Cayman learns CONCACAF lessons

The Cayman Islands served as the host nation over the last 10 days but saw the national team finish last in its group, with losses to Mexico (6-0), Trinidad and Tobago (4-0) and Honduras (3-0). Cayman conceded 13 goals in front of thousands at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex and did not score a goal in their Group B games. That performance is a far cry from the Under-17 team that secured a 1-0 win over Haiti and ended up third in its group at the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship in Costa Rica. 

Brianna Hydes, 19, is a defensive central midfielder who played on both squads. The Under-20 team captain said the experiences of both campaigns have been positive. 

“I feel it’s been an extreme honor to play in so many different competitions over the years,” Hydes said in a CONCACAF interview. “This tournament has been a different experience because I’m the older one in the squad, helping the younger ones grow. 

“It has been a challenge at times, but it’s been a great experience because I’ve already been through it and helped lift them up. I was once a 13-year-old playing alongside women and now it’s exciting to see the younger girls coming up and grow like I did.” 

To Hydes’s point, Cayman had one of the youngest and least experienced teams in the competition, with many players making their international debuts. Midfielder Lauren Scott is only 13 while defenders Amanda Frederick, Deondra Kelly, Tyra McField and attacking midfielder Chelsea Green are all 14. Starting goalkeeper Kristina Seymour is one of the older girls at 18. 

Another national team stalwart is defender Chelsea Greene, 16. Greene was only 12 during the 2010 tournament and served as captain. She said there is a subtle difference between that side and the one that was outclassed by Mexico this month. 

“We were ready, but we didn’t know what to expect from Mexico and it took us a while to get into the game,” Greene said. “We had a strong team in 2009. Being the youngest was a great experience. I wasn’t expecting it, but I was very happy.” 

Mexico advanced to Sunday’s finals and secured one of three berths for the Women’s Under-20 World Cup in Canada this August. 

On a positive note, this month’s games gave a national spotlight to some of Cayman’s budding athletes. Defender Shanai Allen, 15, is a talented netball player and Amanda Nelson, 19, has established her skills in flag football. 

Nelson, who was born in the United States to her American father Lawrence Nelson and Caymanian mother Trenny Nelson, has come a long way in the sport. She has gone from playing against boys in Cayman Brac at age 11 to a stint at West Bay’s Future Sports Club to landing a football scholarship at South Georgia State College. Nelson says football is an enjoyable challenge. 

“In God I have a lot of faith,” Nelson said. “I know soccer doesn’t give you everything you pray for but it has brought out my faith.” 

Nelson is not the only player plying her skills in the U.S. Hydes, who was introduced to football by her father Brian Hydes, is on an athletic scholarship to Southern Wesleyan University in South Carolina. The West Bay native said her studies will be her top focus in the coming weeks. 

“Becoming a football pro is any girl’s dream that’s in love with the sport, but better to get the education first because you always have to have something to fall back on.” 

While Cayman’s performance did nothing to silence doubters of its playing ability on the international stage, it did reiterate that these shores can benefit from such tournaments. Outside of the lessons on the pitch, there are the millions of dollars in extra revenue to the local economy as part of an expanding sports tourism umbrella. 

For George Town native Jeffrey Webb, the CONCACAF president, continued support for women’s football is essential. 

“We must raise standards so that we keep challenging teams in women’s football,” Webb said. “This is how we progress and provide sustainability of programs. The objective is to build exposure to women’s football in this region, so that a legacy remains. That’s why these competitions are so important. We have to invest in the game, particularly in the long-term development of women’s football.”