Youth
Bryant and Stratton College scouts BVI Players
By Dean Greenaway
Nov 8, 2006, 16:47

TORTOLA—The BVI Football Association will host two coaches from Bryant and Stratton College in Syracuse, N.Y., who will arrive in the territory today, to scout BVI soccer talent and conduct clinics on Tortola and Virgin Gorda. The coaches will be here until Nov. 16.   Women’s head coach Anthony Richman and Melissa Verdoliva, will travel to Virgin Gorda on Saturday for their first clinic between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., followed by a scrimmage in the afternoon with girls from Tortola and Virgin Gorda. On Sunday, a women’s match is planed followed by the boys’ Under 20 team against the Wolves. Association president Llewellyn “Tudor” Dasent, said Daresha Martin and Joel Fahie are two players who the coaches are most interested in seeing.   “We are focusing on those two players now, but will be exposing several others so that the coaches can see their skill level and if there are any the satisfy them,” Dasent said. “The Under 20 boys team have been doing well in the Virgin Gorda league, so we think its only fair for them to play, so that the coaches can see the whole team.”   Dasent said between Monday and Wednesday, the coaches will spend three days on Tortola. A clinic will be held in Cappoons Bay Monday, targeting the Under 15 boys. “We are trying to keep them together,” Dasent explained. “They are the team that went to Trinidad to compete two years ago, so we are looking at them as future BVI players. We are hoping to have them along with those in the after school program who are between five and 12 years.”   On Tuesday, another clinic will be held at the Althea Scatliffe Primary School grounds in Road Town, where another after school program is held. Dasent said players from a number of schools are expected to attend, but, they will be pressed for time because darkness sets in early. The final clinic will be held at Cedar School on Wednesday.   When asked what he’s looking for from the coaches’ visit, Dasent said he would like to see as many youngsters becoming interested in sports. “It doesn’t have to be football, but, hopefully it is,” he said. “The mere fact that we are having an opportunity to get some of our players off to college it gives them an opportunity to improve their academic and athletic skills. Hopefully, down the road, this can lead to having a BVI team of all BVI players.”   The BVIFA established a link with the Bryant and Stratton College from 2003 and has already sent two female players to the college. Kacy Emmanuel successfully completed a two years associate degree program in 2005 and Kezia Wattley started a simular program in 2006.  If successful, Joel Fahie will be the first male to attend the college with assistance from the BVIFA.  

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