Windward Islands football is back

Windwardfootball-logoKINGSTOWN, SAINT VINCENT – This coming Sunday will see the revival of the Windward Islands Senior men football, with action taking place at the Victoria Park in Kingstown from 6:00 p.m. and concludes on Thursday 25

Two matches are expected to be played each day.

For many years, attempts were made to revive the Popam Cup, as it was once known but for a number of reasons, but these efforts failed. However through the resilience of a number of island football federation officials, the Windward Islands Football Association was formed with Trevor Heath as the General Secretary, and Venold Coombs as President.

Despite a number of administrative and financial hiccups, plans were finalized for the hosting of the 2013 Windward Islands Senior Men Football Tournament April 21 – 25, 2013.

With sponsorship coming from the National Lotteries Authority of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Digicel, Karib Cable, and Coreas Group Of Companies, the senior men’s teams from the four Windward Islands will do battle once more for sub-regional football supremacy.

Meanwhile Dominica, after several weeks of preparation, has selected five newcomers to the island’s 18-man squad.

Nilster George, Lex Mility, Noran Jno Hope, Romario Burgins, and goalkeeper Elijah Toulon, are the new comers in the team captained by striker, Curlson Benjamin.

Also included in the Dominican national squad for the revived Windward Islands Senior Men Football Tournament are seasoned campaigners Collin Bernard, Glenson Prince, Delbert Dailey and Kurlson Benjamin.

Dominica’s full squad to the revived Windward Islands Senior Men’s Football Championship is: Kurlson Benjamin, Elijah Toulon, Glenson Prince, Elmond Derrick, Kelrick Walter, Delbert Dailey, Chad Bertrand, Egbert Matthew Walsh, Lex Mility, Malcolm Joseph, Calvin Christopher, Noran Jno Hope, Romario Burgins, Collin Bernard, Lester Langlais, Joselyn Prince, Eddie Thomas, and Nilster George.

Dominica begins its bid for the championship with a game against hosts Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Head Coach Kirt Hector is confident that his “relatively experienced” team has what it takes to perform well in the Windward football tournament.

Meanwhile the experienced, speedy and classy Sheldon Emmanuel has been named in the Saint Lucia squad to contest championship.

Also named in the squad is Randy Poleon who was Saint Lucia’s custodian at the 2007 CONCACAF Windward Islands Under-20 Football Tournament in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The full St. Lucian squad is Iran Cassius, Randy Poleon, Alton Robert, Erick Gabriel, Jamil Joseph, Magnam Valcin, Emmery Edward, Shanoi Shawn Evans, Troy Prospere, Sheldon Emmnauel, Pernal Williams, Rickson Augustin, Saklim Joseph, Melvin Aurelien, Eden Charles, Romiel Felix, and Everton Lambert.

At the time of going to press, no word yet on the national squads of Grenada and hosts Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as the organizers worked feverishly to finalize all preparations.

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5 Comments

  1. April 19, 2013

    Yes That was a great footballer . My uncle used to bring me football to see players like Thomas Baptiste and Patrick John and Clem John etc. But it as a pleasure to see Mister Tom Baptiste in action we boy. That man could play football in so many different positions and when he tied his head its show time ! We all miss Baptiste.

  2. April 18, 2013

    I am so happy to hear about the greatness of Hall of Famer, the late great Thomas C Baptiste who in my opinion was the MOST COMPLETE FOOTBALLER that Dominica and maybe the Windward have ever seen. It was quite a pleasure to see Baptiste in his mastery of many positions for the legendary Combermere Sports Club of Roseau and also Dominica. He played and dominated in attack, midfield and defense. Thomas Baptiste was a pleasure to behold; a true maestro and midfield general and outstanding defender. We shall never ever forget his inspiring and effective Captaincy, at ALL levels, whether its for Roseau Boys School or his Club or Dominica and the Windward Islands. Those of us who saw him in action at the Windsor Park and elsewhere will never ever forget his respectable brilliance and charisma.
    Thomas had football and brains built into his DNA Its no wander that Baptiste shared dual citizenship of Newtown and River Street. People like Baptiste pulled the crowds to the Park on a consistent basis and was a model of discipline and neatness. Thomas Baptiste’s stallion-like built amidst a casinova look made him quite a popular figure.
    I could recall when excitement broke out in Dominica when we heard that he got several awards in the 1966 Popham Tournament when he got the MVP of the competition and cupped several other awards and was voted Captain of the Windward Islands. These were the days when our Football and sports in general was on a high. What we have now is a far cry compared to what we had. I do hope that these great days return. Will we ever have the likes of the formidable Harlem Rovers/Bombers and Kensbro United again or even Celtics and Spartans etc ?
    There is work to be done and in time with a new brand of discipline and dedication
    our youths might just learn and step up to the plate.

