The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

WITH much of the country’s focus on international soccer at the professional level this week, the Bahamas Football Association has provided an opportunity for junior players to showcase their skills as well.

The BFA will be hosting a series of exhibition matches against a pair of highly ranked club sides out of the state of Florida at the Roscow Davies Soccer Field. Several select squads will play against FC Florida and Wesley Chapel over the weekend.

On Thursday, May 23, FC Florida, ranked third in the state of Florida, is scheduled to face United FC at 5:30pm.

The following day, FC Florida is slated to take on the Centre of Excellence U15 B at 6pm followed by Wesley Chapel against Center of Excellence U17 B in the nightcap at 8pm.

In the final series of the exhibitions on May 25, FC FLorida is set to face Center of Excellence U17 G while Wesley Chapel will face the Center Of Excellence U15 B.

The teams will also use the opportunity to take in the friendly between the Jamaican national team and Tottenham Hotspur in the brand new 15,000-seat Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

The FC Florida mission is to provide instructional and competitive soccer playing opportunities through specific programming designed for the individual development of our players regardless of their level of play, which provides professional training for youth ages 9-18.”

According to its website, FC Florida is “South Florida’s premier youth soccer club” with the mission statement -

“In order to accomplish our overall mission, FC Florida offers a variety of soccer programmes, each with specific objectives and philosophies.”

The Bahamas continues to be a viable option for visiting teams to train at the junior level.

Just last month, The Key West Strikers’ Under 14 B soccer team, who won the American Youth Soccer Organisation (AYSO) state championship title in January, visited the Bahamas to play in an exhibition series.

These same teams from Key West also made history in 2011 as the first US soccer team to compete at the Cuban National Youth Games.