U15 footballers finally depart for Curacao…CONCACAF makes adjustments to accommodate Barbados’ late arrival

By Rawle Toney

Barbados’ National U-15 football team finally departed the island on Sunday evening for the Dutch Antilles where they will compete in the Concacaf U15 Championship.

Barbados was originally down to play their first game on Sunday against Guyana, but according to the Barbados Football Association (BFA) Communications Manager, Anmar Goodridge-Boyce, several countries were affected by incoherent flight schedules, forcing tournament organisers, CONCACAF, to make some adjustments to the fixtures.

“We encountered some travel difficulties as it relates to getting our team on the ground (in Curacao). However, those issues have now been resolved,” Goodridge told Barbados TODAY in an interview.

He added, “We want to say a special thank you to the parents, the players, and the officials for being patient and understanding in this situation. What I can confirm to you as well is that we’ve been assisted by CONCACAF and we want to say a big special thank you to them as well as it relates to our match.”

Barbados’ outing in Curacao begins with an opening match against Guyana on Monday at 4 p.m. at the Stadion Ergilio Hato in Willemstad. Following this clash, they will face Guadeloupe on Tuesday and play their final group game against Belize on Wednesday.

The tournament, scheduled for August 6 to 13, features 39 CONCACAF member Associations and two guest nations, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

The BFA recently announced an 18-man squad with Renaldo Gilkes named as head coach.

Ethan Haynes, a skilled defender from Kickstart, has been appointed as the team captain, while the coaching staff comprises assistant coach Henry St John, manager Tahir Batson, medic Venice Forde, and equipment manager Orlando Mapp.

At the last tournament in 2019, Barbados faced challenges in Group D and lost 6-0 to eventual champions Portugal and 2-1 to Costa Rica. They, however, managed a 1-1 draw with Trinidad and Tobago.

SQUAD:

Goalkeepers: Demario Harewood (Kickstart), Isaiah Welch (Paradise)

Defenders: Jacob Gollop (Kickstart), Jayden Murray (BSA), Jonathan Mcfarlene (NSC), Jonathan Clarke (Technique) and Tariq Barker (Whitehall).

Midfielders: Xavier Bayne (Technique), Shae-shon Scantlebury (Kickstart), Reuben Garnes-Alleyne (Proshottas), Ari Manning (Proshottas), Keandre Gibson (Pinelands) and Jamaica-based Nicholai Banton.

Forwards:  Tremon Francis (Proshottas), Radarico Marques (Pinelands), Jamarco Johnson (Mavericks), Eragon Bridgeman-Seale (Kickstart). rawletoney@barbadostoday.bb