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BVI banking on home crowd support for “difficult” game with Puerto Rico

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BVI coach Chris Kiwomya

BVI coach Chris Kiwomya

(JTV News) — Coach of the BVI men’s national team, Chris Kiwomya, said the upcoming match between the BVI and Puerto will be a difficult game because most of the players on the opponent’s team are professionals.

The CONCACAF Nations League match is scheduled to take place on March 23 at the A.O. Shirley Recreation Grounds in Road Town.

Kick-off time is 3 p.m.

According to a press release from the BVI Football Association, “this is the final game in this season’s Nation League, with the BVI’s last home game a 1-1 draw with the Cayman Islands. That result was repeated in the reverse fixture and then the BVI went to Puerto Rico, where they suffered a 0-6 defeat”.

Coach Kiwomya hopes that the gap will be reduced when the BVI and Puerto Rico meet again.

“It’s going to be a difficult game, obviously,” Kiwomya was quoted as saying in the press release. “Puerto Rico are a very talented team with strong players in all areas on the pitch, but we have been working hard and recently held a training camp in Florida, which was excellent, a really good motivation for the players and where I got to see a lot of the players for the first time in a long time.”

He added: “We spoke about how we wanted to approach the game and the players took it on board. We’ve got some good young players in the under-20s and under-17s who are coming forward so hopefully, I will be able to try and give them opportunities in the national team when the time is right. We’ll be looking for the support of the BVI fans and all the people in the Territory to come and support the team. They got right behind the team when we played the Caymans, and they created a really wonderful atmosphere.”

According to the release, Kiwomya said vociferous home support will help the team play even better and that the players did the BVI proud, which they will do again when Puerto Rico comes to town.

“They are 39 places ahead of us in the FIFA rankings and are a team full of professionals who will be technically better than us, but they won’t have bigger hearts than us and if we have more legs than them on the day, with a large crowd behind us, being our 12th man, then when they come to our place we can show that the gap between us is shrinking, so let’s get a big a crowd as possible there and I look forward to seeing everyone on the day and doing our best to make you proud,” he explained.

Regarding home crowd support, senior player Tyler Forbes echoed similar sentiments.

He said in the release: “This is a whole new game, a whole new team, and a new system, so I think it’s very important that we’re not undermined. There are a lot of people I know who are coming from the UK and from all over to watch the game. My mum’s going to come to watch the game, and I feel like we deserve that crowd, like when we played Cayman, to come down again, and you know when I was on the pitch and I felt like I couldn’t run that extra 10 yards, the crowd cheering us on made me know that I can run another 10 yards or even more. So, I feel like that’s a big part of the game and we need that excitement and level of support.”

Senior player Forbes TylerTroy Caesar, who missed the game against Puerto Rico, but featured in the home game against Cayman after a long period of unavailability, and is now captain of the team, also hopes for a large crowd at the A.O. Shirley.

“The crowd, the community, the whole of the British Virgin Islands, my co-workers, everyone plays a big part. They are our 12th man on the field, they bring that energy, they bring the spirit and we need to get that support because we all know that it’s going to be a tough and competitive game. The energy we get from that crowd gives us a lift and keeps us going for 90 minutes.”

Troy Caesar is captain of the team
According to the release, tickets are now on sale and available from the BVI Office in East End/Long Look as well as the CCT main office across from the Fire Station.

They cost just $10 for adults and $5 for children. aged 5-12.

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BVI Returns to OECS Swimming Championships, Secures Silver Medal

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After an eight-year hiatus, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) Swimming Federation returned to the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Swimming Championships with a six-member team at the 32nd annual event held from November 8–10 at the Shrewsbury Aquatic Center in St. Vincent & the Grenadines. This marked BVI’s first appearance since 2016, following setbacks from Hurricane Irma in 2017 that impacted athletic infrastructure and development programs.

Representing the BVI were Jai Potter (15-17), Kyla Potter (11-12), Arun Bissoondutt (9-10), Naya Bissoondutt (8 & Under), Skyler Steer (8 & Under), and William Vergel (8 & Under). Under the guidance of Coach Elsworth Phillip, the young athletes held their own against teams from 11 other territories including reigning champions Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, and host nation St. Vincent & the Grenadines.

