Football tournaments benefit the community

(CNS): The director of Cayman Islands National Football teams has said that the opportunities being provided by the regional football body go way beyond the goal count and competition on the pitch. Renard Moxam said tournaments held here provide great opportunities for young sports men and woman, improve standards for players, the pride for Caymanians in hosting international events as well as the benefits to the economy. As he oversees the preparations for the CONCACAF Girls U-15 tournament, which kicks off on 6 August and will take place on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac, the local football director said winning would be great but it's not all that matters.

While he acknowledged that watching a local team become victorious is the ultimate goal, Moxam said success is not only be measured by winning.

“The wins and loss column is an important barometer that is looked at by most, but equally looking at the bigger picture,” he stated. “The larger goal is to make a major contribution towards the molding of young people in a positive manner and towards them becoming better athletes and better people, who will hopefully take future roles in the positive development of society.”

Moxam explained that these type of competitions provide an opportunity for Cayman players to learn how to perform under pressure as part of a team. "A vital skill that should benefit future generations of Caymanians whether at work, school or play," he added.

As well as the economic benefits the director said another key benefit to the local community is the pride felt by hosting international events of this magnitude. In the last year the Cayman Islands has successfully hosted the inaugural Boys’ U-15 Championship in August 2013, the first ever CONCACAF Sports Summit and the Women’s’ U-20 Championship in January 2014.

Having been involved in local football for more than three decades in several capacities, Moxam expressed great pride in Cayman’s track record as a host of regional football competitions and faith that the local organisers will deliver another world-class competition. “The Cayman Islands will be seen as a fantastic host country, wherein the true Caymanian spirit will come to the forefront and from a sporting stand point, that our country is seen as a viable challenger in future tournaments," he said.

The CONCACAF Girls’ Under 15 Championship will be held at four venues. The Truman Bodden Sports Complex, T.E. McField Sports Centre, Ed Bush Sports Centre
and Cayman Brac Sports Field.

Group A: Cayman Islands, Curacao, Bahamas, British Virgin Islands
Group B: Honduras, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Bermuda
Group C: Jamaica, Costa Rica, Anguilla, Belize
Group D: Canada, Haiti, Cuba, Puerto Rico