By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Every year, the Bahamas Football Association has added a new dimension to its annual Samuel P. Haven Jr High School Soccer Nationals that will be held over the next two weeks in Grand Bahama and New Providence.

This year’s edition will return with the Northern divisional qualifying round in Grand Bahama this week and the addition of the junior boys and girls divisions for the first time when the nationals swing into high gear the following week.

The BFA revealed the latest developments during a press conference yesterday in the VIP Room of the Beach Soccer Stadium at the foot of the Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge.

Among those present were organisers from the BFA, both the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) and the Government Secondary Schools Sports Association (GSSSA), along with some of the participating schools and sponsors.

Carl Lynch, deputy general secretary of the BFA, said after getting started in 2016 when the Queen’s College Comets won the initial senior boys’ title and St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine carted off the senior girls’ crown, they have improved the level of play going into the sixth edition this year.

“We are proud to partner with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, alongside the participating schools associations,” Lynch said. 

With the return of defending champions Windsor School in the senior boys and Lyford Cay Dragons in the senior girls, Lynch said they are expected to host eight additional teams in both divisions from the GSSSA, BAISS, Grand Bahama Secondary Schools Sports Association, Abaco and Eleuthera.

“This year, we will return to Grand Bahama for the Northern Group playoffs for the second year as to give some of the Family Island schools an opportunity to advance,” Lynch said.

“We’re especially proud to be launching a New Providence Junior High School Tournament for the very first time.”

The tournament, according to Lynch, honours the legacy of the late Haven Jr, an accomplished athlete, coach and administrator, who also helped to shape football in The Bahamas for years as president of the Bahamas Football Association.

This year’s divisional sponsors are Dunkin’ Donuts for the senior girls and JS Johnson for the senior boys. 

The community sponsors are IL Cares Foundation, PDC Corporate Accounting Services, Aquapure, Paradise Promotion Products and Gatorade.Bruce Swann, who also serves as the tournament director, revealed that on Thursday and Friday, the Northern Group playoffs will take place with the senior girls and boys winners advancing to the nationals.

The national playoffs will comprise of two teams from Grand Bahama, the top team from Abaco and the top team from Eleuthera at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex.

The New Providence playoffs will get underway on May 21 and conclude on May 28 when the winners will be determined to go into the nationals.

The nationals will get started with the semifinals on May 29 and the third place and championship games will be played on May 30, all at the Roscoe Davies Developmental Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

While the GSSSA has not yet determined who their representatives will be, president Varel Davis said they will be ready. The GSSSA will have the benefit of having their champions decided by May 19 when they should have concluded their championship series. With the BAISS season long completed, Windsor, St Andrew’s and Lyford Cay will be the representatives in the senior boys division, while the girls will be Lyford Cay, Queen’s College and St Andrew’s.

In the inaugural junior division, St Andrew’s and Lyford Cay will carry the banner for the BAISS in the boys and Windsor and St Andrew’s will be entered in the girls.

Sandre Hobbs, the conveyor for soccer in the BAISS, said while they wait on the winners from the government schools, they want to assure their rival that the private schools are coming and will put on.a show.

Floyd Armbrister, representing the Ministry of Education, said with their motto “No child left behind,” they are delighted to partner with the BFA to ensure that the event is a success for both the junior and senior high school divisions.

He opened the BFA for putting together  nationals, which he claimed for the first time, will afford representation from all of the school leagues, to be a part of the event.

JS Johnson’s marketing manager Jana Indi Johnson said their company has been in existence for over 100 years and they have always been dedicated to supporting the youth of the nation. When they were approached, they didn’t hesitate in answering the call to sponsor the event.

Daria Adderley, BFA Women’s Football Council Member, encouraged the general public to come out and support the youth of the nation in what is expected to be another grand event.

Tickets, according to public relations officer, Jurelle Nairn, said tickets for the event are very affordable so there so=hould be no excuse from patrons not coming out and filling up the stands.

All-access passes for eight days are priced at $25 for adults and $15 for students. Daily passes are only $7 for adults and $5 for students. For the junior championships only, the cost is $5 for adults and $2 for students.