Bahamas finishes beach soccer challenge fourth overall

Bahamas finishes beach soccer challenge fourth overall
Lesly St. Fleur makes a move to the goal during team Bahamas’ 2-4 loss to the United States on Sunday. (Credit: Beach Soccer Bahamas.)

The Bahamas men’s beach soccer team finished 0-3 this weekend in the first edition of the Bahamas Beach Soccer Challenge.

After holding the United States (U.S.) to just one goal the majority of the game, team Bahamas eventually fell 4-2 to the U.S. in the tournament’s third and fourth placement game at the Bahamas Football Association’s (BFA) Beach Soccer Facility.

Lesly St. Fleur and Jean Francois scored one goal each for team Bahamas in the loss.

Last week, The Bahamas also lost 5-1 to Mexico and 7-4 to Spain.

“The guys really came out and gave a great effort at home this weekend,” said national team veteran Gavin Christie.

“We need to play high level competition like this more often. We need to get in more games. You can’t have a full year in between playing high level games. These teams that we played play high level games at least every other month. So, we need to play stiff competition at least every three months to really improve.

“Other than that, the team gave an A-class effort. That’s what it’s all about. Every time you step on the pitch, whether you win or lose, you learn a lesson. We had a lot of young guys step up, and I’m glad, because they are the stars of the future.”

Mexico captured the Beach Soccer Challenge crown, knocking off Spain 5-4 in the title game.

Along with Christie, St. Fleur and Francois, team Bahamas was made up by goalkeepers Julio Jemison and Ivan Rolle, along with Kyle Williams, Nesly Jean, Dwayne Forbes and Daron Beneby. Roberto Ceciliano served as head coach.

As it stands now, Team Bahamas is ranked No. 39 in the world. Spain was the highest ranked team in the tournament at No.11 overall, Mexico is No.15 and is the highest-ranked team in the CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) region, while the U.S. checks in at No. 31.

About Randy Smith

Randy Smith is the producer of the widely-watched local television show “Beyond The Headlines” and the web content manager of Eyewitness News. He joined Eyewitness News as a sportscaster in 2018, a role he still performs, and has previously covered a slew of international sporting events, including the 2015 Pan American Games, the Nike EYBL Showcase, several IAAF World Relays, the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, the Commonwealth Youth Games, the Bahamas Bowl and multiple CARIFTA Swimming and Track & Field Championships. Randy has been recognized by the Bahamas Press Club with awards for “Best Sports Broadcast” as a sportscaster and “Best TV Talk Show” as a producer.