Montserrat victorious in opening game of CFU men’s tournament in Montserrat The excitement of regional football with very much an international flavour came to Montserrat Friday night as the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) kicked off its flagship tournament with a victory for the home team. Montserrat beat the United States Virgin Islands 1 nil with the lone goal coming in the 54th minute. There could have been more for the Montserrat team but as one commentator noted: “The goal post kept getting in the way.” At least two almost certain additional goals for the home team missed the mark thanks to the goal post. Hundreds of Montserrat residents streamed into the newly, and FIFA-sponsored Montserrat Football Association complex in the island’s safe zone to see the national team do battle against the United States Virgin Islands, one of two visiting teams here for the tournament, the other being Bonaire from the Dutch Caribbean. Opening night of the May 30th to June 3rd tournament was as exciting as much as it was anticipated. The local team, largely made of Montserrat-born players - or who otherwise have a Montserrat nationality - living in the United Kingdom and playing league or club football there, brought a buzz of excitement to the event. But although it was felt that Montserrat dominated the game, the USVI team put up a good fight. It was more than just a game for the Montserrat squad, MFA officials and the local government. Montserrat took on the challenge of hosting this leg of the tournament after the original hosts St Maarten dropped out. In a half-time on-location interview, Montserrat’s Premier Reuben Meade said: “For Montserrat to be able to host this says something very significant in terms of what Montserrat is capable of.” He was particularly full of praise for the Montserrat Football Association to get the still-under-construction facilities ready in time to host a major regional tournament. Gordon Derrick, president of the Caribbean Football Union echoed Premier Meade in lauding the Montserrat Football Association for taking on the challenge to host the games here. “First class, first class,” he declared, adding that, “we must diversify how thing are done within the Caribbean in that not only certain countries can host games. “So, when President Cassell(MFA President Vincent Cassell) indicated to me that he wanted to host this tournament, I said ‘you shall have it’.” The next game on Sunday night June 1st will see the USVI taking on Bonaire, while the final game in this leg will be between Montserrat and Bonaire on Tuesday June 3rd. Coming out of this leg, one of the three teams will go forward in qualifiers for next year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup. Additionally they will also play in the COPA America Centenario in 2016, a first for the regional game.
Posted on: Sat, 31 May 2014 22:15:22 +0000
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