Three FC Bascome junior teams are heading to Florida for the USL Academy Cup next week

As was the case last year, Bascome are sending under-13, under-15 and under-19 sides to one of the largest football competitions in the US, which will be held from March 14 to 17.

The whole contingent of 78 people, including coaches, goalkeeping coach, strength and conditioning coach, team managers, and chaperones leave the island on Tuesday, with the group to return a day after the tournament.

Andrew Bascome, the club president, stated that groundwork for this year’s tournament started a year ago.

“The preparation for this year’s trip really started the day we returned from the event in March last year,” Bascome said.

“We have adjusted our curriculum and training schedules to include areas of deficiencies which were identified during last year’s tournament.

“We have increased the number of practice sessions per week. Our teams now train four times a week, with emphasis on technical skills, positional understanding and formations, strength and conditioning, and recently on mental preparation and training.

“The players have responded very well to the adjustments, and we can see that their hard work is paying off. We are all very excited to return.

“For us, the USL Academy Cup is not just a well-run and competitive tournament that we are honoured to be invited to, but it also serves as a reality check for our players and coaches, allowing them to gauge their improvements and to identify areas of more work and development.

“All this being done while being surrounded by clubs, players, and the USL organisers who are all willing to share their knowledge and experience. We cannot think of a better way to develop ourselves, our players, and the staff.”

Bascome expressed satisfaction with the efforts to come up with funds for the teams with support received from the parents and the corporate world. He further highlighted that the donations received will significantly reduce the cost of participation for the players.

“Fundraising for this year’s tournament has been very satisfactory,” he said.

“Our parents and players have been fantastic, with over $30,000 raised at various events.

“Our corporate fundraising has yielded another $35,000 so far from companies like Aspen Bermuda, Arch Capital Group, Hiscox Insurance Company, and Markel Bermuda.

“Without the corporate support none of this would be feasible, so we are again, very grateful for their support.

“ We notice that many of the companies are returning donors and in the case of Aspen Bermuda they have pledged their continued support for next year as well.”

“The donations will allow Bascome Football School to offer an extensive bursary programme for ten players going to the Academy Cup this year, and a reduction in the total cost of the event by one third for all other participants.

“To meet our objectives to provide our players a real chance to take the sport as far as they can on the international stage, we must continue to invest in resources, coaches, networks, and facilities.

“On top of that, Bermuda is a high-cost environment, so every effort to make our programme more viable for all aspiring football players in Bermuda, regardless of financial situation, is very important to us.

“We owe it to our young people, to many of them football matters a great deal, a fact that should matter to all of us.

“A final thank you goes out to BermudAir for taking on the assignment to carry the whole troop, something no other carrier could do. It makes us feel like a big club travelling when we in essence will have our own private jet.”