BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – YESTERDAY (May 6) was a historic day in St. Kitts-Nevis when, years after a dream was birthed, the first ever female football league was launched.
The momentous event took place at the LIME Grounds at Needsmust, where six teams from across the island assembled for the opening ceremony of the SKNFA 2012 Elvis Star Browne Female Football League.
Held under the distinguished patronage of the Governor General, Sir Cuthbert M. Sebastian, the event was attended by Minister of Sports the Honourable Glen Phillip, Minister of Gender Affairs the Honourable Marcella Liburd and President of the St. Kitts-Nevis Football Association Anthony Johnson as well as the National Carnival Queen, Kalia Huggins.
The opening ceremony saw a march past led by the Junior Police Drum Corps and inspection of the six teams on display: S. L. Horsford’s St. Paul’s Female Football Team, Cayon Sunquick Rockets, Harris Paints St. Peter’s Female Team, St. Thomas Trinity Strikers, Delphic United Female Team and Rams Village Superstars.
A team from Nevis, the Bath Village Nevis Female Football Team did not attend the opening ceremony but will be engaged in active competition against the other six teams.
The participants were encouraged by both President Johnson and Minister Liburd to take the sport seriously and to use the opportunity to improve their skills while making the league the success that it could be.
Minister Phillip officially declared the league open.
Remembering and Honouring Star
Wife of the late Elvis ‘Star’ Browne, Joy, was presented a plaque of appreciation on behalf of the SKNFA for his work in the advancement of the sport. In acceptance of the token, she recalled that female football was one of his innovations and was pleased that it finally came to fruition.
Describing him as a pioneer, Johnson paid tribute to Star, whom he said was passionate especially about grassroots and female football, and it was only fitting that the first female football league to be organised in St. Kitts be named in his honour.
“The legacy that Star left with us...that of the development of women’s football. And so we felt in order that on a day when for the very first time the St. Kitts-Nevis Football Association is launching its Women’s Football League that we pay tribute to Elvis Star Brown by honouring him and naming the league the Elvis Star Browne Women League.
The opening ceremony was followed by a Seven-a-side Soccer-Rama Knockout Competition which was won by Delphic United.
However, the league matches do not begin until Friday (May 11) beginning at 5:00 p.m. at the LIME Grounds, Needsmust. Three 25-minutes per half – games are expected to be played then - with three more being played on Sunday (May 13). That schedule would continue until the league ends.
