Football skills flow on the pitch

Molly Kehoe and Victor Thompson Jr beat the competition for a trip to Trinidad.

Two footballers, who have represented the Cayman Islands at the U15 level, have won the opportunity to compete against others from across the Caribbean for an opportunity to travel to Old Trafford to watch Manchester United in action.

Molly Kehoe and Victor Thompson Jr beat out the competition at the Flow Skills Ultimate Football Experience at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex on 28 January.

They were among nearly 20 players who were put through their paces during the event that saw them take part in a series of drills and games against their peers. The event was hosted by telecommunications provider, Flow.

“Across the Caribbean, we want to support the youth and their development, and we’ve made quite a natural fit between ourselves and Manchester United – we carry Premier League football, we support football throughout the region as well,” said Carolyn Lawe-Smith, the marketing manager for Flow Cayman Islands.

Players 12-16 also competed in a series of games.

“We have some young footballers, who go out and train everyday and this is where we can go out and give them some recognition, as well as some benefits to go with it,” she added.

Local coaches were on hand to supervise the athletes vying for the two spots. They were scored on their performance in dribbling, passing and shooting drills, as well as based on how they played in the games.

Kehoe, a 13-year-old who plays for Sunset Football Club and Cayman Prep & High School said she enjoyed the thrill of competition and was delighted to be one of the two players selected to move on to Trinidad.

Molly Kehoe with Sports Councillor David Wight (left) and Flow Manager for Consumer Sales, Dwayne Mellaneo.

“I feel proud of myself. I think it’s pretty cool and I’m going to get good exposure,” said Kehoe, who in September was named Cayman Sports Buzz Emerging Footballer of the Year. She was a member of the Cayman Islands team that competed in the 2016 CONCACAF U15 Girls Championship and won two of their three games.

Thompson, who plays for Academy Sports Club, was also thrilled about being named as one of the two players to represent the Cayman Islands at the skills challenge featuring players from across the Caribbean.

“I was just trying to do everything to the best of my ability and work hard, and it paid off,” the 15-year-old said. “This is a really great opportunity for me to expand my football and play overseas and maybe try to go to an academy overseas because it’s the next step for me.”

Victor Thompson Jr with Sports Councillor David Wight (left) and Flow Manager for Consumer Sales, Dwayne Mellaneo.

Thompson was a member of the national team that competed in the CONCACAF U115 Boys’ Championship last summer. That side finished top of their group after winning all three of their preliminary round games.

Kehoe and Thompson could potentially earn a VIP trip that includes touring Old Trafford Stadium in the UK and viewing a Manchester United home game. To do so, they’ll have to do what they did on Sunday and outshine players from the other 14 Flow markets in March.

“The Flow Skills Ultimate Football Experience is a reflection of the Company’s dedication to helping young people excel in athletics, and we hope that this experience will be both memorable and informative,” said Danny Tathum, Flow Managing Director.

“I am delighted that we were able to bring this event to the island again this year. Manchester United is one of the best football clubs in the world, and the Flow Skills experience will give these young players an idea of the physical and mental agility that is required to play at the highest level of the game.”

In 2017, a pair of players from Cayman Athletic SC, Cody Ebanks and D’Andre Rowe, were selected to compete at the regional finals.

Players and coaches with Flow representatives at the Flow Skills Ultimate Football Experience.

 

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