The second edition of the competition sees the best teams in the Caribe region compete for glory in Nassau
The Beach Soccer Stadium at Malcolm Park, at the foot of the Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge in Nassau, is the stage for the 2022 Bahamas Beach Soccer Cup, with the kick-off set for this Friday at 18.00h local time.
The competition was presented in a press conference that had the presence of members of the Bahamas Football Association and the local government.
The hosts’ men’s national beach soccer team will face Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago and Costa Rica, and for Lesly St. Fleur, who was recently named in the 2022 Top 100 players shortlist, “the team is prepared for the tournament this weekend. We have been preparing very hard even during the pandemic but not playing enough games. We are happy that we finally get the games here and we get to showcase our talents in front of our country. We hope to be victorious and make the country proud.”
Gavin Christie, former men’s national beach soccer player, who will now be coaching the team, talked about the return of beach soccer international competition to the Bahamas: “Beach soccer is finally back in The Bahamas. Due to COVID, the sport had to sit back for a while and we were off for the past year and a half to two. We finally have it back on our shores, we are excited. I am excited in the new venture where I move from player to coach. The team has been begging for an opportunity to play.”
This year also sees a women’s tournament take place, with Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago and Turks and Caicos competing for the trophy.
Hadassah Knowles, Bahamas’s forward said that she is “very excited to be playing in this tournament. We have been training very hard and team chemistry is at its peak, so nothing but high hopes for this tournament. I’m very happy to be playing for and in front of my country.”
The women’s team is coached by Daria Adderley, who claimed: “this is our first international tournament here in The Bahamas. We are going to be playing on Saturday and Sunday. We are very excited for the tournament and happy that the country will get to see us perform.”
Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg is excited about the attention The Bahamas will receive from this event: “It is great that beach soccer is coming back to The Bahamas. It is a growing sport that has continued to excite fans across the world. The acrobatic and fast plays provide entertainment for even the casual fans. It is expected that the event will bring excitement for all, and we should all support our national teams and their return to international competition.”
You can check all informations regarding the Bahamas Beach Soccer Cup 2022 at beachsoccer.com .
FIXTURES
Friday 21 October
18.00h: Trinidad and Tobago – Turks and Caicos (Women’s tournament)
19.15h: Costa Rica – Colombia
20.30h: Trinidad and Tobago – Bahamas
Saturday 22 October
18.00h: Bahamas – Turks and Caicos (Women’s tournament)
19.15h: Colombia – Trinidad and Tobago
20.30h: Bahamas – Costa Rica
Sunday 23 October
18.00h: Bahamas – Trinidad and Tobago (Women’s tournament)
19.15h: Costa Rica – Trinidad and Tobago
20.30h: Bahamas – Colombia