Presidents, Coaches, Champions
Leadership changes and standout performances marked 2025 across BVI team sports, with new presidents elected in cricket and softball and new coaches appointed for men’s and women’s football. Local clubs and national youth teams achieved mixed results—memorable individual records and regional exposure alongside lessons for development.
The 2025 calendar closed with significant leadership shifts, memorable individual performances and milestones for British Virgin Islands team sports. New presidents were elected in cricket and softball, new coaches were appointed in football, and local clubs and national teams earned important exposure regionally.
In cricket, Royal Knights wicketkeeper-batsman Richard Francis was elected president of the British Virgin Islands Cricket Association, becoming the association’s 12th president since 1945 after Neil Hayes stepped down. On the field, packed seasons produced headline moments: the BVI All Stars beat St.
Thomas All Stars to win the inaugural President’s Day T20 in St. Clair taking 4 for 10 and earning Man of the Match honours. Domestic competition produced more fireworks. The Vikings denied Cavaliers a fourth straight BVICA T20 crown after young star Julian Bannet compiled a record 177 not out in a chase of 309, finishing the season with 533 runs and starring in two century partnerships.
Guyana completed a three-peat in the BVICA T30 Nations League as Keon DeJesus’s unbeaten 94 helped secure the title. Royal Knights also captured the first Peter Haycraft Ten10 Cup since 2019, with DeJesus anchoring their six-wicket win. Football saw managerial changes and historic club success.
Spaniard David Pérez Asensio was named head coach of the men’s national team and Fitzgerald Carter appointed women’s development director. VG United made history by becoming the first team to win the BVIFA Triple Crown—league title, President’s Cup (on penalties over Wolues) and the FA Cup (3-1 over Sugar Boys).
Shirley Grounds, the BVI held Jamaica to a single first-half goal in a 1-0 CONCACAF World Cup qualifying loss before 1,060 fans, a defensive showing that underlined the Islands’ growing competitiveness. Youth sides gained valuable regional experience with mixed results: U15s struggled in Aruba, U17s produced a 4-0 opening win over St.
Maarten and a draw with Guyana, and U14 girls made a notable CFU debut with wins over Grenada and Barbados. Softball marked governance change as chief umpire Glenford “Chappy” Maduro was elected president of the BVI Softball-Baseball Association—the 8th in its 73-year history. On the field, Power Outage rallied for a dramatic 6-5 win over Pirates in the men’s final, while Synergy secured a record fifth straight women’s title amid controversy when Pure Problems forfeited a game.
Internationally, Claury Scattliffe and Darier Malone played key roles as Great Britain staged a comeback to win the European Women’s Baseball Championships. Volleyball wrapped the year with Phoenix (men) and Kiss My Ace (women) claiming titles. Men’s finals MVP Liverpool posted a triple-double to beat Dream Team, while Danielle Selkridge led Kiss My Ace to victory over first-time finalists Raw Power.
For BVI residents, 2025 reinforced progress in leadership, club development and regional competition—showing promise and highlighting areas where investment in youth and domestic structures can convert experience into consistent regional success.
Primary source: Island Sun