    Well all the best to the members of the Dominica Football Team. Do your best to do your duty to God and Country.

    There is so much to be said but the model player in my estimation was Thomas Baptiste. But in those days , many players stood out. The best goalkeepers I have seen would have to be Johnson Isaac, Steve Norris, Anthony George, Brian Charles,Brian :Chiney: St Rose and George Clarendon. Derek Green, Jeffery Edmunds, Hensworth Bedminster, Gifford “ho-say” Toussaint and Fitz Henry were also outstanding in defense but one of my favorites would also be Pegleg Joseph who captained Dominica in the 1971 Popham Tournament which we won at the W’Park in Roseau.
    I also saw the likes of Lenny Andre , Joseph Guiste, Thomas Kentish, Mosiah Norris, Stevenson Echo Morancie, Johnny Henry, Vivianne Rene, Solkar Emmanuel etc in Mid field. There was also Patrick John, Clem John, the king himself Irvin Spraggs Benoit,Michael George,
    Roy Murphy, Herminus Emmanuel, Desmond Dewhurst, Czar Emmanuel, Dasheen Emmanuel, Robertson Hypolyte etc etc etc etc.
    This is far from being a complete list and there are many notable omissions. But I will have Thomas Baptiste as Captain, Vice Captain “PegLegg” Joseph and Reginal St.Havis Shillingford as Head Coach amd Mr. Fred Abraham as Manager, Mr. Geoff Faustin as Technical Specialist , Emmanuel Loblack as Physio and Dr. Royer as Medic~!

  3. More History
    April 18, 2013

    When you talk about football history,how could you forget to mention the most famous goal scored by Clem Artama John in St. Lucia against Mike Finley of St. Vincent. How could you forget the performance of BogoRoy De Bird in Grenada 1970.He was adjudged the most outstanding Goalkeeper of the Tournament and subsequently selected to represent the Windward Islands against Guyana.

  4. Anonymous
    April 18, 2013

    Way to go Malkie Joseph

  5. April 18, 2013

    I am happy that this Windward Island Tournament is back. I could recall the heroics of our former teams/players at such games. Foremost amongst them was when the late THOMAS BAPTISTE was voted Most Valuable Player ( MVP ) at the 1966 Popham Tournament held in Grenada and also was unanimously adjudged Captain of the Windward Island Senior Football Team. It was / is a first for Dominica. At that competition ,Baptiste ( Dominican Skipper ) was also in got other awards such as Best Captain, Center Half/Defender, and most Disciplined Player of the tournament. As had been customary , Baptiste played multiple positions at the club, local and regional level depending on the state of the game. He was also the founder of the almighty Combermere Football team.
    I could also remember the Star Studied 1971 Dominica Team which won the Windward Island Tournament that year at the Windsor Park under the captaincy of “Pegleg” Joseph of Harlen Fame. The team was also made up of Irvin “Sprags” Benoit
    who demoralized the opposition with his extraordinary dribbling skills.
    The last time Dominica won this tournament was in 1985 with the likes of Michael George , Derek Green, Roberson “Coco-shoe ” Hypolite etc. I don’t think that the standard of our football is anywhere near today than it was during the Baptiste/George period. However I still believe that on their day the likes of the talented Kurlson Benjamin ; a prolific scorer can spring up some surprises at this revamped competition. We have to throw our fullest support behind the team and the association. They are our ambassadors at large fighting for the Sporting success for our beloved Dominica.
    I have to compliment DNO for posting this article , all in the name of our youth. Thank you DNO. This will help motivate the players.

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