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BVIFA selects two youngsters for US soccer camp

- as part of International Opportunities Programme
Lilly Pierce (left) will be heading off to Orlando to join the UCLA College Bound Champions Academy, an all-girls camp designed for the advanced field player and goalkeeper who want to get on a pathway to college soccer. Guillaume Parkins will be heading off to Houston Dynamo Residential Elite Camp at the end of July for a week. At the Camp each player will be evaluated by the Dynamo coaching staff Along with Professional Coaching Staff from the Dynamo and Dash, as well as coaches from professional teams in various leagues in England, Mexico and USA. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
The new initiative, a brain child of new Technical Director, Katie Rowson, pilots this year with a young girl and boy heading off to the states to gain further experience in the world of football. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
The new initiative, a brain child of new Technical Director, Katie Rowson, pilots this year with a young girl and boy heading off to the states to gain further experience in the world of football. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Two lucky young footballers will be heading off to the United States of America this month to experience the chance of a lifetime, courtesy of the BVI Football Association (BVIFA) and its International Opportunities Programme.

The new initiative, a brain child of new Technical Director, Katie Rowson, pilots this year with a young girl and boy heading off to the US to gain further experience in the world of football.

“I first approached the FA Executive with the idea back in January,” commented Rowson, “with the idea being to offer identified players the chance to receive training and playing experience in a different environment, including college and club programmes as well as working with different coaches. Overall, the plan has the aim of increasing the amount of BVI national youth players accessing college education abroad.”

Parkins & Pierce the lucky recipients

This year two players have been identified, Guillaume Parkins and Lilly Pierce, but the BVIFA Executive has bought into Rowson’s plan and have already made plans to expand the programme for next season. “I made the recommendation of one boy and one girl based on what I had seen of them over the last year at the Digicel Centre of Excellence, National Representative games and within the LIME/BDO school leagues,” noted Rowson.

Pierce will be heading off to Orlando to join the UCLA College Bound Champions Academy.

UCLA, whose head Coach is Amanda Cromwell, are number 3 in the NCAA Division 1 Women’s Soccer ranking.

CBCA is an all-girls camp designed for the advanced field player and goalkeeper who want to get on a pathway to college soccer. These camps have an emphasis on whole player development with both on the field and off the field learning opportunities. CBCA creates an environment where identification and learning merge. This includes leadership and self-development, skill development, tactical awareness, and the college recruitment process.

Meanwhile Parkins will be heading off to Houston Dynamo Residential Elite Camp at the end of July for a week. At the camp each player will be evaluated by the Dynamo coaching staff, along with professional coaching staff from the Dynamo and Dash, as well as coaches from professional teams in various leagues in England, Mexico and USA and successful players will be invited to train with the Dynamo Academy.

“Both players are great ambassadors for BVI football and we are hopeful that this will open the door for more of our youth footballers to gain valuable experience and even gain scholarships to colleges,” noted 1st Vice President, Aubrey Liburd. “The programme is a great initiative and will reap dividends not only for the standard of our football, but also for our players.”

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