The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Taking advantage of the ambience of the sun, sand and sea, as well as the scenic view of Paradise Island, the Bahamas Football Association will open its historic Beach Soccer Faculty at Malcolm Park on Saturday. It’s the first of such a venue to be created in the Caribbean.

Through the assistance of FIBA’s initiative to grow the sport of soccer in the Caribbean, Gavin Christie said they applied for the construction of the beach soccer facility, which the BFA hopes will provide the Bahamas with a much better opportunity to qualify for the World Cup as opposed to the challenge of advancing in regular soccer on the grass surface.

“There is a good possibility that the Bahamas could compete at the highest level in soccer in beach soccer,” Christie said. “So this is why we decided to go with the beach soccer facility and the Bahamas Football Association found that in order for it to work, we had to find the right location on the water and we have located that with the beautiful backdrop of Atlantis.”

Having played beach soccer since the 1990s, Christie said the sport is growing in the Bahamas and they now have a full blown national team that is competing regionally and their first step to prominence comes on Saturday with the opening of the facility.

To coincide with the brief opening ceremony, Christie said the BFA has organised a friendly match with the men’s national team against the Jamaican national team. Jamaica, by the way, has been the powerhouse in the region in soccer, having played at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.

Dr Daniel Johnson, the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, is expected to officially open the facility just before the game starts promptly at 3pm. Gates open at 12:30pm.

Christie will be a part of the team that will play Jamaica 2pm Saturday at the new site.

The team will be coached by Roberto Ceciliano, who has taken the team to two CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers.

“This is the best mental and physical shape he has ever seen the team in. We are well prepared to take on the Reggae Boyz,” Ceciliano said.

In addition to Christie, the other members are Lesly St Fleur, Chris Davis, Valin Bodie, Gary Joseph, Mark Daniels, Ehren Hanna, Kyle Williams, Dominique Bannister, Dwayne Forbes, Julian Smith, Nesley Jean, Cameron Hepple and Torin Ferguson.

“The team is looking good. It’s strong,” said Christie, who serves as the captain. “We’ve been training for some time, so we are looking good. The guys are ready. I think it will be a good team. The Jamaicans are always strong. They always have a good representation, but I think it will be a very exciting match to watch.”

Prior to Saturday’s opening and game, players from both the Bahamas and Jamaica will entertain about 50 children from the Ranfurly Homes and other charitable organisations in a beach volleyball clinic set for 2-4pm Friday.