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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Soccer photos by Darren Rollins - Photo of Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein by Reuters
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FREEPORT, Grand Bahama -- HRH Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, a leading figure from FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association), the governing body for world soccer attended the launch of the new Grand Bahama women’s champions league on Sunday, March 1st held at the Freeport Football Rugby Club. He went on to visit Nassau after his brief stay in Freeport.
Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein is the third son of the late King Hussein and is vice president of the organisation’s Asia region and hit headlines around the globe when he announced in January he was to challenge Sepp Blatter for the presidency in an election in May.
Seventy-nine-year-old Blatter has been in the top job running the world’s most popular sport for 17 years, a period during which FIFA has been hit by bribery and corruption allegations in internal elections and World Cup hosting choices, and alleged scams over World Cup tickets.
The appearance of the Prince, who has been a champion of the women’s game and has been prominent in the campaign to spotlight corruption, was the icing on the cake for an event which had sparked imaginations and had already brought out a record crowd.
"I had to pinch myself when the Prince of Jordan's representative came and told me the prince would be coming to the girls' games in half an hour, said coach Mary Woodside-Knowles. "He started talking about the protocol and if we could arrange some shade for him to sit. He did not stay very long though but it was still some added excitement to the day."
Sixty women and girls are taking part in the league with four squads representing Chelsea, Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, and Real Madrid, with all players wearing authentic club kit. The ages range from the mid-20s (all graduates of the girls’ league which plays at the club on Saturday afternoons for five months a year) to 12. The teams are a mixture of ages and were selected with great razzmatazz in a draft event at Mary Star of the Sea auditorium three weeks ago since which they are been through high tempo evening training sessions at the club.
Part of the strategy behind the new league, apart from reviving women’s soccer as a competitive sport on the island, was to give an opportunity for the younger girls playing in the Saturday league to hone their skills in company with more seasoned and physically stronger players. It has proved a great learning experience for them.
A number of those on the field on Sunday were back on Grand Bahama after playing at college level in the US on soccer scholarships. Among the younger ones were some who have already turned out for the Bahamas national teams at junior level. Generally the standard of play was extremely high and it kept the large, very vocal crowd of spectators well entertained.
The opening day saw Chelsea beat Barcelona 3-2 with a good fight back by the latter who were 3-0 down at one stage. The second game saw Dortmund beat Real Madrid. The competition is to be played out on every Sunday afternoon until mid-May.
The new league is the brainchild of Mary Woodside and Donnie Knowles, who pioneered the girls’ league over a decade ago. The team and kit sponsors are Paradox Security, Pharmachem, Sanitation Services and Subway.
HRH Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein with Chef Emmanuel Smith at Sabor Restaurant in Grand Bahama
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