The 2009 Anguilla Female Football League (AFFL) was touted a success by its organizers and sponsors at a grand Closing Ceremony on Saturday June 20 at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School Campus B Auditorium.

The presentation ceremony

Sponsored by the Caribbean Commercial Bank (CCB), the league was conducted under the theme “For the Good of the Game” and matched up five football clubs from across the island. The five were the 2009 League Winners Super Stars, second place finishers Shining Stars, De Youngsters who took third, Gazelles and Lil’ Soldiers. Best Strikers for the league were Morihinzi Richardson and Vanessa Bradley. The award for Best Defender went to Shakeela Romney while Best Midfielder was Annyjay Zuran. Addelie Gibbons took home the award for Best Goal Keeper.

The Closing Ceremony included the National Song, an Invocation by Footballer Crystal Webster, Welcome Remarks and short speeches by AFFL Chairman and Anguilla Football Association (AFA) First Vice President Diana Claxton-Carty, CCB Representative Michele Harrigan and Director of Sports Alkins Rogers. Female Development Officer and Head Coach of the National Female Football Team Collin Johnson also presented a report on Female Football in Anguilla. The Vote of Thanks was delivered by Footballer Kericia Barry.

The presentation ceremony

Mrs. Carty expressed gratefulness to CCB for its support and looked forward to continuing the partnership to develop female football. She said the matches were competitive and exciting “and the best club won.” She encouraged players to maintain their high level of fitness by continuing to practice. The Association VP also thanked the supporters and asked that they continue to support the game “on a whole on the island.” She congratulated all who won awards and stressed that players who were not successful in winning awards should use the opportunity to set goals for the next season and work hard to achieve them.

Carty divulged that the AFA new stadium may soon be in use in spite of the global financial situation which, she said greatly impacted the progress of works there.

The coveted trophies and medals

Mrs. Harrigan of CCB described the tournament as “wonderful” and the matches as “exciting.” Herself a Goal Keeper in the league, Harrigan commented that she had the opportunity to witness, up close, “talent in galore.” She said CCB had continued to show its commitment to the development of Female Football on Anguilla through its sponsorship. The Rep stated her bank’s wish to see the game grow and admonished players to carry themselves with pride and dignity and promote fair play. She congratulated all the awardees and looked ahead to next year’s tournament.

Sports Directorate’s Alkins Rogers reiterated that the tournament was exciting. He congratulated all the teams and players, as well as the coaches who assisted the clubs. He remembered the hard work of the league’s organisers and parents of the players, especially those who regularly supported the matches with their presence. Mr. Rogers thanked CCB for continuing to put emphasis in the tournament.

Development Officer Johnson voiced his pleasure that there were no major injuries throughout the season. He agreed that the matches were exciting and added that all the scheduled matches were completed. He congratulated the Superstars, all the league coaches and its officials.

Female football coach Colin Johnson

Mr. Johnson said he was particularly impressed with De Youngsters Club who “not only showed tremendous improvement with their football, but also in their behaviour and commitment to the game.” He thanked the “few senior players who took the time and patience to mould the younger players. Johnson noted that this year the younger players had a greater impact on the games. He trusted that, as football grows and develops the younger players wouldl go from strength to strength.

Johnson disclosed that this year the National Under-20 Female Team (selected from the best in the Female League) would prepare to participate in the CFU Under-20 competition in September in Cuba. He declared it would be a “perfect opportunity for our girls to get back at Cuba who defeated us by a score of 7 goals to 2” in the last competition which was also held in Cuba. He opined that female football was on the rise and advised the players to practice hard, develop fitness and toughness, and develop discipline. Practice for the National Under-20 Team will begin on Monday June 29.

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