Soccer Nationals In Round 2 Group H With Jamaica, Haiti
The Bahama Journal
28th September
It's official.
The Bahamas Under-23 Men's National Soccer Squad will engage in competition against Haiti and Jamaica during the second round of the Caribbean Football Union Qualification Series.
Recently, Team Bahamas took a big step when it advanced from Round One against the United State Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands. Hosted here, Round One action saw the local side overpower USVI 6-1 in the first scheduled match. When the BSVI team failed to show, it meant The Bahamas had positioned itself to move into Round Two.
While satisfied with the victory against USVI, Bahamas Football Association President Anton Sealey said in the aftermath that there was no time to relax. He was concerned at the time about maintaining momentum for the scheduled second match against BSVI. When the picture changed because of the BSVI no-show, there was still not much time for celebration.
Technical Director/National Coach Neider Dos Santos was faced with preparing his team for two of the top-ranked squads in the Caribbean, Jamaica and Haiti. The Round Two Qualifier is scheduled for Haiti October 9-13, a Group H meeting. Trinidad/Tobago, Cuba and Grenada are in Group G.
Group winners will advance to the CONCACAF Qualifying Competition for the 2008 Olympic Games.
Haiti and Jamaica pose a different set of defensive problems for the Bahamian Nationals, but if they play as they did against USVI, Team Bahamas will be a surprise package. There is little doubt that Brazilian Dos Santos who has the normal tenacity of his breed, is making a big difference. On the field against USVI, Team Bahamas, every player, seemed confident,
They were calm, energetic and efficient on offense and defense. There were a goodly number of times when onlookers simply marveled over the way the players moved the ball against USVI and seized every opportunity to apply pressure on goal. It was simply an outstanding all-round performance and quite possibly the dawn of a new and most refreshing and rewarding era in Bahamian soccer.
Team Bahamas will need to be much better against Haiti and Jamaica to knock out the odds and move on over the two Caribbean powers. The locals won't be favoured. I expect them though to solidify the status of The Bahamas in regional soccer.
The immediate challenge for Dos Santos will be getting the full national nucleus together to get the proper chemistry in place. Most of the national players are abroad in school and Dos Santos has to get them back under his wing in order to instill his brand of field discipline.
Now comes the time for national support. Team Bahamas ought to get a big send-off, a great showing of appreciation. They deserve as much. They should be hyped to the limit, encouraged to the fullest. By the time the soccer nationals leave we should have them so ebullient that the playing field will be indeed leveled against the two higher ranked teams.
Best wishes to Dos Santos and Team Bahamas!
