The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

MINISTER of Education, Science and Technology Jeffrey Lloyd liked what he saw from the organisation, to the facility to the participation of the teams in the second annual Sam Haven Jr National High School Soccer Championships.

The event, held in conjunction with Lloyd’s ministry and the Bahamas Football Association, got underway yesterday at the Roscow Davies Developmental Center and will continue on Thursday before the finals in both the under-18 boys and girls games will be played.

“It’s fantastic, hats off to our team, led by Evon Wisdom, and the coaches in the various schools, especially Anatol Rodgers, who kicked off this season of championship with a victory,” said Lloyd prior to officially opening the tournament.

“I’m really proud of the coaches for what they have demonstrated during the course of the season to get their teams ready. I’m also very impressed with the facilities, it’s almost immaculate, almost at an international standard.”

Lloyd, however, said he anticipates that the support for the young people participating in their extra curricular activities will come out and give them their support in a sport that is excelling on the international scene and are providing scholarships for players.

“This is going to be a fantastic weekend. I expect the competition level will be just as high as it was last year,” he said. “Our country is proving to be one of the merging talents in this region, so we expect to see some very good football on display.”

Wisdom, the director of sports in the Ministry of Education, said once Lloyd is happy, he knows that everything will go very well this year.

“We seem to have balance throughout the teams participating, although we got an early surprise with Anatol Rodgers ousting St Andrew’s in the girls’ game and Aquinas College got a big win over favourite Government High,” Wisdom said. “So I am very happy with what I’ve seen and I look forward to a very competitive tournament through Saturday when the champions are crowned. We are inviting the public to come out and watch some very exciting school competition.”

Representing their family, Lionel Haven said the event is befitting of their deceased brother and he commended both the ministry and the BFA for helping to keep the memory of the late Sam Haven Jr alive.

“We know that Sam was always instrumental in the development of soccer in the country and more so the young players in the sport, so to see an event like this being held in his honour is something special that we will cherish,” he said.

“This is just the second year, but having been through the ropes with it myself, I know that it will only get better.

“But so far, we have already seen an improvement from last year, so we’re pleased with what we’ve seen so far.”

Sam Haven was one of the island nation’s most prolific soccer players and sports administrators. He died in 2014 at the Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, Florida, after battling cancer. Haven was one of the top players with United Football Club, formerly Nick’s Body Shop, where he played with his brother Lionel, Steven Bellot, Brian Serville, Peter Daniels and Andy Guillaume. He eventually became the coach and president of the club. Under his direction, the late Haven guided United Football to numerous national championships.