ROAD TOWN, British Virgin Islands– For the British Virgin Islands National Team, 2019/20 Concacaf Nations League Qualifying all comes down to team chemistry.
In preparation for its CNL opening match on Tuesday, September 11 against Martinique, BVI held a recent training camp in which the team spent time together both on and off the pitch, and there is no doubt it feels a strong sense of family.
“The recent camp we had was a continuation of the work we put in during the previous camp,” said 22-year-old BVI forward Kristian Javier in an exclusive interview with Concacaf.com.
“We were focusing on working as a unit and building the chemistry between each other, continuing to transition from individuals to a family. It went fantastic. We spent loads of time together and progressed tremendously in all aspects of the game: mentally, physically, and technically,” added Javier.
The training camp also served as an opportunity to play a couple friendlies, in which they played to a 0-0 draw with Saint Martin and earned a 4-3 win over Saint Bart’s.
“I think the BVI performed well and this is evident through the results. The coaches laid out a foundation for the team and it was up to the players to believe in the vision. Everyone on the team committed themselves 100 percent and played their role unselfishly leading to the results we obtained,” said Javier.
The Martinique game will mark the team’s first official match since 2017 Caribbean Cup qualification in March 2016. While Javier acknowledges that the 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup participant will be a tough opponent, BVI has the belief that it can achieve a good result.
“When I tell you we are more united than ever I don’t mean it lightly. No one on this teams plays for himself, but we play our hearts out for our brother next to us. With that mentality we feel we are ready for any match. We hold tremendous respect for Martinique and all they have accomplished throughout their history, but we look forward to the challenge,” said Javier.
Like many players embarking onto the CNL landscape, Javier, who has three BVI senior team caps and plays his club football in the United States with Peachtree City MOBA in Georgia, hopes he can use the CNL as a springboard to a bigger club.
“Every footballer’s dream is to one day sign a contract, become a pro playing the beautiful game, and continue to move to bigger clubs. My dream is no different, I have dreams of pushing my limits to the maximum and seeing how far I can take this gift God has given me. I choose to take things one game at a time and play each like it could be my last,” concluded Javier.
In addition to Martinique, BVI will face Suriname, Bonaire and Turks and Caicos Islands in the CNL.
