By Paul Nicholson
May 30 – Group 4 of the Women’s CFU Cup, the inaugural Caribbean Football Union event for senior women, kicks off today in Haiti. To date the tournament is being hailed a success despite the unforeseen withdrawals of Dominica, Guadeloupe and now Anguilla.
The Anguilla Football Association informed the CFU that due to health issues being experienced by some of the players they would not be able to field a team in the tournament.
Similar;y Guadeloupe had earlier been forced to pull out of their qualification group because most of their players were exhibiting symptoms of the Chikungunya Virus (a mosquito born infection).
Dominica, not affected by the virus, had to pull out of their Group in Puerto Rico after a number of players failed to receive their United States Visas in time.
The winner of the Haitian group will join already qualified Antigua & Barbuda, Martinique and Bermuda at the finals in Trinidad and Tobago August 19-26. The fifth and final qualification group takes place in mid-June in Dominica.
The eight team final round will feature the First Round Group Winners, the two Best Overall Second Place Teams from the four team groups and host country Trinidad & Tobago.
Winners of the inaugural CFU Women’s Caribbean Cup will qualify for both the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup giving them a shot at qualifying tor the FIFA Women’s World Cup to be held in Canada next year.
Perhaps the surprise of the group stages so far was in Group 3 hosted in the Turks & Caicos Islands, with late championship entrant Bermuda coming through to win qualification.
Commenting on the historical nature of this inaugural tournament, CONCACAF vice president and FIFA executive committee member Sonia Bien-Aime said: “The inaugural CFU Women’s Caribbean Cup is a welcome step in the development and growth of woman’s football in the region.
“The Turks & Caicos Islands in hosting first round games took a massive step in contributing to this growth. The games here engaged the excitement and interest not only of the participants who played with great spirit and tenacity in evenly contested games not defined by the final scores, but the interest of residents and citizens was elevated. So far, it has been a tournament enjoyed by all raising not only the profile of the local FAs but creating much interest that should be manifested in increased numbers playing and celebrating this magical sport.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734792809labto1734792809ofdlr1734792809owdis1734792809ni@no1734792809slohc1734792809in.lu1734792809ap1734792809