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CONCACAF: BVI overseas-based players arrive ahead of clash with Puerto Rico (see video)

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BVi football team

Members of the BVI men’s national football team at the A.O. Shirley Recreation Grounds on Thursday, March 16. The team is preparing for its CONCACAF clash with Puerto Rico on March 23. * Photo by JTV News

(JTV News) — The overseas-based players of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) national men’s football teams arrived ahead of the CONCACAF Nations League clash with Puerto Rico, which takes place on Thursday, March 23 at the A.O. Shirley Recreation Grounds in Road Town on Tortola.

The players went straight into intense training in preparation for the game, the British Virgin Islands Football Association (BVIFA) said in a Facebook post on Thursday, March 16. (Video below shows the team in training on Thursday, March 16)

A video on the BVIFA’s social media page shows the players arriving at the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport and being greeted by four flag-waving youths at the final exit.

According to the BVIFA, featured are “Tyler Forbes, Jake Forbes, Luka Chalwell, Mekhai Waters, Justin Smith, Miggy Marshall and Levon Williams. Flag Bearers, BDO Youth League Players, Kaylen Williams (AMPS), Dianna Williams (ESHS), Christian Campbell (SGPS) and Emmanuel Campbell (SGPS)”.

Coach of the BVI men’s national team, Chris Kiwomya, had said in an earlier report that the upcoming match will be a difficult game because most of the players on the opponent’s team are professionals.

“It’s going to be a difficult game, obviously,” Kiwomya was quoted as saying in a BVIFA 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.

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BVI Barracudas Shine at 2024 VISF Short Course Championships with Record Medal Haul

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The British Virgin Islands Barracudas Swim Team returned from the 2024 Virgin Islands Swimming Federation (VISF) Short Course Championships in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, with 47 individual medals along with three second-place relay finishes, a vast improvement from last year’s 20 medals.

“We’re incredibly proud of the Barracudas’ achievements this year,” said a team representative. “Our swimmers put in the hard work, achieving 55 personal best times, and showing immense growth with more than double last year’s medal count. Their dedication is paying off.”

The team’s success was especially evident among its youngest swimmers, with many trying new events and demonstrating advanced techniques for the first time. Swimmers as young as eight made a mark, excelling in events like breaststroke pullouts and flip turns—a challenging feat given the team’s limited access to training facilities with regulation flags and pools back home.

Leading the charge, eight-year-old Skylar Steer clinched first place in five events, including the 25m Freestyle (20.14) and 100m Freestyle (1:37.15). Teammate Naya Bissoondutt also delivered top results, securing two first-place finishes in the 8 & Under category, while fellow swimmer William Vergel placed on the podium in three events, underscoring the young team’s depth of skill and potential.

The Barracudas’ relay teams also performed admirably, with the Mixed 8 & Under Medley and Freestyle Relay teams both taking second-place finishes, adding to the team’s impressive medal count.

Older team members brought in strong results as well, with Kyrique Matthew in the Boys 11-12 category capturing first in four events, including the 100m Freestyle (1:25.26) and the 200m Breaststroke (4:06.46). Princess Samantha Vergel and Amaury Rosan-Jones also contributed significantly in their respective age categories.

“We are immensely grateful to everyone who helped make this meet possible,” noted the team, extending thanks to the VISF, event officials, supportive parents, and sponsors, including Aquatic Rentals VI, ATU, Island Shipping, John Duncan, and Nanny Cay, where the team was able to train in preparation for the championships.

Reflecting on the team’s progress, a Barracudas representative remarked, “The hard work and dedication of our swimmers has truly shone through. We are extremely proud of their achievements and look forward to more success in the future. This accomplishment is the result of a strong community effort.”

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Team BVI Falls to Rugby Puerto Rico in International Test Match, 51-27

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Team BVI faced a tough battle in Puerto Rico, suffering a 51-27 defeat against Rugby Puerto Rico in an International Test Match held on Saturday, September 28 at Polideportivo Rebekah Colberg.

Team BVI’s lineup for the match included Luke Saltonstall, Burt Woodley, Stuart Cullen, Roan Thornton, Rob Lind, Tom Chapman, Issac Dawson, Jordan Ringland, Sam Thompson, Mark Wells, Jayden Williams, and Jaleel Cameron. Although they fought hard, Puerto Rico’s disciplined play proved too much for BVI to overcome.

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BVI Archery Team Returns with 9 Medals from Regional Championship in Jamaica

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The British Virgin Islands (BVI) archery team has returned home with 2 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze medals from the 2024 WAAm Caribbean Development Championship, held in Kingston, Jamaica. The event, which took place from September 18 to 22, gathered top talent from across the Caribbean and beyond.

Kellyann Tillac and Naomi Onwufuju each secured a gold medal, while Keandre Matthew, Javelin Frett, and Kellyann Tillac (who won two silvers) brought home four silver medals. The BVI also claimed three bronze medals, with Keandre Matthew earning two and Keyara Smith securing one.

The BVI squad, consisting of both beginner and developmental archers, competed against athletes from several regional heavyweights, including Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States.

The competition featured athletes across multiple categories. Representing the BVI in the Recurve Beginner Under 15 Men category was Matthew Keandré, while David Persaud competed in the Recurve Developmental Men category. In the Compound Beginner Under 15 Women category, Kasadiyah Baird competed alongside Naomi Onwufuju and Keyara Smith, who took part in the Compound Developmental Under 18 Women category. Javlyn Frett also competed in the Compound Developmental Women category, with Kellyann Tillack rounding out the squad in the Recurve Beginner Under 18 Women category.

Guided by coaches Ritseeniyah Georges and Patrick Smith, the BVI archers showed significant growth throughout the championship.

Jamaica, the host nation, fielded the largest team with 34 members, and the competition also saw strong participation from countries like the Bahamas, Guyana, the US Virgin Islands, and the United States. The high calibre of competition made the BVI’s medal haul even more remarkable, as the event brought together some of the region’s best archers.

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