Dominica will not be participating in this year’s regional women football competition in Puerto Rico.
The team, which has been training for over 4 months under head coach Edgar Jno-Baptiste, was told that they would not participate in the qualifying round because the association could not get visas.
President of the Dominica Football Association, Glen Etienne, told Dominica News Online that all avenues were used to try to get the visas for the girls but with no success.
Asked why the association had waited so long before making arrangements for visas, Etienne said that one has to apply two months in advance for group visas but the team was not selected by that time.
The President said that arrangements have been made to have the team travel for two friendly matches out of state later this month.
The disappointed Dominican female footballers are now faced with the realization that all their hard work in preparation for the tournament will not be put to the test.
Really? Where is the so called minister of sports and youth affairs in all of this. Why is the talent of our youth continues to be under appreciated and not supported by this government. All the DFA board, should be fired forth with. Step up man
anyway Glen Eittiene. You waited till the Saturday before they were supposed to travel to call the US embassy to make an appointment. What US embassy would be open on a Saturday? The money is there to be spent on developing the sport. Develop the sport and stop developing your pockets
ridiculous!!!!!!!!! that is all i have to say.
The team was selected in ample time. Mr. Ettienne needs to stop using his coaching staff as scapegoats. The visas were not a problem as they were told that the girls could travel to Puerto Rico and the visas would be issued to them there. The heads at DFA did not want the girls to travel. More money for them to spend and enjoy in Brazil.
You all never believed me when I said that when you try to talk bad about the US the country will pay. There is no reason why a football team could not get visas. But your government cant be talking about a country that dont need anything from them. You need them.
This is just the begining.
It is a very unfortunate situation,very demoralizing for the young athletes and degrading as a Football Country. My daughter flew to Puerto Rico from Canada to be with the team upon invitation and only the two invited players showed up and are still there . I await their arrival for more info as they were In direct contact with the Puerto Rican Football Fderation through their team Manager who advised differently .
Berchie; It is also unfortunate that your kid have to go through this embarassment. It amazes me that the athletes always get the shaft while the administrators get the plums. Now Berchie as you know; I am a former national player and it hurts me to continually read about this; whether it is Football, Track , B’ball. Common can’t we do better than that? In my days the adminstrators were truly and primarily concerned about us. Why wait at this last minute to have the rug pulled from under the kids; someone please explain this satisfactorily.
When did they commence practicing? It appeared this was a slow process and not on the part of these young women.
Visas have to be applied for in advance; not two months.
You have noted what crimes and traffic in illegal drugs and others have done to the Caribbean and the rest of the world in general. Today, the islands are paying for it in terms of having to procure visas for traveling. It was not so in those days.
Think of those days that people would only purchase a passport and traveled to any democratic country. All they were asked was, how long they planned to stay. Some never returned and eventually got a permanent stay and citizenship. Times have indeed changed, caused by the escalation of crimes of every nature.
We can conclude that the world is not as friendly as it were and as it appears to be today since people cannot be trusted with only a passport but they must apply for and obtain a visa.
This is one reason for eradicating crimes and not encouraging them and saying some crimes should be legalized. People pay for their mouths and what is imbedded in their hearts. Obtaining visas is a typical example.
jah jah work that. too much woman busy going on in woman football. jah trying to teach all you a lesson!!
jah jah work that is. too many lesbian on the National Team. Jah teaching you girls a lesson!! stop what all you doing with each other
ya! Bala team loaded
I am disappointed for my daughter and the rest of the team. I am not aware of this 2 months time frame to schedule an appointment. I called the embassy myself and they themselves were not aware of that time frame… Interestingly I understand appointments and flights were booked in order to have the visa process done but the DFA found it was too expensive. Mr. White, Mr. Etienne and whom it may concern need to come clean with this matter. You care about football but are killing the young ladies who push and work so hard day over day.
This is a HUGE FAT LIE. This is unfair to the young ladies. The appointments were in fact booked but the DFA felt it was too much expense. This is totally unjust since the men travel all over all the time and not even win one single match. At least the young ladies make us proud because they win matches. Time for change in that DFA.
Shame on the DFA… you were applying for visas for the ladies on Saturday… Question.. US Embassy is open to you? The president is rolling in on a rental at 11:30am on a Saturday. Training schedule to start at 10am, it begins at 12noon. Head coach is sitting on the bench with legs in the air while ladies are training for tournament.. Tell me where are the young ladies heading and why? Half time, kkk music playing, ladies having fun. no review of first half of training (scrimmage) again where were we taking these young ladies. The entire Football community need to boycott all the DFA functions and games. DFA need a new and fresh coat of paint from the ground up.
