Sports
BVI women’s softball nation team get financial help
Donation from Sports Minister. Photos by CM Farriganton Photographer and Andre “Shadow” Dawson
(JTV News) –– The Government of the British Virgin Islands is among several organisations that have made a financial donation to the British Virgin Islands Women’s National Team who are competing in the 2023 Eastern Caribbean Amateur Softball Confederation (ECASC) Championship in St. John, USVI, from March 1- 5, 2023.
Sports Minister Sharie De Castro handed over a $12,000 cheque to the national team on Monday night.
According to a press release, De Castro encouraged the team to “have fun and do their best and, of course, bring home the WIN!”
President of the BVI Olympic Committee, Ephraim Penn, also presented the association with a cheque valued at $7,000.
Donation from BVIOC Olmpic Commission
Penn mentioned the Olympic Committee’s long-standing support of women’s softball and strongly emphasised “the continuation of the development of the younger players to ensure the sport continues to grow”.
Also contributing to the national team was the business owner of Tradewinds Mexican Grill, Shamora “Molly” Penn-Maduro.
Her cheque of $3,000 directly contributed to the national team’s newly designed uniforms which are a collaboration with the local clothing brand Trefle Designs, the press release stated.
Penn-Maduro saod”this initiative will act as a small business for the association as they roll out different apparel and merchandise for purchase in support of Softball and Baseball in the Virgin Islands”.
Coach Neville Smith gave brief remarks by thanking all the sponsors for their contributions to the women’s national team and expressed, “the gold will be brought back to the BVI!”
A total of six teams will compete in the WBSC-sanctioned tournament: Jamaica, U.S. Virgin Islands, Aruba, Curacao, St.Maarten and the British Virgin Islands.
The winning team of this championship will automatically qualify for 2023 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in San Salvador, El Salvador, in June 2023.
Five coaches were awarded their Concacaf C License certifications, the British Virgin Islands Football Association announced this week, marking a new step in the Territory’s push to strengthen youth football development. The certificates were presented by BVIFA Technical Director Paul Decle, who addressed the group alongside representatives of the association.
Decle, speaking at the brief presentation ceremony, underscored the responsibility that accompanies the new qualification. “Your role now is to develop the future of football,” he said. “The mandate from the BVIFA to the new C License coaches is to put in the work and develop the youth — on and off the field.”
The Concacaf C License Course is designed to improve coaching standards across the region by focusing on player development, session planning, and youth-centered instruction. Completion of the program allows coaches to work more extensively within national grassroots and youth football structures.
BVIFA officials described the accomplishment as part of the association’s wider effort to strengthen coaching capacity, improve technical standards, and expand youth outreach programs across the islands.
The newly licensed coaches are expected to support BVIFA training initiatives, youth academies, and upcoming development programs scheduled throughout the 2024–25 calendar.
The British Virgin Islands men’s rugby sevens team will begin its Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens campaign today, Nov. 21 in Arima, Trinidad, with scheduled matches against St. Lucia at 10:28 a.m. and Turks and Caicos at 2:28 p.m. at Larry Gomes Stadium. The tournament runs Nov. 20–22 and will feature national teams from across the region.
The BVI squad is preparing for a demanding three-day slate that continues on Nov. 22 with games against St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Curaçao, followed by a matchup with the Bahamas on Nov. 23. Results from the tournament will contribute to regional rankings and, in some cases, influence qualification pathways for future international events.
Team officials released the full roster ahead of travel to Trinidad. The delegation includes Jayden Williams, Josiah Means, Jonathan McAauley, Gethin Jones, Bradrick Evans, Stuart Fee, Rossa Canavan, Roan Thornton, Denvin Jones, D’von Jones, Thomas Wilson, Roequan Hemerding, Robert Lind and Thomas Chapman. Coach James Morris and manager Mark Jones will oversee preparations.
Tournament organizers say RAN Sevens remains the primary development platform for rugby sevens in the Caribbean and North America, offering emerging unions consistent exposure to international-standard play. The BVI team is expected to complete final training sessions before taking the field Friday morning.
Further updates will follow once competition gets underway.
Courtney Bascombe earned a bronze medal in the men’s 100 metres at the North, Central American and Caribbean Masters Athletics Championships in Mexico City after a strong showing in both rounds of competition.
Bascombe advanced to the final after winning his preliminary heat on Friday with a time of 11.43 seconds. He improved in the medal round on Saturday, clocking 11.35 seconds to finish third overall.
The regional Masters Championships bring together veteran athletes from across the Americas and the Caribbean, competing in track and field disciplines across multiple age categories. The event is sanctioned by the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) and recognises athletes over 35 years of age.
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