Team members and the technical bench after the Digicel treat. (Photos by Mwangi Ngamate)

By Beverly Melbourne and Mwangi Ngamate

The Cayman Islands national U-17 team destroyed British Virgin Islands 13-0 in a CFU World Cup qualifying tournament game on Wednesday 5 October at the Sylvio Cator Stadium in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, before over fourteen thousand spectators. Scoring the goals were Ashani Francis in the 6th, Shanice Montieth in the 8th, 31st, 54th and 56th, Brianna Hydes in the 3th and 90th, Ashleigh Shim in the 26th, 28th,73rd and 81st, and Shennelle Frederick in the 43rd and 49th.

Speaking on the victory, the Minister for Sports thanked the girls for their gallant fight, which guaranteed them at least a second place finish in the tournament.

The Father of Ashani Francis, Joel Francis said that the journey is yet to be finished and a lot of work needed to be done.

“I am proud of what the girls have done, especially being the first time they have performed in front of a crowd in excess of 10,000 people.

“This is a product of their hard work and is a credit to the coaching staff who had the enviable task of coaching to the peak during summer, only for the tournament that was expected in Trinidad and Tobago to be cancelled.”

Before the team left for Haiti, Digicel Cayman treated the Cayman Islands National Under-17 Girls with promotional items at the company’s corporate office Thursday, 29 October morning.

The promotional items were handed out to the girls, the coaches, the Team Manager and Chairman of the Women’s Committee Martha Godet by Digicel Marketing Executive, Atanda La Forest, as their contribution to the girls trip to Haiti to participate in the FIFA World Cup Qualifying / CFU Under-17 Girls preliminary round games.

Coach Bobby McLaren thanked Digicel on behalf of the group saying, “On behalf of the team I thank Digicel for this treat. The girls appreciate these items as they will look uniform throughout their stay in Haiti. Digicel are partners with CIFA and have always been there for the players, both male and female. Thanks a million, Digicel.”

The Cayman Under 17 girls are part of Group A which consists of Haiti, British Virgin Islands, The Cayman Islands and The Bahamas.

The squad consists of Shanelle Doleena Frederick, Brittany Mae Mobley, Marissa Gesenya McLaughlin, Emily Elaine Kelly, Marie Chin, Brianna Ashley Hydes, Chelsea Ann Bush, Shanice Nicole Monteith, Ashani Joy Francis Collins, Ashley Marie Borde, Tacita Helise Berry, Kaela Moriah Ebanks, Chelsea Victoria Brown, Xochilt Ann Watler, Chelsea Lee Greene, Chloe Fay McLean and Ashleigh Jerise Shim and are accompanied by Head of Delegation David Frederick, Head Coach Bobby McLaren, Technical Director Thiago Cunha, Martha Godet, Gloria Gall, Annette Monteith and Al Bartice.

The winner and the best second-placed team will advance to participate in the CONCACAF Qualifying rounds scheduled to be played in December.

The girls have been training very hard for this tournament for the last eight months and are expected to perform well.