Girls encouraged to get out on the pitch

(CNS): As preparations get underway for another regional development football tournament in Cayman this summer, organisers were spreading the word on the benefits of football for girls as well as boys in the country’s schools. Cayman will be hosting the CONCACAF Girls’ U-15 Championship in August and the Local Organising Committee chair Sharon Roulstone told high school students about the importance of football in shaping lives and encouraged more girls to part in the sport and to come out and support the female teen team during the tournament which is set for 6-17 August. 

“I hope that the school visits will create an awareness amongst our young ladies that football is not just a beautiful game, but that it actually helps build important life skills,” Roulstone said after officials addressed over 500 girls at schools across the Islands. “I hope our visits and the CONCACAF Girls’ U-15 Championship this summer will evoke new interest in the sport and that in time, Cayman will develop strong and vibrant girls' and women's teams that will be the envy in this region.”

The Under 15 Girls’ competition follows the Boys’ Under 15 tournament that was hosted in the Cayman Islands last year and was won by Honduras.  This championship features teams from 16 countries within the confederation.

“CIFA hopes that by promoting national representation that more girls will want to be involved in football and aspire to be part of our national program and represent the Cayman Islands,”  said CIFA Vice President Bruce Blake. “This is an opportunity for the students to meet and interact with the young ladies that will be representing the Cayman Islands at the upcoming CONCACAF Girls’ Under 15 Championship scheduled for August 2014 in the Cayman Islands. We thank the schools foraccommodating us in their busy exam and graduation period,” added Blake.

The Cayman Islands will contest Group A against Curacao, Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands.