The first of two Women’s Football Festivals kicked off at the Valley Recreation Grounds in Virgin Gorda on Saturday, February 11, 2023. Photo: BVIFA

The girls go through their paces at the BVIFA Women's Football Festival on Virgin Gorda. Photo: BVIFA

The Women's Football Festival on Virgin Gorda on Saturday, February 11, 2023, attracted 35 participants. Photo: BVIFA

“Today was really great, I really loved it,” said Ciel Fox of Ciboney Centre of Excellence. “I really liked how the coaches helped us.”

‘Well attended’ festival

Co-coordinator Gloria George-Fahie said despite a hiccup at the start, she’s glad of the way the day turned out. “It was well attended,” she noted.

“The BVI Health Services, they showed up and the girls learned a lot about blood typing, their pressure and it was a really great day,” George-Fahie stated.

George-Fahie said the numbers could have been more, but several girls from Virgin Gorda went to Road Town for a jumps and throws camp with their respective schools.

“It was also good to see the support of the coaches from Tortola,” she said. “We’ll have more folks over in Tortola (on Feb 25) but this is just the beginning.  You can’t begin with a bang.”

Reactions

Zambia Demming who attends Bregado Flax Educational Secondary School and participates in the girls' Saturday morning academy on Tortola, said it was good to see an event catering only to girls.

“I liked everything about it,” she said. “It went well, and it will help more people to join the programme. I’ll tell my friends that they need to be a part of this.”

The event offered Mia Lennard a dual role—first as a photographer then as a player. “It was awesome,” said Lennard who played football in high school. “I just wanted to learn more about the sport and meet other people interested in sports.”

She said that it was interesting capturing images of the event when she wasn’t playing. “It was cool doing both sides today,” she said.

100 target!

Following the event, Coach Cassandra Gregg, gathered everyone in a circle for a departing prayer as she usually does during the Saturday morning academies at the football field in Greenland.

“We’re targeting 100 girls by the ending of December and today on Virgin Gorda, we had 35,” she told everyone. “We’ve doubled the amount now. Last month, we had 22, this month we’re up to 48—that’s for the Saturday morning programme only not including all of you here—we’re hoping that we’re going to climb the ladder next month. We should be up to 75, then the next month we should target the hundred and keep going. That’s what we’re looking for. It was very nice to have all of you here today.”

Registration is in progress for the Tortola leg of the festival on February 25. Registration of girls of all ages can be done on the day, via the BVI Football Association office or by email to info@bvifootball.com.

Further information can be obtained by calling 284.340.3545.