Veteran defender Krystian Pearce has finally received his release from football’s world governing body, FIFA, and is now eligible to represent Barbados Tridents senior team.
The England-born Pearce last wore Barbados national colours in 2018 when Tridents drew 2-2 away to Guyana in the CONCACAF Nations League qualifier.
Following a successful appeal from Guyana, however, continental governing body, CONCACAF, ruled later that year that neither Pearce nor the other England-born player Hallam Hope, had been eligible to represent the island.
Barbados subsequently had the result overturned by CONCACAF.
However, Barbados head coach Russell Latapy told Barbados TODAY he was excited by the news that Pearce had been cleared to suit up for the national team, noting he was happy to have a player of Pearce’s calibre in the national set up.
“I haven’t yet worked with Krystian here but all the feedback I’ve gotten is very positive and I am excited to have him join the squad and play his part in the success of the national team,” the Trinidadian said.
“I am happy to have a player of this quality available for selection. It is always a question of fitness and form and that type of thing. I know Krystian is a good professional and when it comes to playing I expect him to be in the best shape that he can to represent the national team.
“That would make us a better unit altogether.”
He added: “We are very excited to have our overseas players. We are going to extend an invitation to these players and hopefully, they will be healthy and available. We are in a COVID situation and we have to be mindful of that.”
The 30-year-old Pearce recently joined Solihull Moors, a club which plays in the National League – the fifth tier of the English football league system.
Capped by England at the Under-17 and Under-19 level, Pearce recently spent five seasons at Mansfield Town in League Two, playing nearly 200 games before being released last summer.
According to Latapy, the senior squad had already been working extremely hard in preparation for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Barbados has been drawn in Group D with 2018 World Cup side Panama, along with the Dominican Republic and Anguilla.
They will kick off their opening match of the World Cup qualifiers on March 25 against Panama.
“We needed to get going in the pandemic. There were no activities for the players. They had to do their own personal training and we gave them a programme to do at home,” Latapy explained.
“Once we started back on the pitch, I was pretty satisfied with how things are going – the commitment and the willingness of the players to work hard.
“Again as a coach you always want more. In saying I’m satisfied presently, the only true guideline is actually playing games. If you play games then you know exactly where you are.
“We have been fortunate in the sense that we use the Under-20 team who are in preparation for upcoming tournaments as well.”
He continued: “And because of our unique situation here with the lack of fields – both teams use the turf to train on – we were able to get some games against the young Under-20 team.
“That is where we are presently in terms of building up for March 2021 and just try to give it our best.”
Latapy is hoping that the senior team will be able to play some friendly matches before the qualifiers commence in March.
“We need games, we want to play games,” stressed the former Trinidad and Tobago star midfielder.
“That would make us better and that is what we could learn from. I think it was difficult especially with COVID and the lack of activities. For me really and I think I can speak on behalf of the association and the players here and we want to play games.
“It doesn’t matter what group we are in, no opponent in modern football is an easy opponent, so it is always hard. In relation to our group, we now have Panama, Dominican Republic and Anguilla.
“We are happy to play these teams. We are excited to play these teams in the region and put ourselves against them and see what we can do.”
He added: “Panama would be favourites in the group seeing they are playing in the higher Division One in the CONCACAF Nations League. They have also been to the World Cup and proven they are a strong team with good football players.
“The Dominican Republic has also done well over the past three years and we are excited to play them. They are the teams who play in the division above us in CONCACAF and keep improving.”
Players will have little time off during the Christmas holidays with Latapy stressing the importance of remaining focussed on preparing for the upcoming assignments.
“The players would have a few days to spend with their family during the festive season,” said Latapy.
“But with the consciousness that there is football to be played in a few weeks, that is very important to the country. The players are also conscious of their responsibility as well.
“We are working on the mental, physical and tactical side of the game as we always do.”
morissalinday@barbadostoday.bb
