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domingo, 12 de junho de 2016

A view from the area by Dario Weir

The football in Barbados have changed step by step every year. The hight level in the country is Barbados Digicel Premier League that counts with 10 teams. Barbados Defence Force, UWI BlackBirds, Weymouth Wales, Notre Dame, Rendezvous, Brittons Hill, Paradise SC, Pinelands, Empire SC and Belfield.

Barbados Football Association's logo

Despite an amateur league, Barbados Digicel Premier League is a league with a good number of caribbean players:14. It is 14 times more one of most important championship in the region Red Stripe Premier League. There are players from St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidada and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Panama, Grenada and Anguilla.


On the National Team, the Bajans were eliminated in the first round in CFU ScotiaBank Caribbean Cup Qualifiers. After a great win over Curacao, the bajans lost to Dominican Republic and were eliminated of the championship.

However, this is a good generation of footballers in Barbados. Last season some players left the island to play in better leagues. Goalkeeper Mario Albert, center back Zico Phillips and Winger Rashad Jules played for LIME Old Road in Antigua. National center back Ranaldo Bailey played the full season for Trinidadian side Morvant Caledonia United. Right now another national center back Ricardio Morris went to USA for trials. And other names like Romario Harewood, Hadan Holligan, Jomo Harris and Shaquille Stewart deserve attention.

Is the BDFSP and National Team goalkeeper, Dario Weir, that will talk to us today to talk about the football in Barbados. For the national team he played 2014 and 2016 World Cup Qualifiers and also CFU Caribbean Cup Qualifiers in 2012 and 2016.

Dario Weir with National team

Inside Caribbean Football: How have you seen the football in Barbados?

Dario Weir: The football in Barbados has definitely improved over the years. This has come on the
back end of more players receiving exposure aboard, despite this exposure coming
mostly at an under 23 level through youth tournaments. The recently built AstroTurf
facility to be the home of football along with the international standard facility at the
Usain Bolt Complex could both attest development of the sport locally.

Inside Caribbean Football: Why do you think that the good barbadians footballers stay in local league If they are able to play in leagues with more investments like in Trinidad?

Dario Weir: From my understanding most of the good players would have never received suitable
offers worthy of leaving their homes and family to play aboard. Another factor would be
the lack of adequate opportunities for scouting and selection to take place. On the other
hand there has been a recent improvement in this aspect through the help of the Barbados
Football Association and private entities coming together and staging soccer exhibitions
and coaching clinics. I am sure many of the better players would jump at the opportunity
to play aboard, providing that the standard of football is higher.

Inside caribbean Football: Do you think Barbados Defence Force Sport program with some rules immobilize the chanceof his players to get forward in an international career?

Dario Weir: In my opinion the Barbados Defence Force Sports Program is one of the more structured
organizations capable of getting a player forward within and outside of Barbados. In
answering your question however, as a result of the structures and protocol associated
with the organization, yes some players may lose a potential opportunity to play
professionally. However on the other end of the scope the lack of proper structure and
organization is one of the main reasons more players are not or have not been given the
opportunity play aboard at a high level.

Inside Caribbean Football: Why barbadians teams don't play the CFU Club Championship?

Dario Weir: More than likely Barbadian teams fail to play in the CFU championship due to financial
constraints.

Inside Caribbean Football:  Despite being amateur, Barbados Digicel Premier Leaguehave foreigners from St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Grenada, Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago, Anguilla, jamaica and Panama. Do you think this large of countries represented is a good step to the league looks for a semi-pro or maybe a pro level?

Dario Weir: Yes, I would agree that the presence of foreign players in the Digicel Premier League
despite it being an amateur league provides a good foundation for the possibility of a
semi professional league. Considering that these players have expressed a desire to
partake in the league with little to no personal financial game is somewhat of a good sign
for Barbados football.

Well said, Dario Weir! We could realize that the football in Barbados is getting better step by step with some investment.

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