Latapy hints at possible opportunities for players

The performance and talent of the Barbados senior men’s team have caught the eyes of the international community even before their opening match against Panama for the CONCACAF qualifiers of the 2022 World Cup. 

During a zoom meeting held yesterday, national head coach Russell Latapy said there has been interest shown in members of the Bajan Tridents by scouts, schools and clubs. 

“Even before the Panama performance, I can say to you that there is interest from scouts, schools, clubs. I am very superstitious in a lot of things I do surrounding football. So, my preference really based on my superstition and experience is really not to say anything until everything is concrete,” Latapy told local media.

“So, as long as we have something that is concrete, trust me we want to share the good news with everybody. But what I don’t like doing is talking about things and filling players with expectations and then it doesn’t happen.

“I find it is a lot harder to pick them up after that and that is the reality. We have clubs that we are speaking to that we are trying to make things happen for players and guide them in the right direction,” he added.

Over the past year, there have been a couple of signings of Barbadian players to Europe and the United States. The likes of attackers Thierry Gale, Abiola Grant in Hungary and most recently 19-year-old Niall Reid-Stephens to the Chicago State men’s soccer team.

Also speaking during the zoom meeting was Barbados Football Association president Randy Harris who said footballers of today should not be compared to those of the 1970s and 1980s.

“There is still a feeling in the footballing public, especially in Barbados, that we are still playing in the 70s and 80s. I always hear them make reference to St. Lucia and Dominica and the next body couldn’t beat Barbados.

“But this is a different age and basically most of the teams just like us are looking at Europe and the USA to bring nationals that are professionals to represent their clubs, it makes a big difference,” Harris said.

He further explained that what may be happening at the domestic level is not the same thing at the international level.

“I can assure you, look at Montserrat, Montserrat right now has 3, 500 people in the country. They are drawing with El Salvador and they are drawing with Antigua and Barbuda. The reason for that is that they have been able to as a British dependency, to call on people with a Montserrat background to represent their country

“The thing is if Barbados is to be successful, they have to play football on the day. I’m quite confident from what I’m seeing here that we have what it takes to be successful in this competition. Unfortunately, we did not win our first game but I know our enthusiasm is high, I can see the extra effort from the players,” Harris explained.

The BFA president also heaped praise on his players for the discipline they have shown on and off the field during the World Cup qualifiers in the Dominican Republic.

“The main fact we are here in a COVID situation with the discipline that is shown by the players for the two weeks that we have been here, I know that we are in a better place. I don’t think one player walked out of the hotel for any reason since we have been here. Very disciplined team, well done to the coaching and management staff and we look forward to some positive things,” he said. 

morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb