Florida National University wins Brac Cup

By Cayman Sports Buzz
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Updated: 29 August 2017

FNU Conquistadors won both of their games. (Photos courtesy Sports Assn. of the Sister Islands)

A comparatively strong Florida National University squad beat Cayman Brac FC and a Cayman U20 Select Team to hoist the 2017 Brac Cup Invitational pre-season tournament last weekend.

The tournament opened on Friday 25 August with the speedy and skillful FNU Conquistadors hammering Cayman Brac FC 5-1. Stephen Tatum scored for the hosts, while Rodrigo Bandeira Da Costa led FNU with a hattrick. Pedro Lacerda Veiga and David Mancada also scored for the Conquistadors.

Cayman Airways Cayman Brac Station Manager Lucille Walton presents the Brac Cup Champion Trophy to Florida National University.

FNU picked up their second won on Saturday, beating Cayman U20 Select 5-2. Rodrigo Bandeira Da Costa scored his fourth goal of the tournament and sealed his spot as the leading scorer for the competition. George Perez Cruz, Gabriel De Oliveira Barbosa and Pedro Lacerda Veiga also found the back of the net for FNU. Meantime, Cayman’s scorers were Kion Parchmont and Trey Ebanks.

Sunday’s game brought together Cayman U20 Select and Cayman Brac FC – two sides seeking their first win as they battled for second place. Teenagers Michael Martin (CBFC) and Kareem Foster (CIU20) scored in regulation but penalty kicks were required to break the stalemate. In the end, Cayman U20 Select won 3-1.

D’Andre Rowe of Cayman U20 Select was judged to be the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Attracting Florida National University for the tournament provided local players with the opportunity to play against quality overseas opposition ahead of the upcoming season. FNU’s squad includes players from Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, and Angola.

The pre-season tournament was also valuable experience for the U20 Select team, which consisted of very young players ranging from 15-18 years old.

Brac Cup MVP D’Andre Rowe with CINICO CEO Lonny Tibbetts.

“Tournaments like Brac Cup are very important in the developmental stages of these young players, in providing quality competition, exposure, and much needed playing experience,” said tournament director Harold Mitchum Sanford, who is also Sports Coordinator for the Sister Islands Sports Department.

“For the local boys of Cayman Brac FC, this tournament is a dream come true. Some of their objectives include showcasing the young 14-18 boys to universities from the USA and to the Cayman Islands. Like the CI U20s, we too are seeking better and tougher competition from overseas to gain valuable experiences, highlight our young players, forge friendships, and test of fortitude,” said Sanford, who has the additional responsibility of being the Cayman Brac FC Head Coach.

Last year, Cayman Brac FC players were rewarded for their efforts with Ronaldo Mirrison securing a partial scholarship to Johnson & Wales University, last year’s Brac Cup winners, and Michael Martin signed a one-year professional contract with Jamaican club Harbour View FC. “Those are the type of wins that the CBFC are aiming for when we enter the football field,” Sanford said.

Cayman U20 Select

Cayman Brac FC

Organisers expressed thanks to Cayman Airways, Ministry of District Administration, Tourism and Transport, the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Lands, CINICO, Civil Aviation Authority, SASI, Sister Islands Sports Department, District Administration, PWD, DEH, RCIPS, HSA, Fire Service, CIFA, Cayman Islands Referee Association, Carib Sands Management, La Esperanza Resort, Tonry Lazzari, Quick Images, Florida National University, Cayman Islands U-20 Select, Honorable Deputy Premier Moses Kirkconnell, Ventisha Conolly, DJ Slim, Public Works Department Team, Janitorial Team, Ralston Dilbert, Levonna Cotes, Anthony Knight, Sophia Johnston, Ball Boys & Girls, Volunteer Coordinators, and the Local Organising Committee.