Two more Brits in for trials
By Bernard Babb (The Nation)
TWO MORE English-based footballers are on trial in Barbados, hoping to gain selection to the national squad and improve the island's chances of making the third round of World Cup qualifiers.
Madalitso Mkoloma, a six-foot tall defensive midfielder, and Kieran Crichlow, a speedy striker, who both play in the English semi-professional leagues, flew into the island this week for training with the national team at the Astro-Turf facility in Wildey.
Mkoloma, who plays for North Kensington, drove straight from the airport on Wednesday to attend the team's final training session before they depart tomorrow for a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago.
"It was my first time meeting with the players and the management and it was a good session . . . . I want to play for Barbados and I am hopeful," said the 23-year-old Mkoloma, who was born in London of a Barbadian mother and a Malawian father.
The player, whose relatives live at Ellerton, St George, also told WEEKENDSPORT that he previously had trials for Queens Park Rangers and Chelsea.
Semi-pro
Twenty-six year-old Crichlow, whose Barbadian mother is a nurse in England, is a former Chelsea youth player but currently plays as a semi-professional for Hamilton & Richmond in the London South Conference.
"The word is getting around that Barbados is looking for players and I contacted the Barbados Football Association and came for training. As a player you always want to play at the highest level and I would love to play for Barbados," said Crichlow, who also had trials for Brentford, Millwall and Leicester City.
Members of the national coaching staff were reluctant to say how much they were impressed with the two latest trialists but both are expected to be in the 18-member squad to Port-of-Spain tomorrow.
"Trinidad is an important practice game for us and we expect it to be very competitive . . . . We are trying several new players and looking at performances and gelling the squad," said national coach Eyre Sealy.
The Trinidad match forms part of Barbados' warm-up schedule for their next CONCACAF Zone World Cup qualifier against the United States on June 15.
