Andy Bickerton who was returned as BVI Football Association President, welcome Humphrey Leue (right) to the Executive as Asst. Secretary, Operations. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

From left, Vouga Browne was voted in as Executive Member, Sheeren Flax Charles becomes 2nd Vice-President and Aubry Liburd was returned as 1st VP. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

Derrick Gordon President of the CFU had plenty of praise for the BVIFA, but alo some words of caution for the future developments. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

“It’s a really exciting time for me,” said Bickerton. “The excitement and the passion that has been generated with the successful youth programmes, the national leagues and the women’s leagues going so well and the relationships we have built up with Caribbean Football Union and CONCACAF has made me really enthusiastic about football in the Virgin Islands and how far we can go.”

Aubrey Liburd was re-elected as 1st vice president, Shereen Flax-Charles was elected to the post of 2nd vice president. Andy Davis retained the role of Treasurer, Humphrey Leue takes over from Alfred Reid as Assistant Secretary - Operations, Avanell Morton was returned as Asst. Secretary - Administration and Vouga Brown joins as an Executive Member.

Three regional Football officials observed the process. Angenie Kanhai, Regional Development Officer observed on behalf of FIFA, Derrick Gordon, CFU President also observed proceedings and Damien Hughes, Ag. CFU General Secretary, was the Supervisor of Elections.

Bickerton is not prepared to rest on the laurels of success from the last six months and told the gathering of Clubs that he and the Executive, “need to start dreaming a bit more, we will not be just satisfied with where we are now. We need to improve the quality of all we do, the coaching, the standards of play, the organization and anything and everything to do with Football.”

He also went onto explain that it was not just on the domestic scene that he and the Executive wanted to see greater development. “We need more competitions for our youngsters, even Regional’s for U15’s and U12’s. We want to see our National League Club Champions in the CFU Club Championship, we need to aim for things like this and we as an exec will work with you to make dreams come true.”

As the majority of the Executive were returned, the Clubs appear to have given their vote of confidence in what has been achieved. The future does seem bright for Football but there were some words of caution from the CFU President, Derrick Gordon, who earlier used the analogy. “The team is picked, the training done and now it’s time to perform in respect of what the CFU has been through to re-emerge from a very negative end to 2011."

“Programmes are in place to make sure you continue to grow, the CFU urges the Executive to avail themselves on all that’s available to help develop the sport. I can see a time when the BVI plays in the Caribbean cup final. Youths are the most important thing though and you have a strong and vibrant grassroots programme, we will give them more exposure at Regional and International level. The concept being for them to constantly and consistently play football,” he added.

Gordon went on to say that “Professional football is coming to the Caribbean so the BVI needs to position itself for that. FIFA mandates that non nationals can’t represent your Country, but in the CFU we have the Champions League for example, which means one of your teams can play at the highest levels.”

As a word of warning and going forward, Gordon finished by saying, “the cancer of any association is the clubs, sitting here today I have heard various comments re clubs, but if u are running your clubs properly those things don’t happen. Let us strive to strengthen the clubs which in turn strengthens the association. Football must be the winner.”