As the whooshing waves washed endlessly upon the shore, beachgoers took shade under umbrellas on the popular Brownes Beach. Then there were those who were picnicking, or taking the opportunity to frolic in the sea.
EASY had set up an interview with André Lewis, the only certified beach soccer coach in Barbados. We used the opportunity last Sunday when the Barbados Football Association (BFA) launched a new programme to train and recruit prospective athletes for beach soccer called Soccerfest on Browne’s Beach.
The handful of young males between the ages of 16-22 who came out learnt the techniques of the sport, born on the golden beaches of Brazil, where the first ten World Cups were held on an annual basis starting in 1995.
From 2006 countries had to qualify to play and from 2008 it began to be hosted in different venues around the world. In 2011 it was made a biennial event. Beach soccer has conquered the world quickly, now being played in 75 countries within the six FIFA Confederation zones.
In July this year Portugal were crowned Beach Soccer World Champions.
“It is a sport I would like to see pushed more in Barbados. If we want to talk about tourism, it is a good venture as you can see tourists are here today and it would bring communities,” said Lewis.
Lewis, from Arthur Seat, St Thomas, joined the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) Sports Programme as a 17-year-old cricketer and is now a lance corporal for the BDF and the only certified beach soccer trainer in Barbados. The former Alleyne School student is also one of the people in charge of overseeing the BDF Sports Programme and also the manager of the elite division cricket team.
“I have been coaching for roughly seven years and during those seven years I have been getting myself qualified in cricket,” he said.
I am a West Indies Level 1 coach, yet to do [field] football licensing coaching,” said the 26-year-old Lewis. “I have also done a Canadian coaching certification.”
In November 2014, the Barbados Football Association, through the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) asked the BDF to volunteer someone to be in one of their training programmes. Lewis was selected.
“The course was done over a four-day period and I successfully passed the course,” said a cheerful Lewis.
He first got involved in sports when he was at Sharon Primary School. He went on to represent his secondary school in cricket, basketball and track and field. He was then selected for the Barbados Under-19 basketball team in 2005.
While beach soccer as a competition is new to Barbados, it is something played every day on the beaches as scrimmage between friends “but the BFA is putting it into a more structural format”, Lewis explained.
There is a huge contrast between football and beach soccer. Beach soccer is a continuous sport. The laws are different to normal conventional field play – the bars, ball and playing area are smaller and is played at a more rapid pace.
“There are 12 players but you can only have five players at a time on the playing area, including the goalkeeper. There is no footwear and the pit size is 26 to 28 metres by 35 by 57 metres,” said Lewis.
FIFA rules aslo say that each match is split into three 12-minute periods, there is no offside and all free kicks are direct.
Lewis is very passionate about the youth, which is why he was eager to participate in the recruiting soccer fest held last Sunday.
“I saw becoming a coach as an opportunity to be involved in sports with the youth. My main involvement is for the youth . . . . I love, love the youth. I dreamt of becoming a physical education teacher or just a teacher per se.
“I see myself ten years from now at least representing Barbados as a manager or a coach in one of the sports just to work with the young people,” said Lewis.
“They say there is nothing for the youth to do. If we could organise [beach soccer] every weekend I am sure more youths would attend . . . . As a coach and person, when I can bring young guys and ladies together to make them believe in each other, to accomplish a goal and to see them carrying out instructions, it blesses my heart,” said Lewis.
Growing up, he did not have the best of everything but his mum made sure he had what was needed.
“She is the one who really pushed me my entire life and backed me in everything I did, my dad was a reserve soldier,” said Lewis.
Lewis said he has also received support from Henderson Springer, Azard Weekes, Mr Headley and Asquith Howell – “those are the people I have in my corner.”
He also runs a foundation called WE CARE, almost eight months old.
“It is a self-driven foundation. One day I was walking through Bridgetown and saw a gentleman who had no shoes. I saw him again the next morning and I took an old pair of shoes for him. I said, ‘you know what? I am blessed enough to have more than one pair of shoes so why not give to those that don’t have?’ And it started from there,” said Lewis.
Even with all he does Lewis is still looking to do more and apart from coaching, he is qualified in PADI open water diving, public speaking and broadcasting.