A standout performance was delivered by Kyla Potter, who claimed a silver medal in the 11-12 Girls 50m Butterfly with a time of 32.16, just 0.5 seconds shy of the gold. This impressive finish highlighted her potential among the region’s top young swimmers. Additionally, Kyla placed 4th in the 100m Butterfly, 6th in the 50m Breaststroke, and achieved competitive rankings across other events.

run Bissoondutt earned 9th place finishes in the 9-10 Boys 50m Backstroke and 100m Freestyle, while Skyler Steer placed in the top 10 in multiple events for the 8 & Under Girls, including an 8th place finish in the 25m Backstroke. William Vergel, competing in the 8 & Under Boys, placed 10th in the 25m Freestyle. Additionally, the team’s 10 & Under mixed 200m Freestyle relay, featuring Arun, Naya, Skyler, and William, secured a respectable 5th place.

At the conclusion of the championships, Antigua and Barbuda claimed their third consecutive OECS title with 1,419 points, followed by Grenada with 1,301.5 points and St. Vincent and the Grenadines with 1,102 points. The BVI finished in 7th place overall, earning 37 points, and celebrated this opportunity to renew its presence in regional swimming after years of rebuilding efforts.

Coach Phillip praised the athletes for their dedication, stating, “Our swimmers have demonstrated commendable focus and resilience. Kyla’s silver medal is a significant achievement and reflects the promising direction of our program.”

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Ephraim Penn Elected President of Eastern Caribbean Olympic Association

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Ephraim Penn, President of the British Virgin Islands Olympic Committee (BVIOC), has been elected President of the Association of National Olympic Committees of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (ANOCES).

The election took place on Friday, 18 October, during the ANOCES General Assembly at the luxurious Sandals Beaches Resort in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. Penn’s years of dedicated service to the Olympic movement, coupled with his strong leadership vision, played a significant role in his election.

Penn’s appointment heralds a renewed emphasis on regional collaboration within the Olympic framework. Upon accepting the role, he shared his aspirations for the organisation:

“I am honoured to serve as President of ANOCES, and I look forward to working closely with my colleagues in the Eastern Caribbean to advance sports development, support our athletes, and further promote the Olympic ideals,” Penn remarked. “Together, we will build a stronger and more unified sports community in the region.”

Under Penn’s leadership, the British Virgin Islands has seen transformative growth in both grassroots and elite sports, particularly in track and field, where the region has consistently outperformed on the international stage.

Penn will be joined by a team of experienced sports administrators. Dominica’s Billy Doctrove, a prominent figure in Caribbean sports and President of the Dominica NOC, has been elected Vice President of ANOCES. Additional key appointments include:

  • Keith Joseph (St Vincent and the Grenadines) – General Secretary
  • Glenville Jeffers (St Kitts and Nevis) – Treasurer
  • Cliff Williams (Antigua and Barbuda) – Committee Member

With this experienced leadership, ANOCES is poised to continue strengthening the Olympic movement and supporting athletes across the Eastern Caribbean.

The ANOCES team has a packed agenda, with their next meeting scheduled in Panama City, Panama, from 12 to 14 November 2024. This gathering will coincide with the Centennial Celebration of Centro Caribe Sport (CCS), formerly the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organisation (CACSO).

The summit in Panama City will offer ANOCES members a platform to discuss strategic priorities for the future. “This is a pivotal time for our region as we chart a path toward greater inclusivity and innovation in sports development,” said Billy Doctrove, the newly elected Vice President.

Sports administrators across the region have expressed optimism about the new leadership. “Ephraim Penn has consistently shown a remarkable ability to unite people and achieve ambitious goals,” commented Keith Joseph, General Secretary of ANOCES. “His vision and commitment will be crucial as we face the challenges and opportunities ahead.”

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Virgin Islands Coach Earns Bodybuilding PRO Card in The Bahamas

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Jermaine Henry, a celebrated coach with Alpha Fitness VI, earned his PRO bodybuilding card on Saturday, November 9, in The Bahamas. This new PRO status transforms Jermaine from a competitive contender into a professional, unlocking potential avenues for endorsements and international partnerships.

His track record includes a 6th-place finish at the renowned Joe Weider’s Olympia Amateur Bodybuilding Competition held on December 14, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Competing among over 400 athletes, he showcased his talent and dedication, elevating the Virgin Islands’ presence in the bodybuilding world.

Congratulations to Jermaine and the Alpha Fitness team!

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