The Tribune

By JONATHAN BURROWS

Tribune Sports Reporter

jburrows@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas’ under-15 boys national soccer team closed its opening round of the FIFA Under-15 World Cup and Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan, with a 1-0 defeat to Guam yesterday, leaving the young Bahamians searching for their first victory after four matches.

Guam scored the only goal of the contest at the Hovsan Competition Complex, handing The Bahamas its fourth consecutive loss at the inaugural international tournament.

The result followed defeats to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, both by 6-1 margins, and a narrow 2-1 loss to Myanmar, in which Omari Coke scored the Bahamians’ only goal of the match.

The Bahamas was also scheduled to face Ghana on Monday, with the fixture against Guam providing another opportunity to measure the team’s progress against international opposition.

Head coach Alexander Thompson said the opening matches had exposed the players to a level of competition beyond what most had experienced previously, but he remained encouraged by the team’s development throughout the tournament. “The first three games, I would say have been eye-opening for the players and the coaching staff,” Thompson said. “The players have never been to this part of the world. From the 14-member team, you only have one member of the team who’s ever been to Asia or the Middle East. The level of play is a step up from what we’re used to.”

Approximately 60 per cent of the squad previously competed in the Dominican Republic this summer, where The Bahamas recorded two wins and one defeat against Caribbean opposition.

Thompson said the difference in quality against Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan had presented a significant challenge, but the team had shown signs of improvement as the competition progressed.

“The first one, we had a bit of nerves,” he said. “The second one, we improved our defensive organisation and chance creation, though the scoreline didn’t reflect that.”

The coach pointed to the Myanmar match as the team’s most competitive performance of the opening fixtures, with The Bahamas creating opportunities and hitting the crossbar before settling for a 2-1 defeat.

“In the third game, we were in a fight and in a game that came down to the wire, where we actually had the majority of the chances and even hit the crossbar outside of a goal,” Thompson said. “It’s really just been amazing to see the progression of the players.”

The team’s opening-stage results will determine its placement in the next phase of the competition, where participating nations will be divided into six performance tiers based on their results.

The second stage is scheduled to begin today (Tuesday, October 27) with The Bahamas’ next opponent and kick-off time dependent on its final placement following the opening round.

The competition continues through October 30, giving the young Bahamians further opportunities to gain international experience and pursue their first victory.

Rather than eliminating teams after the opening round, the tournament is designed to give every side further opportunities to compete against similarly matched opposition. A champion will be crowned in each tier, with the Tier A winner recognised as the overall tournament champion.

The focus will now turn to making the most of its remaining matches and gaining further experience against international opponents.

Thompson said the team’s objective was to compete strongly in the next stage and secure victories before returning home.

The tournament provides the Bahamas Football Association with an opportunity to assess the country’s youth football development against international standards, while allowing players to take valuable experience back to their clubs and the domestic game.