According to Ricky Davis of the BVIFA Flax-Clarke is very upbeat about the forthcoming season despite the 3 a day training regime photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

Gumbs will wear the number 16 shirt for the Kansas Cloud Community College Thunderbirds in the season opener against Johnson C.C.C., Aug 25, 2012. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

Sapphire Flax-Clarke wearing the number 10 shirt and Kezia Gumbs wearing number 16 have both made the roster for the Thunderbirds Girls Soccer squad at the College and will be starting their season on August 25^th against Johnson County Community College.

The girls are adjusting very well, according to the coach Steve Ralos. “After an initial adjustment period they are holding their own” he said.

The BVIFA’s Ricky Davis had also spoken to Flax-Clarke ”I spoke to Sapphire and she is very upbeat” he commented, “The 3 a days (training schedule) are like the Spanish Inquisition (no one expects the Spanish Inquisition) and until you have gone through it, you do not know what to expect and so they went through that shock and awe.”

National team players Trevor Peters and Chris Telemaque are also in the squad at Kansas Cloud and start their men’s season also against Johnson.

The National Team is also in training ahead of the Digicel Cup 2012. 

“We wanted to have another 2 friendlies, but the timing did not work out for Antigua, St Kitts or Dominica so that was a setback in terms of us having an idea how we matched up against international competition” noted Davis. 

The official schedule for the Cup which also serves as the Caribbean Championship is not yet available, but the BVI knows it will be going to Martinique for its first round of group play. 

 The Digicel Cup is the 2012 edition of the Caribbean Championship, an international football championship for national teams in the Caribbean region of CONCACAF, which also includes nations from Central and North America. The final stage will be hosted by Antigua and Barbuda. The tournament will determine the four teams that will qualify for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The first, second and final round are now scheduled for September, October and December respectively.

In 2011 the tournament was postponed and in 2010 Jamaica were Champions after beating Guadeloupe 5-4 on penalties in a nail-biting finale in front of thousands of spectators at the Stade Municipal Pierre Aliker in Martinique.