Youth leagues kick-off in coming weeks

By Cayman Sports Buzz
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Updated: 16 January 2018

Elite SC and Sunset FC are set to have girls teams at every age group.

The Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA) is set to kick off its 2018 youth leagues starting later this month with play scheduled in eight different divisions. Ahead of that, a “Football Fest” is scheduled for Saturday, 20 January, to help boost participation among girls.

Only a handful of clubs have been propping up the girls’ game in recent years. It is hoped the Football Fest at the CIFA Centre of Excellence Field in Prospect will attract more girls to participate. CIFA President Alfredo Whittaker said the event, which starts at 9:00 a.m., is open to girls 10 years and older – even those who are not members of clubs. He said there would be a possibility of such players to join teams.

Details about the leagues:

The U11 Boys League is slated to begin 27 January with games on Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Teams from eight clubs have confirmed their participation: Academy Sports Club, Future Sports Club, George Town Sports Club, Latinos Football Club, Prospect Academy, Sunset Football Club, Tigers Football Club and the newly-established 345 FC.

Play in the U11 Girls League is set to start on the same date with four clubs fielding teams: Academy Sports Club, Elite Sports Club, George Town Sports Club and Sunset Football Club. Games will be played Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. The same four clubs are also competing in the Girls U13 League, which starts on 3 February.

The U13 Boys League is set to have the highest level of participation from clubs, with as many as 10 of them fielding at least one team. Competing clubs are 345 FC, Academy Sports Club, Bodden Town Football Club, Cayman Athletic Sports Club, East End United, Future Sports Club, George Town Sports Club, Latinos Football Club, Sunset Football Club and Tigers Football Club. U13 Boys will play their league games on Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. starting 27 January.

Tigers vs George Town in U11 action last year.

Games are scheduled to being on 3 February for the U13 Girls League with teams from Academy Sports Club, Elite Sports Club, George Town Sports Club and Sunset Football Club. Games are scheduled for 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

The U15 Boys League is set to have six clubs competing: Academy Sports Club, Bodden Town Football Club, Cayman Athletic Sports Club, Cayman Brac Football Club, Scholars International and Sunset Football Club. Games are scheduled for Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. and Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m.

U15 Girls are scheduled to begin their league on 1 February with games at 6:00 p.m. on Thursdays. Four clubs are participating: Academy Sports Club, Elite Sports Club, George Town Sports Club and Sunset Football Club.

As many as six clubs have indicated they will compete in the U17 Boys League with games to be played Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. and Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m. Academy Sports Club, Alliance Football Club, Bodden Town Football Club, Cayman Athletic Sports Club, Sunset Football Club and Tigers Football Club are set to participate.

At last check, three teams – Academy Sports Club, Elite Sports Club and Sunset Football Club – had conformed their participation in the U18 Girls League with a possibility of two others fielding teams. That league is scheduled to begin on 8 February.

CaymanSportsBuzz.com will have further details on schedules as they become available.