The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

MY only question is why have we taken so long to get to expose the world to what we have to offer with our traditional slogan of “It’s better in the Bahamas” with our sun, sand and sea - beach soccer and volleyball competition.

The hosting of the CONCACAF Qualifier for the FIFA World Beach Soccer Cup this weekend in the beach soccer facility at the foot of the Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge is a prime example.

Credited with being the first in the Bahamas, the Bahamas Football Association has been given high marks by the visiting teams participating for two spots to represent the region at the World Cup in Papeete, Tahiti, September 18-28.

Before the weekend is over, the Bahamas should be given recommendation for the splendid performance of the national team.

So far, the team has managed to pull off two victories - first in a 9-1 blowout fashion against Puerto Rico and then 4-3 as they had to dig down deep for a real physical battle against Guatemala - and now they are into the playoff round with one more game to play in the round robin against the United States today.

If you haven’t been out to the facility yet, I think you’re missing history in the making.

We’ve had a number of our soccer teams play exceptionally well to get into the qualifying round of the World Cup. But this is virgin territory for us in beach soccer and right now the team and the BFA, headed by president Anton Sealey, are passing the test with flying colours.

The aquamarine, gold and black and flying high at Malcolm Park.

The performance here reminds me of the efforts of the Bahamas Volleyball Federation’s national team.

Remember last year when they clinched three consecutive NORCECA Championship rounds and now the team of Byron Ferguson and Prince Rolle are on their way to the fourth leg in Mexico in June. The other half of the team of Renaldo Knowles and Muller Petit will not be able to travel, due to an injury to Knowles.

The indoor men’s national volleyball team didn’t do too bad either.

Last year, they won both the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Championship in US Virgin Islands, St Croix and the round robin play at the 2014 NORCECA World Championship Men’s Group A qualifiers at the International School of Curacao in Willemsted, Curacao.

And they’re getting ready to travel in July to French St Martin and then in Canada in August for the NORCECA Championship.

Back to the CONCACAF Beach Soccer, the Bahamas is on the verge of qualifying for the World Cup. Even if they fall short of the goal, you have to compliment the federation and the team for putting on a gallant effort this weekend.

The BFA’s youthful team, led by Nesley Jean, Lesly St Jean, Gary Joseph, Mark Daniels, Ehren Hanna and goal keepers Christopher Davis and Torin Ferguson have done a tremendous job so far. With three more days to go and still a lot more soccer to be played, I invite you to go on out to the beach facility and cheer the team on.

What’s next?

Synchronised gymnastics and water polo. With the strides we’ve made so far in beach volleyball and beach soccer, we might as well take advantage of the water surrounding us to extend our sporting exploits to events that we have rarely had any type of participation in. Who knows what type of success we can come up with.