Futsal making waves in the Bahamas

Sunshine, palm trees, crystal-clear water and lazy holidays are the images that come to mind whenever the Bahamas are mentioned. Yet tropical paradise and idyllic resorts are not the only points of interest on this group of more than 700 islands and some 2,000 coral reefs, dotted in and around an 800-kilometre stretch of ocean between the south-east coast of Florida and the north-east of Cuba.
The Bahamas Football Association (BFA) has embarked on an ambitious programme to raise standards in all aspects of the game, establish a high-quality infrastructure and become a force to be reckoned with in the region. The latest project to bear fruit is a futsal programme, called into existence by the BFA just a few months ago.

The initial phase involved a six-team national futsal league for players over 35, effectively as an experiment to gauge levels of interest for the sport. "We've had a tremendous experience with the first season of our newly-established Bahamas Futsal League. It's been a great success. Six teams took part in the league and a knockout phase to determine the champions," said BFA General Secretary Lionel Haven.

Superior Warriors claim title
The league began on 15 June with matches on Wednesdays at the DW Davis Gymnasium in Nassau. The Superior Warriors remained unbeaten throughout the season to claim the title ahead of Union Peru, although the league runners-up claimed ample compensation with a 3-2 victory over Cavalier FC in a thrilling Cup final, a dramatic last act in an absorbing debut season. Leading scorer Kevin Davies of Cavalier FC was named Most Valuable Player of the season after guiding his side to third in the championship with an 18-goal tally. The BFA itself took part with a team named BFA Select, featuring appearances by BFA President Anton Sealey and General Secretary Haven.

Alongside the Cup final, the fans were treated to another highlight in an All-Star match between players selected from the four teams not represented at the Cup final. A 7-7 scoreline merely whetted the appetite for more. Sealey congratulated the champions and Cup winners, thanked everyone involved for their efforts, and pledged to lay on a second season.

Association delighted with progress
The BFA drew a series of positive conclusions. "Public interest grew from matchday to matchday. Average crowds were not especially high, but we still attracted some 200 spectators for the Cup final," Haven reported. A signal of rising interest was a number of enquiries from teams seeking to join the league just a few fixtures into the debut season. The BFA has also been asked about plans to establish more leagues, including a women's competition. "We at the association now need to sit down and evaluate what we've learnt from the first season, and establish the next steps. The increasing public interest means we definitely have to make futsal available to everyone," Haven summarised.

The next over-35 season is slated for November or December with an expanded format. Football is played outdoors between October and May, so the association intends to wait for the game to return indoors before establishing an open men's league and a women's league.

The BFA sent two representatives to the FIFA Futuro III course for coaching and refereeing instructors in Trinidad and Tobago last year to ensure the Bahamas possess the necessary technical expertise in these areas. The initiative has already translated into courses on the islands ahead of the sport's introduction.

Referee Arthur Taylor, one of the Bahamian delegates in Trinidad and Tobago, is responsible for futsal referees and used the first league competition as an advertisement for further potential refereeing candidates. The islands boast ample training facilities, including half-a-dozen basketball halls located on New Providence Island.

Plans for more leagues at an advanced stage
In the medium term, the plan envisages junior leagues alongside further open competitions for men and women. The guiding philosophy behind the comprehensive programme is to maintain consistent development in all areas of the sport, encompassing playing, coaching and refereeing. "However, we can't really start these leagues before we come indoors in May 2006, so we do have a little time to establish the right structures for our programme," Haven reasoned. The most difficult part - the first step - has already been taken.

source: fifa.com
Photos courtesy of BFA



Posted by Danilo Lemma --> danilo.lemma@futsalplanet.com