Beyond the politics of it all, I think we all Dominicans have to reevaluate the manner with in how we respect, view and treat women and girls and thus women affairs. This case maybe a perfect example.
This is a shame.
DFA and DOC just like DLP using their members as a pretence for personal gain? Is it not so that the chief of the DFA also sits on the board of DOC and the treasurer also? Hmm, two hands on one fat belly.
We should stop complaining and try to develope women football in dominica,because everyone is saying this and that about us footballers and saying DFA should fire who and etc,But were are all those who like to bring down each other,instead of critizing lend a helping hand it could be via contibutions or assisting the coaches for a better way forward.To much negativity for one lil country.Who vex i say that deal with it because i personnally not getting involve in bringin down anyone,we all are humans we fall short …..He who lives in a GLASS house shouldnt Through Kick any Football.
These girls should not go and play no friendly. They should stand up and say they are not going. The DFA board needs to go.
Too much money to spent before the world cup!Brasil far ! them man have to secure their pocket change ,so why would they spent on the youths >again fellows are only in position to cement their all illegal gains .this is insane ,what a lame excuse by the president.Couldn’ you have come up with a more decieving excuse .Football shit continues! i am certain that the national football coaching staff have not been fired? after that poor showing.Only in dominica that happens .Just a teaser,when last have we won the windward island senior cricket tournment?can any one recall? But yet still the coach remains!where are we going ?As a sport lover ,it hurts to see all this malpractised continues,no cares and people just agree so things running.Shit that!
Only in Dominica !
The penalty fee for non participation is wayyyyyyy less than the cost to go participate & the person who called to tell CFU we cant make it was the Treasurer, the holder of the DFA purse. FOOD FOR THOUGHT!! THINK ABOUT IT MY PEOPLE.
This must be a misprint by dno. Did the President really give that lame excuse for the girls not going? If is one thing I have learnt about this current executive is that they are never at fault. They will always try and pass the buck and blame someone else. Glen and White are just wicked and they don’t have football at heart. White never wanted the team to travel so he kept putting back when he going to apply for the visas. The team manager wanted to do it and he told her to hold on he will deal with it when he comes back. So don’t come with that rubbish excuse.
While the team manager is busy working magic to undo the mess that DFA is making, she got the appointment in a short space of time, when the FA thought it was not possible,then DFA telling her good job but there is no flights available to Barbados. She then works some more magic to get flights, while she doing that, the Treasurer, not the President U know, the treasurer has already called CFU to tell them that Dominica will not be participating. Imagine the President claims he doh even know that a CFU was called & told that D/ca cant make it. WAW!!!
One thing these guys always have the best excuses. Seems like they spend more time coming up with them than getting their priorities right.
FIRST OF ALL, YOU DO NOT NEED NAMES TO GET THE APPOINTMENT FOR VISAS,BE IT GROUP OR SINGLE. All you need to do is send a request for an appointment for the amount of people, say 25,in the case of the team. Then they send you a password for you to access the site, then you put in the players information. So that story about team doh pick in time is rubbish. Whappen is first time DFA sending a team to a U.S Territory man? LOL
Face the reality people. In the 21st century the Caribbean is still separated according to their colonial owners. Visa problems for a women’s football team for a match in Puerto Rico. What if it was in Quadeloupe or St. Maarten would they have been able to go? It has nothing to do with scrutiny, it has more to do with lack of respect for the small islands.
Wait so you mean to tell me this is the Qualifying round in CONCACAF for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup!!!
Pure nonsense that! So if it was the men, that is what would happen for WORLD CUP qualifications?!?!
Heads have to role on that one. We need a fresh executive, many some non-football associated persons to manage our affairs. I’m not saying bringing a foreigner but an impartial person to oversee the affairs of football in Dominica with a passion for football.
I really hope that after all this no one from this executive is going to Brazil because that would be real insult to injury.
dem man tickets are visas for brazil was dealt with long ago
SHAME!!! The present Executive should simply resign as they are not capable of managing the affairs of Dominica’s Football. Very lame excuse given by the President, shows that he knows nothing about managing football. Playing and managing are two complete different things. This President and his Executive are clueless. It is time footballers demand to have elections and throw them out. But wait, they won’t call elections as World Cup coming up. They want to travel. Yes papa.
