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Bajans arrive for Digicel Cup
« on: January 09, 2007, 11:42:46 AM »
Bajans arrive for Digicel Cup
By: Trinidad Guardian


9 Jan 2007

The Barbados senior national football team opted to come to T&T a little less than a week ahead of their opening game with the hosts in order to familiarise themselves with the conditions before beginning their challenge for the Digicel Caribbean Cup, which starts on Friday.

The Bajans, under technical adviser Keith Griffith, were in the stands at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Balmain, Couva on Sunday witnessing Haiti’s 2-0 win over Bermuda.

After an earlier proposed Tobago training camp fell through, the visitors are expected to train in Trinidad before Friday’s opener against the Soca Warriors from 6 pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

Griffith remains optimistic of a good showing from the Bajan Pride.

I am quietly confident that we can do very well—win the group, reach the (Concacaf) Gold Cup, and with a little bit of luck, win the tournament,” Griffith said on Saturday.

“But if Barbados football is going to go to another level, we need to make a statement in this tournament and reach the last four.”

Barbados, already without key defenders Elvis De Freitas and Rommell Brathwaite and attacking midfielder Michael Forde, suffered yet another withdrawal Thursday night during their final practice session at the Weymouth “B” Ground in Barbados.

Reserve defender Bryan Neblett was the latest casualty, pulling out of he competition with an ankle injury. He has been replaced in the 18-member squad by utility player Rohan Hall of the Barbados Defence Force.

“It would mean that we would have to reorganise tactically and play sensibly. Whereas in the first two rounds we played the flexible 4-4-2 (formation), we may have to resort to the 5-3-2 or 3-5-2, because playing at Hasely Crawford pitch, we will have to readjust,” reasoned Griffith.

The technical adviser acknowledged that Barbados’ record against T&T was not a good one, with Barbados winning just three of 26 matches between the teams since 1973, while losing 16 times and drawing seven games.

“It is always difficult, beating Trinidad in Trinidad, but that was in the past. This is the resent. I feel that if we are up to our best form we can get the right result,” Griffith said.

Barbados are been unbeaten in their last nine international matches while making significant strides in the Fifa world rankings, moving from 152nd to a commendable 98th position.

The teams’ four English-based players—Paul Ifill, Mark McCammon, Neil Harvey and Louis Soares—will join the rest of the team in the twin-island republic later this week, just two days before the first match but Griffith said it should not be a major problem.

Barbados team (from)

Alvin Rouse, Morrison Taylor (goalkeepers); John Parris, Dwight James, Renaldo Fenty, Rohan Hall, Jonathan Straker, Ramuel Miller (defenders), Gregory Goodridge (utility), Romelle Burgess, Norman Forde, John Hawkesworth, Jeffrey Williams, Louis Soares (midfielders), Ryan Lucas, Neil Harvey, Paul Ifill, Mark McCammon (strikers).
« Last Edit: January 09, 2007, 11:44:41 AM by e-man »

 

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