The Montserrat Football Association (MFA) has announced the 18-player squad selected to proudly represent Montserrat at the 2026 Caribbean Football Union Under-14 Challenge Series (CFU U-14 Challenge Series) in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, from 16–23 August 2026.
Since its introduction in 2018, the CFU Boys’ U-14 Challenge Series has developed into an important platform for youth football across the Caribbean, providing young players with an invaluable opportunity to experience international competition at an early stage of their development.
For Montserrat, participation in this year’s tournament represents another important step in the continued growth of the national youth programme. The competition will provide the young Emerald Boys with an opportunity to proudly represent the nation on the regional stage, deepen their understanding of the game and test and refine their skills against players from across the Caribbean.
Montserrat will compete in Tier II, Group C alongside Guyana, The Bahamas and Anguilla. The competition begins with a group stage, with teams competing in a single round-robin format before the group winners advance to the knockout stage.
The Emerald Boys will open their campaign against Guyana on 16 August, followed by The Bahamas on 17 August, before completing the group stage against Anguilla on 19 August. The winner of the group will advance to the semi-finals as the competition moves into its knockout phase.
The 18-player squad is made up entirely of Montserratian players, bringing together young footballers from Montserrat and the wider Montserratian diaspora. Seven players are based in Montserrat, eight in the United Kingdom and three in the United States.
Importantly, 10 members of the squad have had part of their football development through the MFA’s Grassroots Programme in Montserrat, highlighting the role of the programme in introducing young players to the game and creating a foundation for their progression into the national youth setup.
The composition of the squad reflects the MFA’s commitment to strengthening the pathway for players developing on island while maintaining strong connections with eligible Montserratian players overseas. By bringing these players together at youth level, the Association aims to build a wider pool of talent and establish stronger foundations for Montserrat’s future national teams.
Preparations for the tournament began in May, with the locally based players training weekly at Blake’s Football Field and attending after-school sessions at the Montserrat Secondary School. The programme intensified at the beginning of the summer, with the players progressing to training five days a week.
The sessions have focused on developing the players’ fitness, technical ability, tactical awareness and teamwork. Throughout the preparation period, the players have demonstrated commitment, a positive attitude and a willingness to learn, contributing to noticeable progress ahead of the regional competition.
The team will also be accompanied by the MFA’s Technical Consultant, Dr. Gabriel Calderón, who will provide technical guidance and oversight throughout the tournament. His involvement will support the coaching staff and players during the competition while helping to ensure that the team’s participation and development remain aligned with the Association’s broader technical objectives and plans for youth football.
Head Coach Kelvin Ponde expressed his delight with the team’s development:
“I am very pleased with the boys’ preparation and attitude, especially considering the short time they have had to prepare. They have absorbed a great deal of information and I am extremely pleased with the progress they have made.”
MONTSERRAT UNDER-14 BOYS’ SQUAD
- Nathanael Albert
- Joshua Bahadur
- Sionne Baker
- Caleb Brown
- Kaylon Daway
- Aurelius French
- Levi French
- Micah French
- Amari Howe
- Tai Johnson
- Gianni Meade
- Jayvorn Morris
- A’zariah Patterson
- Javon Peters
- Kelvin Ponde
- Ajaun Ryan-Aymer
- Jowell Tyrell-Ryan
- Essien Williams
TECHNICAL AND SUPPORT STAFF
- Technical Consultant: Dr. Gabriel Calderón
- Head Coach: Kelvin Ponde
- Assistant Coach/Goalkeeper Coach: Kenford Samuel
- Team Manager: Joel Gibbons
- Safeguarding Officer/Equipment Manager: Kelroy Huggins
The MFA congratulates each of the selected players on earning the opportunity to represent Montserrat and acknowledges the dedication of the technical and support staff throughout the preparation period.
The Association also extends its appreciation to the players’ families and supporters, whose encouragement and commitment have played an important role in the players’ development and in preparing them for this opportunity.
As the Emerald Boys take to the regional stage, the tournament represents more than an opportunity to compete. It forms part of the MFA’s wider commitment to strengthening Montserrat’s youth football pathway and providing young Montserratian players, both at home and throughout the diaspora, with opportunities to develop, compete and progress within the national programme.
The Montserrat Football Association wishes the entire delegation every success as the players proudly represent the nation with discipline, determination and pride at the 2026 CFU U-14 Challenge Series.