Azarni Callwood (born 21 September 2006) is a British Virgin Islands footballer who currently plays for Rebels FC and the British Virgin Islands national team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 21 September 2006 | ||
| Place of birth | British Virgin Islands | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Rebels | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2022 | One Caribbean | ||
| 2023– | Rebels | ||
| International career‡ | |||
| 2023– | British Virgin Islands | 6 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:00, 20 September 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14:00, 20 September 2024 (UTC) | |||
Youth career
editCallwood began playing football at age five.[1] He attended the Cedar International School on Tortola. In 2017, he was a member of the school's under-12 team that won its division of the BDO Afterschool League with Callwood as the division's top scorer.[2][3] That year, he was also selected as a member of a representative team made up of Virgin Gorda League players to competed in a club competition in Sint Maarten. Callwood scored three goals in three matches for the Virgin Gorda Under-13 Future Stars to help the team remain undefeated.[4] In August 2017, Callwood attended a trial with AFC Bournemouth after being spotted at a local skills camp. He participated in training matches during the trial, including against the under-15 side of Southampton.[5][1]
The following year, he was selected as part of an under-12 representative team called the BVI Rockers that competed in the GPS Caribbean Showcase in Puerto Rico.[6] Later in 2018, he travelled to Spain to compete in the Barcelona Cup, playing with the Champion Sports Group team from England, against players from around the world. He went on to be one of the top scorers in the competition.[7] In 2019, he returned to Puerto Rico to compete in the GPS Caribbean Showcase again. This time, his under-13 team finished second in its division with Callwood scoring two goals against the team from Guaynabo in the final match.[8] Shortly thereafter, he went on trial in England with the opportunity to attend a school and play football in the country. He was offered a scholarship to attend the Bournemouth Collegiate School and a spot in its main football squad.[9] In summer 2019, he traveled as a member of the VG Future Stars to the Dominican Republic for a prospects tournament. Callwood was the tournament's top scorer with seven goals in six matches, including at least one goal in every contest. The British team ultimately finished runners-up in the competition.[10]
Club career
editCallwood played for local club One Caribbean FC.[11] For the 2020/2021 season, he was a member of the club's youth squad that competed in the BVIFA National U13 Youth League.[12] The club folded during the 2022/2023 BVIFA National Football League season and Callwood moved to Rebels FC.[13][14]
International career
editAs a youth, Callwood was a member of the Virgin Islands squad that participated in the 2019 CONCACAF Boys' Under-15 Championship. The team went on become champions of the competition's Division 3 that year.[15] Callwood scored in the campaign, including a goal against Saint Martin to close out the Group Stage.[16] He later competed in 2022 CONCACAF U-17 Championship qualifying.[17] In preparation for the tournament, the British Virgin Islands team played their American counterparts in a pair of friendlies. Callwood scored three goals over the two matches, resulting in one win and one draw.[18] He was then a member of the national under-20 team that competed in 2024 CONCACAF U-20 Championship qualifying. He went on to be the top goalscorer in qualification, scoring six goals in four matches, including a hat-trick against Anguilla to close out the BVI's campaign.[19]
Callwood made his senior international debut on 23 March 2023 in a 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League C match against Puerto Rico.[20] Prior to the match, senior national team head coach Chris Kiwomya identified Callwood as one of the territory's exciting young prospects that could debut and have an impact in the match.[21] During 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification, he scored the game-winning goal in a penalty shootout against the U.S. Virgin Islands. The win was the British Virgin Islands' first-ever victory in FIFA World Cup qualification and secured the team's advancement to the next round for the first time.[22]
International statistics
edit- As of match played 10 September 2024[20]
| British Virgin Islands | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2023 | 3 | 0 |
| 2024 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 6 | 0 |
References
edit- ^ a b "Chalwell, Lettsome & Callwood off to football camp in England". Virgin Islands News Online. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "Football Update: May 2017". Cedar International School. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "CIS, ASPS take top spots in league". BVI Beacon. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "BVI footballers test skills in Saint Maarten". BVI News. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ Jackson, Charles. "Three of the FA's youth players recently returned home from a soccer training camp with AFC Bournemouth". British Virgin Islands Football Association. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ Greenway, Dean. "BVI U12 boys soccer team to compete in Puerto Rico". Virgin islands Daily News. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "Azarni Callwood and Ryan Lettsome have just concluded successful participation at the Barcelona Cup 2018 youth Football Tournament in Spain, playing with the Champion Sports Group out of England". British Virgin Islands Football Association. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "BVIFA youths take Gold & Silver in 2019 Global Premier Soccer". Virgin Islands Daily News. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "BVI's got talent - Two locals drafted to play schoolboy football in UK". BVI News. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "Young VI footballers reach Power League final in DR". Virgin Islands News Online. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ Grant, Ronn. "U17 SQUAD OFF TO TURKS AND CAICOS FOR SERIES OF REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES". 284 Media. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "Panthers, Wolues and One Caribbean secure wins in BVIFA National Youth League games". BVI Olympic Committee. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "GSA profile". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ King, Ian. "British Virgin Islands 2022/23". RSSSF. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "VI Footballers win CONCACAF U-15 Championships in Florida". Virgin Islands News Online. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "Canada, Guatemala earn big wins on Day 5 at CBU15 Championship". CONCACAF. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "National U17 Football Team Announced Ahead of Qualifiers". BVI Platinum. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ Jackson, Charles. "Ahead of the CONCACAF Championships to be held at the end of August, the U17 team travelled to St Thomas last weekend to compete in a series of friendly matches". British Virgin Islands Football Association. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ Haynes, Kamal. "CALLWOOD'S HAT-TRICK SECURES 3-1 VICTORY FOR BVI IN CONCACAF U20 CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIER". 284 Media. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ a b "NFT profile". National Football Teams. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "National Head Coach hopeful of closing the gap in the CONCACAF Nations' League match against Puerto Rico". BVI Olympic Committee. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "British Virgin Islands and Anguilla progress for the first time". FIFA. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
External links
edit- Azarni Callwood at National-Football-Teams.com
- Azarni Callwood at Soccerway
- Azarni Callwood at Global Sports Archive