Cayman U-15 tourney scores with international lineup
The Orlando City FC U-14 team will be competing at the tournament
(CNS): A dozen youth football teams are putting their final touches on preparations for the Cayman Airways Invitational Youth Football Cup, which kicks off here on 10 May. The tournament, organised by the West Bay Sports Foundation, has attracted under-15 squads from England, the US, Cuba, Honduras, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.
Among those making the trip will be a squad from the Manchester City FC Academy, one of the top-rated programmes in England.
“We are proud to participate in the 2016 Cayman Airways Invitational Youth Cup, and we are excited about supporting all of the good work already being carried out by the many skilled coaches in the region,” said Manchester City FC Academy technical director, Rodolfo Borrell.
“The high level of this tournament will also give our young players great experience of competing internationally and representing their club against top players from other territories,” he added.
Orlando City FC is one of five Major League Soccer (MLS) academies from the US competing in the tournament.
“Orlando City is a club with a passion for good football in a town overwhelmingly passionate about soccer. We look forward to a competitive week of soccer in the beautiful Cayman Islands,” said Greg Brick, the head coach of the team representing Orlando City FC at the tournament in Cayman. “It is our goal to experience quality soccer with teams from different parts of the world to improve our players and enhance our style of play.”
Other MLS squads taking part are LA Galaxy, Seattle Sounders FC, Houston Dynamo and DC United. IMG Academy from Florida is also competing, along with Club Deportivo Victoria from Honduras, Swindon Town FC from England, the Cuba National Under-15 Team, and Cavalier Soccer Club from Jamaica. A Cayman Academy SC Select team has been named to replace the Cayman Islands Select team that was initially slated to participate.
Cavalier Soccer Club representative Paul Maxwell said his side has been anticipating the opportunity to compete in the tournament.
“Preparations are coming along very well. We have played a number of under-20 teams in our preparations,” he said. “We’re coming to win. We’re not coming just to participate. We are going to show the other teams that there is quality football in the Caribbean. We hope to shock the other teams with the level of our play.”
Luis Hernandez Herez, the president of the Football Association of Cuba, also expressed excitement about the chance to play.
“Aware of the great importance it represents for young players to compete at this level and convinced that it will be a spectacular experience, we are happy to send our U-15 National Team to the tournament,” Herez said.
Match venues for the tournament will be the Truman Bodden Sports Complex in George Town and Ed Bush Stadium in West Bay.
The schedule for the matches is available on the Youth Football Cup website
