Soccer-mad Hill at BCBC's mercy
Trophy Tournament team.
The Bailey's Bay star was found to be in violation of his contract with the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control, which stated that the 18 squad members commit to cricket only until the completion of the tournament in Kenya next March.
Hill, however, took to the soccer pitch on November 27 in an Alliance Division match for North Village against Hamilton Parish at Bernard Park.
The BCBC was tipped off and is expected to deal with the issue sometime this week. Exclusion from the squad is a real possibility, as was explained in an agreement each player signed before the team was released to the public.
The Royal Gazette originally understood that Tillman Darrell scored both goals in a 2-2 draw but referee Esten Curtis' report filed to the Bermuda Football Association, which shares office space with the BCBC, confirmed that Hill netted one of the goals and was later substituted by Jarizinho Simmons.
BCBC president Ed Bailey was adamant in early November about the governing body's stance on a total commitment to cricket.
"We discussed that they make cricket their exclusive sport and no other sport between now and March 7, and if they are in breach of that agreement the board reserves the right to discharge them from the squad,'' Bailey said at a Press conference to announce the squad on November 4.
The danger of cricketers being involved in other sports was heightened when Hill, ironically, broke a rib in a First Division game for Village against Vasco.
From then on, Hill as well as the other soccer players in the squad -- Clay Smith and Dean Minors of St. George's, and Del Hollis of St. David's -- ceased their involvement.
That is, until November 27.