Caribbean News
Turks and Caicos Islands Scores a Silver in CFU Under-14 Challenge Series
#TurksandCaicos, September 9, 2021 – Caribbean Football Union (CFU) staged the 2021 Girls Under-14 and Boys Under-14 Challenge Series on August 22-29. In previous years, different countries hosted groups. This year’s editions were all in one place- Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and played across four stadiums. The Under-14 Challenge Series Tournaments are usually held in alternating years, however, last year’s edition for the boys was postponed due to the pandemic and resulting restrictions, hence the staging of both competitions this year. Therefore, all boys who were eligible to play last year were allowed to play this year, to avoid disenfranchisement.
The Challenge Series serves as a development competition for young teams, and also provides an opportunity for budding referees to spread their wings. Selected from respective territories, the tournament gave these individuals some of the much-needed international experience required to advance. Turks and Caicos Islands referees, Ancie Bernadin and Wilkiens Martin, were both invited to participate as fourth officials.
The tournament was played in a round-robin Format, with each team playing one match against the other teams in the same group. Teams were grouped based on their skillset, divided into two tiers – Tier I and Tier II. Turks and Caicos Islands girls were drawn into Tier II along with Aruba, Curacao, St. Kitts & Nevis and United States Virgin Islands. For the boys, Turks and Caicos Islands was drawn into Tier II along with Aruba, Bonaire, and US Virgin Islands.
Despite very competitive performances in all of their games, the Boys were not able to advance beyond the group stage.
However, Turks and Caicos Girls team was able to qualify from their group games to the finals against a very talented Aruba team. After a grueling match, Aruba won 3-0, a score which is not truly reflective of the tightness of the game. The Girls came second overall which was a historic result, as it marked the first time any team from TCI (male or female, junior or senior) competed in a final of a regional football tournament.
“I am beyond proud of our team and what they have accomplished. This experience is the true definition of ‘hard work pays off’. The girls are ecstatic and more focused than they have ever been. They are more motivated to play their best. And, they realize and acknowledge this historical moment for both the TCIFA and Turks and Caicos Islands. Our team has played a good defensive game that helped them to push forward in the competition, along with aggression and good shape. It feels amazing to have reached this far, and we are truly excited about our journey and future competitions,” said Girls U14 Head Coach, Olivia Graveley.
President of the TCIFA, Sonia Fulford reflected that “this tournament was an opportunity to provide international competition for our young boys and girls players. The performances of both teams were tremendous showing growth and development and speaks well for the future as we anticipate the matriculation of these players to the senior teams. I am especially delighted in the history making performance of our young female players who reached the finals and were runners-up in this international tournament. I would like to thank the parents of all our young players for entrusting us with their children and allowing us the opportunity to assist in their development both on and off the football field.”
BOYS RESULTS:
SUNDAY AUGUST 22
TURKS AND CAICOS 1 – BONAIRE 2
MONDAY AUGUST 23
ARUBA 2 – TURKS AND CAICOS 1
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 25
TURKS AND CAICOS 1 – US VIRGIN ISLANDS 2
FRIDAY AUGUST 27
BONAIRE 2 – TURKS AND CAICOS 0
GIRLS RESULTS:
SUNDAY AUGUST 22
CURACAO 0 – TURKS AND CAICOS 2
MONDAY AUGUST 23
TURKS AND CAICOS 2 – ST. KITTS & NEVIS 1
THURSDAY AUGUST 26
US VIRGIN ISLANDS 0 – TURKS AND CAICOS 0
FRIDAY AUGUST 27
ARUBA 2- TURKS AND CAICOS 0
SUNDAY AUGUST 29, TIER II FINAL
ARUBA 3 – TURKS AND CAICOS 0
KINGSTON, April 29 (JIS):
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the outcome of discussions arising from the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) will assist in guiding the Government’s planning for climate change.
This, he points out, is important for climate mitigation as well as building Jamaica’s resilience.
“We look forward to the discussions that will, no doubt, take place. We look forward to the basis of planning for the Government to streamline its investments to ensure you have the tools that you need to better advise us, that the WRA (Water Resources Authority) has the tools to digitise its monitoring network, and that all of the agencies that touch our planning mechanisms have the tools. But we need to know what we are facing, and we’re guided by your expertise,” Minister Samuda said.
He was addressing the opening ceremony for the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (April 29).
Senator Samuda said given the fact that the climate has changed and continues to do so, investments in and collaborations on building Jamaica’s predictive and scientific capacity must be prioritised.
“Ultimately, we need to be able to assess our current climatic realities if we are to better plan, if we’re to insist and ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs that we need it to. I’m very happy that this event is happening… because this is a critical issue.
“Jamaica, last year, faced its worst and most severe drought… and this year, we’re already seeing the impacts of not quite as severe a drought but, certainly, a drought with severe impacts, especially in the western part of the country,” he said.
Principal Director, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, explained that the forum aims to, among other things, establish a collaboration platform for climate services providers and users to understand risks and opportunities of past, present and future climate developments, as well as improve inter-agency coordination of policies, plans and programmes.
Among the other presenters were Ambassador, European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen; Chief Scientist/Climatologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman; and Head, Regional Climate Prediction Services, World Meteorological Organization, Wilfran Moufouma-Okia.
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica hosted the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology and the World Meteorological Organization.
The National Stakeholder Consultation is a governance mechanism that guides how different sectors or actors work together to create products that contribute to adaptation and resilience-building. It seeks to create a road map for the development and implementation of climate services to inform decision-making.
NCF-1 aims to bridge the gap between climate providers and users. It increases the use of science-based information in decision-making and operations with the aim of generating and delivering co-produced and co-designed products and services.
CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON
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