W Connection under 16 team are back home from a hectic 2 week tour of the U.K. where the national under 16 club champions learnt a few lessons and benefitted tremendously from the experience as they gave a good account of themselves.
This according to Connection’s Technical Director Stuart Charles Fevrier—he told the Pro League Website, “it was a tough tour from the word go and the boys had to adjust,” he said “once they adjusted they performed creditably.”
However, in the first competitive game they played against Southampton, the club of former W Connection midfielder Kenwyne Jones—Connection was hammered 8-0, but the former national football coach said the Southampton team was much bigger, stronger and much more mature than his boys and hence Connection were totally outplayed.
Nevertheless Fevrier said when they came up against Wrexham it was a much more even contest and the young Savonetta Boys registered their 1st win on foreign soil. Striker Matthew Bartholomew scored Connection’s lone goal in a 1-0 victory.
As time went along the Connection Boys got in the grove and they battled to a 1-1 draw with Dundee United youths in a game where Connection scored first again through Matthew Bartholomew.
Their final assignment was against Glasgow Rangers and after taking a 2-0 lead with goals from Keron Smith and once again Matthew Bartholomew, Connection allowed Rangers to equalize—the game ending 2-2. Fevrier said, at the end of it all he was satisfied with the performance of the boys, saying, “they showed they can adapt to a high level of football.”
He called the tour a success not only for W Connection but also for Caribbean club football and said it speaks volumes for the youth programme Connection has in place.
He added, “Matthew Bartholomew obviously stood out, but said there were good performances from Keron Smith, Fellinito and Roni.
The Club’s Technical Director ended by saying “it was a tremendous collective effort.”
RESULTS:
Southampton 8 v W Connection 0.
Wrexham 0 v W Connection 1 (Matthew Bartholomew).
Dundee United 1 v W Connection 1 (Matthew Bartholomew).
Rangers 2 v W Connection 2 (Matthew Bartholomew, Keron Smith).