The Western Warriors boys under-14 soccer team, member of the Bahamas Football Association Youth League, defeated Yesi/Rush 1-0 this past Saturday, with a penalty kick in the last 3 minutes of the game by Jonathan "Sammy" Pierre. The Western Warriors were undefeated league champions in the 2012-2013 season, and their winning streak continues this season, including a 4-1 victory over Yesi/Rush earlier this season.
The Warriors are sponsored by Bahamas Hot Mix, and coached by Ezzard Charles and Terry Girling, who have both been with the team for five years. The coaches are unpaid volunteers who have an unwavering commitment to the development of young athletes in the Bahamas. Mr. Charles commented "Even though it's difficult to set aside the time to practice and coach every week, the time that I spend with these young men gives me so much satisfaction, as they love the game and the level of teamwork they have developed is outstanding."
The team also receives technical training from Mr. Paul James, a former Bahamas National Soccer Team coach, who trains with the team on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Mr. James is known for his rigorous work outs and no-nonsense approach to working with his players. Johnson Cenecharles, one of the team's three co-captains, along with Leon Borrino and Alain Reiman, said "he is certainly tough and demanding, but we (teenagers) need that kind of discipline, and with a 45 goal difference (goals scored by the team less goals scored against the team), our results need no further explanation."
This year's team includes players from all parts of New Providence, a focus guided by team manager Saskia D'Aguilar. "We try very hard to include players from neighborhoods where participating in teams is difficult, by providing transportation, necessary gear, and waiving registration fees. In fact, two of the league's top goal scorers, Johnson Cenecharles and Jonathan "Sammy" Pierre, are boys who we support through our scholarship drive." Other players come from Queens College, Kingsway Academy, Tambearly School, CC Sweeting, St. Andrews School, Lyford Cay School, Anatole Rodgers School and St. Francis Xavier Church School.
The Warriors were founded in 2008 by Michael Hooper and Saskia D'Aguilar. For the upcoming 2014-2015 season, they plan to field a Boys U17 team, as well as continue their affiliation with the men's and senior's team Lyford Cay/Warriors. For further information, contact sds.bahamas@yahoo.com.
Jonathan "Sammy" Pierre, who scored the winning goal.
