By Beverly Melbourne

The Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA) sent Head Coach Bobby McLaren and Team Manager Gloria Gall to Haiti recently as part of the preparations for the Cayman Islands National Under-17 Girls trip there for participation in the FIFA World Cup Qualifying / CFU Under-17 Girls preliminary round games in November.

McLaren and Gall were met by Chairman of Women’s Football in Haiti, Monique Andre, who escorted them through immigration and customs and then to their hotel nearby.

The Hotel where the girls will be staying is located in central Port Au Prince parallel to the Haitian Presidential Estate and is fully patrolled with adequate security and has an oasis effect based on the tranquil environment found within.

The team menu was provided and given to the hotel to ensure that the team’s nutritional needs were met individually. Both Ms Gall and Mr McLaren had meals there and the standard of preparation and taste was acceptable.

The girls will be transported by a bus, compliments of the Haiti Football Association, which was obtained from the government. This bus appeared to be in good condition based on their observations.

The National Stadium is approximately seven minutes away from the hotel. This venue seems to be in good security standings with artificial turf similar to the ones on the Cayman Islands as well as changing room facilities.

A fully equipped Hospital and Medical Centre is within ten minutes drive of both the Plaza Hotel and the National Stadium. Observations made at this facility proved that it was clean, security was tight and the staff seemed very professional.

“Overall the stage is set for a comfortable trip as the Supermarket is also near to the Hotel and has the basic needs available in case we need additional items for the girls. We are hoping by the help of the almighty that we will have a safe, incident-free and successful trip to Haiti.”

“Based on the hospitality and high level of the organization of the Haitian Local Organizing Committee, I have no reservations regarding our participation in the FIFA Group “A” World Cup qualifying games in Haiti,” Mr McLaren commented.

The Cayman Under 17 girls will participate in Group A which consists of Haiti, British Virgin Islands, The Cayman Islands and The Bahamas. The competition kicks off on November 2 and ends November 6. The team leaves the Cayman Islands on October 31 and returns on November 7.

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 form the core of players who will travel to Haiti to represent the island.

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

Mexico, Canada, USA and a host of Central American Countries have already been qualified for this round.

The young girls should have passed this stage in Trinidad earlier this year, but were hampered by the outbreak of the H1N1 (Swine Flu) Virus in that country. Since then the girls have kept up the pace in training very hard in all areas of the preparations and are very keen on getting to the next level of this qualification.