Despite much speculation from the football community that clubs might withdraw from the 2023-24 season due to the recently imposed transfer regulations, the opposite has instead unfolded, with additional clubs joining in the action for the upcoming Cayman Islands Football Association leagues.
Several football officials noted to the Compass last month that leagues risked being cancelled following major complications involving transfer regulations, with several clubs refusing to pay fees and, to make matters worse, players threatening to stop playing under the CIFA banner.
While it has yet to be seen if fewer players will be on team sheets when the league begins, the number of teams registered comes as a “positive” and will only enhance the competition, according to Cayman women’s head coach Michael Johnson.
“This proves that growth is happening in our national sport and the excitement is rising,” Johnson told the Compass. “Big efforts and focus has been highlighted to develop the women’s game globally like never before. [CIFA] has taken on this initiative and is always looking for innovative ways to develop female football.”
The CIFA Women’s Premier League will feature two additional teams – Future SC and Cayman Athletic SC – making the senior league the biggest it has ever been with eight squads in total.
Long-time head coach for Cayman Athletic SC, Ernie ‘Gillie’ Seymour, told the Compass that it is the first time since forming his club 17 years ago that a female team has been assembled.
“Having a women’s team will give us the opportunity to grow into a true sports club,” Seymour said. “CASC have been formed since 2006 and have produced some of the best talented players in the Cayman Islands football fraternity. We want to continue with the development of the players for their future endeavours.
“Our main focus for our playing members is to enhance their performance on and off the field of play. We’re asking the players to bring a good level of discipline and be coachable. From my experience over the many years of coaching, the coachable players became the most successful people in life.”
Johnson, who is currently rebuilding the senior national women’s team with young talent, echoed Seymour sentiments related to developing more footballers, noting that it “is vital to the growth, sustainability, and success of women football to compete at the international stage. This is the goal of [CIFA], starting from the grass roots level all the way to the senior women team.”
Outside of the women’s league receiving two new teams, the Men’s First Division will feature the return of Tigers FC, which has been absent since the tragic passing of their coach Gonzalo McLaughlin in 2020.
Meanwhile, teams like 345 FC have formed three squads which will play across the Men’s Second, First and Premier Leagues. The likes of Cayman Brac FC will continue their campaign to capture gold for the first time, while Sunset FC and East End United look to earn their way back into the Men’s Premier League after being demoted.
However, Johnson’s focus will be on the women’s competition, noting that with national games on the horizon, scouting new talent for the senior team will be a priority.
“I will be watching games and even some training sessions over the course of the season,” he said. “This is to ensure that the current players maintain the standards and level required for the national team and for opportunities to be given for other players who are excelling at the club level to be invited to train at the national level.”
He added that the national rosters are not fixed, and promotions and demotions “are very real possibilities” as they assess the standards of players, both on and off the pitch.
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