U16 boys football team heads to Mexico

The Bermuda Football Association is pleased to announce that the Bermuda U16 Boys National Team has been invited to participate in the 3rd Copa Mexico de Naciones 2014 Tournament. The President of CONCACAF Jeffrey Webb was pleased to inform the BFA that the Bermuda team has been selected by CONCACAF to enter the Mexico Tournament due to the success of the Bermuda Under 15 team at the CONCACAF U15 tournament held in Cayman Islands this past summer when Bermuda finished as the best Caribbean team. That U15 National team is now the U16 National team.

The Copa Mexico de Naciones Tournament will host 16 teams belonging to different confederations and will take place 2 – 10 August 2014 in Mexico City. In previous tournaments, Mexico hosted Argentina, Brasil, Canada, Colombia, Cost Rica, Cuba, Panama, Paraguay, United States and Uruguay. Some of these countries will be participating in the 2014 Tournament. The final will take place in the Estadio Azteca, home to two FIFA World Cups and most recently the FIFA U17 World Cup in Mexico in 2011.

The competition will consist of four groups of four teams. Every team will play against each other in the group round with the top two teams of each group advancing to play the quarter finals, and then semifinals and finals. Mexico will cover all expenses once the team is in Mexico. The BFA will be responsible for the costs of the air fares to Mexico City for the 20 players and 5 technical staff members at an estimated cost of approximately $1,200 per person.

President of the BFA Larry Mussenden said “We are absolutely pleased that CONCACF and Mexico have seen fit to recognize the Bermuda U15 Boys National Team as the best of the Caribbean countries. It will be a very proud moment for Bermuda to represent the Caribbean in the Mexico Tournament.  Everyone in Bermuda should be proud of the U15 Boys National team.  We look forward to garnering huge national support for the team as well as seeking financial support from the Government and corporate sector to make the trip a reality. Additionally, we anticipate that the team itself will undertake various activities to raise funds.

Chairman of the Player Development Committee Mark Wade said "This is a positive development . This exciting news is a testament to our long term goal that Bermuda will be the best of the Caribbean at every age level, male and female, and that we will advance to CONCACAF and FIFA level tournaments. I anticipate the Mexico Tournament to be before the CFU U17 World cup Qualifying Rounds and this would be great preparation. Catlin have to be applauded for supporting the National Academy as well as those that supported the U14 team.  We also applaud the parents of the youth players involved in the programme.

The BFA extends its sincere congratulations to National Academy Director Richard Todd, Head Coach Andrew Bascombe and his coaching staff and to all the players who trained from which the National team was selected and excelled in Cayman Islands. We also thanks the parents of all our youth members who recognize that football can play a very important role in the development of their children.

Help support the Bermuda Gombey Warriors as they head to Mexico City!