That’s all you get from that DFA……………the players continue to suffer. It is time for player to put down their foot and not play for nationals…let Fifa wonder why!
really???????? what is really going on…. are we moving backwards?
Utter nonsense from DFA president!!
how is it your ticket to go to Brazil well organized in advanced and you cannot see that our girls get to Puerto Rico after knowing months in advance about the competition?!? incompetence!!! what they paying you for ??
My understanding is that the executive members who wish to travel to Brazil for the World Cup may have already secured their visas for Brazil! Can they explain why it is that priority has been given to their visas and not those visas for those on the women’s national team? How does the executive’s attendance at the World Cup assist the careers and performances of the young players in Dominica? The young persons should be the priority and it is disgraceful that their visas and their participation were not secured for this tournament! Questions to be answered………
Oh please you all wait until the last minute to apply for visas the same thing happen every year. How can our young people go anywhere, when their future depends on none affective individuals
non-effective
…”non effective”.
So you know you have to apply two months before. The team was not selected two months before so why even bother continue having these young ladies hopes up thinking that they would be going only to be told at the VERY LAST MINUTE that it was off. Nonsense!!
that is bs….every attempt should be made to give these girls the chance they’ve worked so hard for
Boy DFA not easy…….Eggie , Wayne and Sabrina…allu taking that….the DFA is blaming you guys wi……
Guys stand up
That is such a lame excuse….They know the passwords should have been submitted 2 months prior to the tournament, why did they not select them team by then to send the passports…Football and sports in Dominica is totally pathetic and hopeless !!
The Dominica of 1980-2005, would have no difficulties getting US visa for a spots team. However, Dominica and Dominicans are being scrutinized much more now and therefore much time is needed to be able to differentiate the wheat from the tear. Did you all not know we are under serious scrutiny guys? That’s why “Change is a MUST”!!!!
maybe you could look at the requirements for applying for visas prior and post 9-11 instead.
Its a shame and an embarrassment. Poor planning and management is the order of the day. Other regional people made it to the tournament with the same visa constraints and so if finance was not an issue then management should have done their homework to apply for the visas earlier. How do the youths aspire to competitions or be the best they can be when they continuously hear that we fail them too often in not being able to field teams for the competitions. See the other teams who will all make it:
http://www.concacaf.com/article/cfu-reveals-caribbean-womens-cup-format-groups
This happens with athletics too and other areas of representation. We can do better.
I have never seen more incompetence. The president should be a shame to utter this nonsense.
My President FIFA stands for something.
what a lame excuse the article clearly states that they were training for over four months. what happen they did not know man to apply for visa for dem woman.
They should have been training longer than four months. This would have given them an opportunity to apply for the visas even 6 months in advance.
Those who train for the Olympics and other sports do so even a year in advance. Sports is not something that they should be trained a few months as four months in advance. They need more time to be trained so that, hopefully, they would win some prizes and the top prize, coming out first or placing in one, two or three spots.
Tthe girls should not go. Their parents should take a stand. Tooooo many time these mistakes are happening in Dominica sports misistry. SHAME SHAME SHAME
The management style of this association really discourages and demotivates our girls. At one time they told the ladies the problems had to do with flights. But these guys just find it was too much money to spend on the girls, as though the money was coming from their pockets. Meantime I suspect all arrangements have already been made for these officials to visit Brazil. They take our girls for granted. The attempt at an excuse holds no water. There should be accountability. These people need to resign! Failing this, the girls should organize themselves and select some great Dominican women to manage them. They should no longer work with these guys. Shame on Mr. White and the other members of the Board.
My God, where is the Ministry of foreign affairs. have we lost our place in Diplomacy and foreign influence.
How about the Minister for Sports?, Does she know what a football looks like?
Our passports are suspect.
new president but same rubbish! the entire executive needs to be changed in that dfa and maybe then we can move fwd in football.
“the team was not selected by that time”….so whose fault was it. buck up people. And I am glad they are not going anyway because they will just go embarrass Dominica. Why? Because 4 months training is just NOT enough. We keep on making the same mistakes over and over. Where is the foresight? Where is the planning? Why can’t we do anything properly? When are we going to move to a higher standard?
Where ……….fifa in all this. Why can’t fifa Contact the USA authority.
Ted, if the truth be told FIFA wish that Dominica DFA would simply go away because it giving them nothing but headache. Asking for this, asking for that costing them money but only delivering embarrassment.