The Anguilla Football Association Female Football League kicked off on Sunday April 19 with an Opening Ceremony, at the Ronald Webster Park Annex, under the theme ‘For the Good of the Game.’

The Caribbean Commercial Bank (CCB) sponsored games card five clubs: last year’s League Winners Shinning Stars; last year’s Knockout and Soccerama Champions Super Stars; and Lil Soldiers, Gazelles and De Youngsters.

Some of the football players at the Opening Ceremony

Mr. Collin Johnson chaired the opening event which included the National Song, an invocation, welcome remarks by Mr. Johnson, as well as remarks by the association’s First Vice President (Mrs. Diana Carty), Permanent Secretary responsible for Education and Sports Mrs. Chanelle Petty-Barrett, Director on the CCB Board Mr. Watson Hodge, and Sports Director Mr. Alkins Rogers. The programme also included an inspection of the teams.

Mrs. Chanelle Petty-Barrett

Mrs. Petty-Barrett extended greetings and best wishes to all the players from the Minister of Social Services the Honourable Evans Rogers. She said she was particularly pleased because the league demonstratedthat females embrace and celebrate their ability to excel in what was traditionally a male dominated sport. Barrett said that in the past many viewed sports as a past time for fun, but people and governments have come to recognise the importance of sports to national development. She noted that persons used their sports talents to further their education, or make it a sound career option as professional athletes or team players, managers, coaches, sports physicians or sports administrators. She added that for any sporting discipline to develop successfully there was need for well trained and dedicated persons at all levels. Barrett encouraged individuals within the teams to seriously consider a sporting career. She said if Anguilla was to make its mark regionally and internationally, a resource base of trained persons at all levels must be built. She added that sports investment could yield benefits in both human and economic development.

Mr. Hodge, citing Anguilla’s newest and most accomplished athlete, Shara Proctor, said Anguilla needed more heroines. He said the Anguilla Football Association had set the foundation which must be built upon. He said his bank always supported any positive initiative and had, for five years, willingly partnered with the Association to sustain female football here. Hodge said it was pleasing to see the representation by each team and the introduction of new players which, he felt, suggested that the sport had caught on and was growing. He reasoned that this represented the willingness of Anguillian females to participate in one of the world’s most popular sports and admonished players not to take what they learn for granted but demonstrate positive team habits on the field and in daily life.

Mrs. Carty said last year’s competition was exciting and competitive and hoped that this year it would be even more so. She cautioned players to respect official decisions, and other players, and play for the love and fun of the game with fair-play as their motto. Carty thanked CCB for sponsoring the league “even in the midst of a global financial downturn.” She added that the Female Football Committee and the Anguilla Football Association looked forward to continuing their partnership with the bank. She also expressed thanks to game officials and reminded players to pay attention to health and fitness before, during and after games to prevent injuries.

Following the ceremony, the five teams engaged in a soccerama competition which saw Super Stars leaving with the title for the second straight year. Regular League games will be held on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4 pm and on Sundays at 3 pm.

Other sponsors include Bryan and Sons, Joyce Kentish and Associates, CuisinArt, CLM Heavy Equipment and Anguilla Masonry Products.

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