President of the BVI Football Association (BVIFA) Mr Avanell Morton has said a full-time Head Coach was needed to ensure locally based players received adequate training. Photo: Facebook

Former Head Coach of the Senior Men's National Team Christopher M. Kiwomya resigned in October 2024. Photo: VINO/File

Under coach Christopher M. Kiwomya, the [British] Virgin Islands (VI) historically qualified for Group E of CONCACAF Qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with a 4-2 win on penalties in the second leg tie against the US Virgin Islands at A.O. Shirley Ground on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Photo: Team of Reporters

Mr David Pérez has been hired as the new Senior Men’s National Head Coach. Photo: Facebook

Mr Kiwomya, a former England youth player and coach of Arsenal Academy, was unveiled as the new Head Coach of the Senior Men's National Team in October 2021. In March 2023, under Coach Kiwomya, the Virgin Islands won its first CONCACAF Qualifier for the FIFA World Cup. They had drawn 1-1 with the US Virgin Islands in St Croix and then defeated them on penalties in the home leg.

To the surprise of many, the BVIFA officially announced the departure of Kiwomya on October 16, 2024.

Confronted about the alleged “letting go” of Mr Kiwomya from his duties, Mr Morton clarified, “He resigned, we didn’t let go.”

When pressed for more information as to whether or not steps were taken to retain Mr Kiwomya’s services, Mr Morton added, “In any organisation, in any situation, you have to make changes.”

Someone full-time was needed- Mr Morton

Mr Morton called the former Head Coach a “very good coach” but revealed that two main issues played a factor in his departure from the association.

“One of the issues was the lack of a relationship with locally based players as well as overseas-based players…I hear people say we deny him of this and that. That never happened,” the BVIFA President said.

He explained that there are associated costs with anything that needs to be done and there is also a budget.

“The Technical Department is responsible for placing a budget into your hand and we work from there,” he said.

Mr Morton continued that the second issue, which was the main issue, was the need for a full-time coach.

“We needed somebody here to deal with the local players…not a part-time person, not every three months…people in England and Europe get training, our local players not getting so we need a locally based [coach] and that’s the main reason,” he explained.

The BVI Football Association now has a full-time Head Coach in the person of Mr David Pérez.

Originally from Madrid, Spain, Mr Perez has coached teams in China, Saudi Arabia, and Belize.