NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Bahamas Football Association (BFA) is sending its under-17 (u17) boys’ team to Bradenton, Florida this week to compete in the CONCACAF u17 championships qualifying round.
The team will play four matches out of Group C against Guadeloupe Aruba, Saint Martinique and Bonaire.
The team is made up by Mario Johnson, Ian Lowe, Elijah Mitchell, Dereck Ferguson, Kenaz Swain, Kyle Ferguson, Luke Lockhart, Camrawn Cox, Reon Davis, Carlysle Brown, Terrance Chisholm, Dominic Archer, Mason Lowe, Alonzo Smith, McLean Goodfellow, Michael Strachan and Daylan Russell.
Paul James will serve as the team’s head coach, Larry Minnis is the manager and the team’s physician is Dr. Laurette Isaacs-Brown.
According to BFA General Secretary Carl Lynch, the BFA this year plans to ramp up its efforts in regards to youth development.
“The BFA is increasing its role when it comes to high school or youth soccer,” he said in an interview with Eyewitness Sports. “CONCACAF, the regional body, as well as FIFA, demanded that we get more involved with youth football. We currently have some initiatives in the pipeline that we are working on, but I can’t release more on that until the time comes. However, you can expect to hear a lot from the BFA in the near future, in regards to school soccer.”
Team Bahamas kicks off the tournament on March 17 against Aruba. It plays its second game on Marc 21 against Bonaire, followed by a game on March 23 against Guadeloupe.
The Bahamas wraps up its time in Florida against Saint Martin on the 25th.
