Academy teams all set for Alabama tour

The Bermuda Football Association National Academy Under-14 and Under-16 boys teams were yesterday preparing hard for The Open Cup tournament in Decatur, Alabama, which kicks off on April 12.

The Open Cup is a college showcase tournament that will feature over 240 teams from many US states and international teams.

The event will be held at the Jack Allen Soccer Complex in Decatur, Alabama — widely regarded as the top soccer complex in the south.

Bermuda will take 36 players with National Coach Andrew Bascome and staff coaches Phillip Burgess, Don Vickers, Maceo Dill, and Karl Roberts. 

The teams have been preparing for the tour over the past three months and are currently involved in a training camp that includes two daily
training sessions and a study hall session for academics.

 Todd said: “The event will provide the Academy teams with much-needed exposure and match play, and is a part of the build-up for FIFA Under-17 World Cup qualifiers to be held in 2014. 

“In addition the players will have the benefit to be seen by the college coaches attending the event, thus beginning the college recruitment process. 

“Educational pathways are a key initiative of the National Academy programme and, as such, the tour will also include a visit to Darlington School, a top prep school in the South East that includes the Darlington Soccer Academy.  

“During the visit, the players will be given an opportunity to tour the campus and observe classes, before playing in friendly warm-up matches vs Darlington Soccer Academy. Presently there are three members of the NA programme attending Darlington; Vance Brown, Jacob Greene and Jai Burgess.” 

The Under-14 Boys Super Group in which  Bermuda will compete, features international teams from Brazil (Guarani Futebol Clube), Mexico (CF Monterrey Rayados), and Trinidad (SKHY Football Club) as well as top US Region II and III teams.

The Under-14s will also be grouped with Vestavia Hills Soccer Club (Disney Showcase finalist, John Talley Showcase Champions) from Birmingham, Alabama, and Challenger Crew Jrs. (State Finalist) from Cleveland, Ohio.

Meanwhile, the Under-16 Gold Group will feature Evansville Soccer Club (Indiana), Baton Rouge Soccer Club (Louisiana), Mississippi Fire, Manderville Lakers (Louisiana) and Gulf Coast Texans (Florida).