The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

As they continue their expansion, Quality Beach Soccer Club (QBSC) is all set to host a major fundraising initiative to increase the profile of the sport in the Bahamas.

The Quality Beach Soccer Cup “Soccer in Paradise” is scheduled for October 12 at the BFA Fustal and Beach Soccer Facility.

The group is spearheaded by national team members Ehren Hanna and Christopher Davis who said the tournament will also feature a fair and fun day.

“Right now the response has been pretty good, and a good number of teams will be participating,” Hanna said.

“It is going to be a big family fun day with a DJ, bouncing castle for the kids, food and a festive atmosphere so it’s looking to be a very good event.”

The tournament will feature four divisions, 12 and under, 15 and under, 17 and under and adult.

Teams require a $150 team registration fee and the winners of the adult division will have an opportunity to play against QBSC members for the $1,000 grand prize. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for children under 12.

Hanna said the group is targeting a total of $25,000 to field both the men’s and women’s teams at the Major Beach Soccer Championships December 14-15 in Clearwater Beach, Florida.

“Our focus is getting ready for the championships, we really want to perform well and set a standard that people can be proud of and support. It will take about $25,000 for us to take the two teams we want to take, so every fund-raising venture will go a long way toward that goal,” he said.

“Since December we have actually taken Quality Beach Soccer into expansion. We have now officially become a club, the first and only beach soccer club in the Bahamas. We have a men’s team, a women’s team and a youth academy. We are in the process of raising funds to go to the Major Beach Soccer championships, which is like the MLS for beach soccer. Since we have been invited to those championships, we are in the process of raising funds to go, so that was the major motivation behind having the tournament this weekend.”

Hanna said the tournament is open to all interested players, clubs, or schools and insists there should be no conflict between beach soccer and the traditional version of the game played on grass.

“So far we have had a good response from a few of the clubs, but there has still been some resistance toward beach soccer. We find obstacles, some people think we are trying to take grass soccer on head to head and of course we are not. It is really two different sports, we are just trying to give people the opportunity to get to know the sport. In the same way people learned to play soccer, you learn to play beach soccer,” he said.

“Right now the youth league is about to start in the BFA Y-League on grass league, so our tournament is like the opener for the youth league. After youth league then we will be having our beach soccer league starting up next summer.”

The development of beach soccer in the Bahamas was relatively uncharted territory just a few short years ago.

Nowadays, with the country boasting the top ranked programme in the region, the group looks to capitalise on that momentum.

“It has been a lot going on behind the scenes. We are getting things organised and one thing we have come to the realisation that we are the premier team now in the country because there is no team that has ranked as high as us right now after the World Cup qualifier. We are ranked first in the Caribbean, the number one team and it took us only four years to get there. We have been making major steps and right now people are seeing the major potential in the sport , especially in the soccer community,” Hanna said.

“Just the mere fact that we are able to make such a big accomplishment in such a short period of time should tell you that the sport has potential and it is something people should consider doing. Right now we are in the expanding stage and ultimately trying to become the first Bahamian-based professional team.”

QBSC has been involved in the “Heineken Thank You Tour,” a tour of beaches in Nassau where they host exhibitions every Sunday, and also hosts an after school programme to reach a younger generation of budding beach soccer players.