The Saint Lucia Football Association Inc., Under-15 Girls District Championship kicked off last Saturday in Canaries in a spectacular display of friendly rivalry and fun, a feature that not only underscored the Association’s philosophy of what sports at that level should be, but underlined what sport should be globally.
Let Them Play, the global theme for the girl game was all about the girls last Saturday who played without any pressure from coaches, officials, fans and the general population at the Canaries playing field.
The six teams that participated had the freedom to enjoy themselves that day, and enjoy themselves they did. But the games were not measured only on a fun scale. It was an opportunity for the girls, individually, to grow their confidence and build real friendships amongst themselves.
It was also a time for coaches, and all technical personnel associated with SLFA Inc. to see how well the girls had developed their football skills coming out of the grassroots programmes implemented by the SLFA over the years.
A point, President of the SLFA Inc., Lyndon Cooper highlighted at the opening ceremony.
“As we begin this tournament, I want to continue to urge all those who have commence this journey with us that you are beginning to write the first chapter in your playing football history. And once you continue on this platform it is an indication that we are creating a safe place for you to play,” Cooper said.
But all of this could not have been possible without the willingness of parents to allow their daughters to take up the sport at an early age, a factor acknowledged by Cooper who reassured parents that SLFA Inc will do what it must to ensure that the girls continue to play in a safe space, developing their skills along the way, as football was meant to be.
With regards to the fans, Cooper reminded them that Saturday was not just the beginning of a chapter in the development of women’s football, but also the beginning of a new journey and partnership in women’s football and the general public.
He called on fans to respect the teams and the communities they hail from as the SLFA Inc moves to take women football in Saint Lucia to another level.
Six teams participated in the opening of the Under-15 Girls District Championship, although seven teams are listed to take part in the competition.
The seven teams are Anse-La-Raye, Canaries, Choiseul, Dennery, Desruisseaux, Soufriere and Vieux Fort North and South combined.
The teams will engage each other in a single round robin format. At the end of the round the top four teams will advance to the semi-finals and subsequently the finals.
In the three matches which took place last Saturday Soufriere defeated Choiseul 2 – 0, the Vieux Fort North and South combined went down to Desruisseaux 0 – 3 while Dennery defeated Canaries 3 -1.