Weymouth Wales positive ahead of CFU Shield quarterfinal

Five-time defending Barbados Football Association Premier League champions Weymouth Wales are upbeat, ahead of their Caribbean Football Union Shield quarterfinal in Trinidad on Tuesday.

Last season’s runners up will face highly rated Jamaican side Mount Pleasant, in one of four key games.

Speaking to Barbados TODAY from Trinidad, Wales head coach Asquith Howell said the Barbadian team will approach the game in a similar manner to all of its knockout encounters.

Head coach Asquith Howell. (Contributed photo)

“We will go in there with the same mindset, we respect them because yes, they are CONCACAF Cup champions, but nevertheless it’s a level playing field and we hope not only make ourselves proud, but Barbados as well,” he said.

Wales will be without the services of speedy winger Rashad Jules for the game. The former Barbados National captain is suspended for the encounter after being sent off in the previous encounter, while Kemar Headley will be on the bench and is rated 50-50 to participate, after being injured during Wales’ opening game against S.V. Britannia.

Wales won that encounter 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time and coach Howell says his team deviated from the plan, after an initial goal from Armando Lashley put them ahead.

“We went in there with a plan but I think our guys became complacent after we scored early. We went back into that zone just like in the BFA Premiership this year, when we just did not put the ball into the  back of the net to finish off games.

“That was a concern, but nevertheless, we worked on these little things and I think we are well prepared to tackle Mount Pleasant,” Howell added.

Like Howell, Mount Pleasant’s Sporting Director Paul Christie is confident his side can get the job done against Wales.

Speaking to Jamaica Observer ahead of Tuesday’s game, he’s also backing them to go all the way and win the CFU Shield.

“I’ve been in football for almost 30 years. I’ve never had a pressure moment in my life. I don’t do pressure; we live for these moments. When people say that it can’t be done, we try to show them that there’s always a way and our job is to find it,” he stated.

“For the great ones — the bigger the moment the brighter they shine; so if you are not able to operate in the big moments then you are in the wrong sport. I see it as an opportunity to get a trophy that has not been in the cabinet of Mount Pleasant. Let us not enter with an entitled posture. Let’s know that our job is to try and get the trophy, do the best that we can and live with the result.”

The game will be Mount Pleasant’s first of the competition, after they received a bye to the round of 16. That game was then called off after  All Saints United withdrew.

(KH)