The athletes of FC Soualiga women’s soccer team had the honor of playing the first official soccer match at the newly renovated Raoul Illidge Sports Complex, during its official re-opening ceremony on Friday the 7th of March. The team was honored by the request of the Sports Department to be a part of this memorable event as they have been looking forward to this momentous day since there was word of the renovations to the complex. During this memorable event, Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams and Minister of Sports Patricia Lourens-Philip officially inaugurated the recently completed first phase of renovations of the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex (RISC). His Excellency, Governor Eugene Holiday, and the attending Ministers congratulated the people of Sint Maarten, the relevant Governmental agencies, sports enthusiasts and in particular the athletes awaiting the possibility of making use of the field, on this great accomplishment.
The Department of Sports invited the ladies of FC Soualiga to take part in an exhibition match during the official re-opening to put women’s sports and more specifically women’s soccer on Sint Maarten in the spotlight. Unfortunately, FC Soualiga’s scheduled opponent, Oualichi Women’s Soccer Team, had to cancel on game day due to different circumstances. Luckily, FC Soualiga was well represented and managed to put together two teams consisting of both 12 players (1 sub per team), providing the large crowd of spectators and supporters with a greatly entertaining match.
According to the management team members of FC Soualiga, the team had been awaiting this special moment for a very long for time. "Every Tuesday and Thursday we walk up the stairs at the Asha Stevens Campus in Cay Hill (FC Soualiga’s current practice location) and we look over this beautiful new soccer field not yet put to use, awaiting the moment we can set foot onto the beautifully constructed green turf field". "Although we are very appreciative of the fact that the Christian Hillside School allowed us to use their gym for our training sessions, soccer is a sport that should be played outside, on an official sized field with 11 players per side. The team has grown extensively since its inception and has outgrown its current location and we are very excited that the time has finally come to get out on the big field and further improve our soccer skills."
FC Soualiga would like to thank the Honorable Minister Mrs. Patricia Lourens-Philip and the Department Head of Sports Affairs, Ms. Jonelle Richardson, for the opportunity to participate in this historic event.
Photo Caption: Members of the FC Soualiga Women’s Soccer Team with coach David Forsythe after the inauguration match on the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex (Photo courtesy Bas van den Bosch)