricting the opposition, taking four wickets for just 10 runs in his two-over spell. Dhanpaul Chrisnanand and Imran Smith chipped in with two wickets each, ensuring St. Thomas never gained momentum.
For his match-winning bowling performance, St. Clair was named Man of the Match. BVI also claimed several individual accolades, with Ameri Hinds earning the MVP award for his all-around contributions—78 runs, two catches, and one wicket. St. Clair also took home the Most Wickets award, while St. Thomas’ Doyle Jones secured the Most Runs award with 69 runs in the tournament.
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