Cayman’s youth footballers are still enjoying the kudos of staying unbeaten with the professional Swindon Town team from the English league Division Two. In three matches Cayman’s Under-13 sides drew 1-1 the first two games and won the last one 3-1 last Thursday.
The Bodden Town and Cayman Athletic Sporting Club select team that won the final match got together the previous Saturday morning at the TE McField Annex for a rehearsal to familiarise themselves with each other. The preparation worked perfectly.
On match day coaches Elbert McLean and Ernie ‘Gillie’ Seymour put their master minds together to select the best possible first team and then gave them instructions on strategy. Seymour said: “When the match started some of the boys were a little nervous, which is normal but we kept telling them to relax, just play and enjoy the game.
“We went down one goal and we wondered if our boys were going to show character and that they did by applying pressure on a well organised Swindon team.”
The pressure paid off when a pass back was made to Swindon’s keeper who picked up the ball and the referee, Carline Reid-Willis, awarded the Cayman side an indirect free-kick which was laid off by Joshewa Frederick to Jamaal Seymour who executed well to level the score at 1-1.
At half-time coach Elbert and myself gave the local side a few pointers and also told them to try and retain the ball when they won it instead of just kicking it away because retention of the ball is what Swindon do well. They responded to the instructions superbly and started the second half playing with more confidence. On the counter-attack Jamaal Seymour dribbled past Swindon’s last defender and keeper and passed it to Demetri Hunter who finished it with a well taken shot.
Gillie added: “Swindon continued to apply pressure on the Bodden Town-Cayman Athletic side searching for the equaliser with their well organised passing game and strategies, so we had to defend well to keep them from doing so. We made some substitutions with one of them being no other than 11-year-old D’Andre Rowe from GT Primary School PFL Championship Team and CASC U-13 and U-15 Teams who with his cunningness scored the third goal with a thunderous volley from a rebound that came off the Swindon keeper after a free-kick that was taken by Joshewa Frederick just outside the box.”
Oher players to mention that played exceptional well were Shakur Welcome, the Cayman keeper, Jamel Robinson; Tevin Crawford, Zachary Ebanks, Arin Taylor, Leo Ebanks, Gerald Bodden, Ezra Redden and Rashaun Wright.
Gillier thought the Swindon Town tour was excellent for football here in the Cayman Islands, especially at youth level. “It has given a lot of inspiration to the youths in our football fraternity. It has given them something to aspire to, especially seeing with their own eyes one of our very own, Sebastian Martinez as a member of a professional team.
“From a coach’s perspective I’ve learnt a few things by having them here and I know other coaches did the same. I would hope that this is not a one time hype and we can get the opportunity to witness some more tours like this in the near future for the development of the beautiful game here in the Cayman Islands.”
The Cayman Athletic players that played against Swindon on Thursday: Shakur Welcome (GK); Joshewa Frederick; Jamaal Seymour; Arin Taylor; Leo Ebanks; Gerald Bodden; D’Andre Rowe and Jonpaul Maxwell.
The Bodden Town players: Jamel Robinson; Tevin Crawford; Zachary Ebanks; Demetri Hunter; Ezra Redden; Kheon Robinson; Jordon McLean; Alex McLaughlin; Rashaun Wright; Tyrese Berry; Alexander Morris (GK) and Ben Hernandez.
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