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Grand Bahama Members of the Bahamas U15 Soccer Team Welcomed Home
By Robbin Whachell, The Bahamas Weekly News Team
Aug 22, 2014 - 1:48:53 PM

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GRAND BAHAMA: The girls were welcomed back in style by their Grand Bahama coaches and families. "We are very proud of our eight Grand Bahama soccer players who made the under 15 National team. Seven of the eight started in the quarter final game against Trinidad," said Coach Mary Woodside.

Freeport, Grand Bahama Island - The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) held its inaugural Girls’ Under-15 Championship, in Cayman Islands in August, and team Bahamas was a part of the history with a total of 16 teams.

Topping the excitement, Team Bahamas won their first match against Curacao with a 3 - 0 score on August 6th. Jaleah Taylor, Meaghan Smith and Marisa Vietti all scored a goal a piece for The Bahamas. Marisa Vietti was named Player of the Game. All the fore mentioned girls are from Grand Bahama Island, and
Hanna Joy Simms was appointed team caption, while Marisa Vietti was appointed co-captain.

"We are extremely proud of our girls and would like to extend congratulations to the New Providence delegation which includes the coaching staff," said Coach Mary Woodside-Knowles. " Although we are very happy that so many girls from Grand Bahama were on the team, we continue to advocate for the rest of the family islands be given the same opportunity."

The 16 international teams were placed into four groups of four and participated in round-robin play over 6 days.  The overall winner was Canada, beating Haiti when the final went into overtime with penalty kicks.


Returning to home, the Grand Bahama contingent received a warm welcome at the airport from local coaches and families who support them throughout the year. The girls were training 5-6 days a week in Grand Bahama prior to the big trip. Earlier this year the Grand Bahama national players traveled to Florida with their local coaches and won both of their matches.

With women's soccer making steady upward movement around the planet, it's great to see young Bahamian talent out in the international arena.  The FIFA Women's World Cup will be held in Canada in 2015 and it would be fantastic to have Bahamas one day represented at that level. The development of our youth is monumental toward that effort, and local coaches like Knowles, Woodside, and Parkes, along with so many other coaches that volunteer their time, can indeed make it a reality!

The Grand Bahama Girls' Soccer Developmental League will reconvene in early October and takes place Saturday afternoons at the Freeport Rugby Football Club.

Bahamas Earns Historic Berth To Quarter-Finals Of Inaugural Concacaf Girls Under-15 Championship

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GRAND BAHAMA: Looking good in their national colors, the Grand Bahama contingent from the U15 Team Bahamas were welcomed home by their proud local coaches. "We hope to see many more of you in this attire in the years to come. WORK HARD!!!" said Coach Knowles. Picture from left to right: Coach Donnie Knowles, Nina Sanchez, Hanna Joy Simms (captain), Jaleah Taylor, Gabrielle Simms, Abigail Simms, Marisa Vietti (co captain), Meaghan Smith, Coach Mary Woodside-Knowles, Coach Rohan Parkes (Missing from picture-McKell Yallop)


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CAYMAN: The National Team in Cayman Islands with 5 players from Grand Bahama. CONCACAF inaugural U15 Championships.



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