Twenty teams from across the Caribbean, including Saint Lucia's BAYS FC, and defending champions SV Robinhood from Suriname, are gearing up for the 2024 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Shield slated for July 25 to August 4 in Willemstad, Curaçao.
The 2024 CFU Club Shield will be the seventh edition of the region's annual second-tier international club football competition, held amongst the clubs affiliated with CFU, a sub-confederation of CONCACAF.
The winners and runners-up of the 2024 CFU Club Shield will qualify to the 2024 CONCACAF Caribbean Cup. This iteration of the CFU Club Shield, previously known as the CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield, will transition to the CFU for management and organisation.
This year's competition is a straight knockout, meaning there will be no room for error when Saint Lucia's champions kick off their campaign.
On Thursday evening, BAYS - the 2023 SLFA First Division champions - will play SCSA Eagles, the 2022–23 Sint Maarten Premier League champions. The winning team will face Real Rincon, the 2022–23 Bonaire Football Federation champions.
The local club's rise has been remarkable. BAYS, established in the 1980's, won the 2022-2023 Second Division, and promptly won the 2024 First Division competition. The club has mainly represented the Bexon community.
Roger Joseph, manager of BAYS FC, told St. Lucia Times that the side is confident and ready.
"One of the greatest hallmarks for us, being champions of Second Division, we lost just one game," Joseph said. "And we lost just one game in First Division as well. A number of our players were able to showcase their talent and ability.
"But we really stand out in our midfield. We have a very compact and skillful midfield, and we take pride with regard to our midfield and being able to press."
Young attackers like Steven Octave and Nick Longville will be on show in Curaçao, as BAYS hopes to overcome the poor form of the teams that have represented Saint Lucia in recent years at this level. Teams like Platinum FC and Big Players have made little impact on the Shield, largely emerging winless.
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