With three points in the bag after the first half of the September-October FIFA international window, the senior Saint Lucia national men’s football team is in Barbados, aiming for nothing less than back-to-back wins over Guadeloupe. They play the French overseas department at 3 p.m. on Friday and the same time next Monday.
Under new head coach Rajesh Latchoo, the Piton Boyz attained their biggest home win in the Concacaf Nations League, beating Bermuda 5-2 on Monday night at Daren Sammy Cricket Ground. Kegan Caull scored a hat-trick, whilst Arkell Jude-Boyd made his home debut.
Despite having played seven prior games for the senior team, Jude-Boyd suited up for the first time at home on Monday. The 23-year-old Shrewsbury Town defender was delighted to have been able to contribute for the first time at the DSCG.
“I’ve been to the stadium, but I haven’t been able to play before due to previous complications. So just being on the pitch today, it was amazing,” he said. “Unfortunately, I didn’t get to have my family in the crowd; they weren’t able to come, but it was an amazing experience to be on this pitch and play for my country at home.”
Saint Lucia has conceded four goals from its two games so far, and Latchoo has repeatedly spoken to the need for greater defensive discipline. Bolton Wanderers centre-back Chris Forino-Joseph should be available for the November window, but the squad must soldier on against the buoyant Gwada Boyz without him this weekend.
“[Our goal is] to take the rest of the points, 12 points,” said Latchoo. “Once we get to 15 points, we control our own destiny. But we also need the public to be behind the team 100 per cent. Once you’re behind the team 100 per cent, the players will give you 100 per cent, 100 per cent of the time.”
The team will be further reinforced for the two afternoon games at the Wildey Technical Centre. In-form Colorado Rapids forward Donavan “Gusto” Phillip has joined the team in Barbados. The 21-year-old has scored in his last two games in Major League Soccer, and adds to the attacking options available to Latchoo this break.
“We will continue to play to our strengths, and we will continue to close the gap on the deficiencies,” said the head coach. “During the game there will be certain points where we would have fallen asleep and given the opponent too much space. So now it’s managing that time and managing how we play when on the ball and when off the ball.”
Phillip will link up with players like Jude-Boyd, Caull (22), Shaquan Nelson (22), and Shevon Byron (18) for a relatively youthful group. With Caull out of contract at the moment, Latchoo said that his full return to play needed to be managed.
“We knew Kegan, coming into the camp, was rusty,” the head coach explained. “So we had to manage and periodise his peaking, when would be the right time for him, having not played a competitive game past a certain time, to be able now to start to get back his form.”
As of September 30, Guadeloupe are ranked 15th in Concacaf, out of 41 member territories. Saint Lucia are 28th, with fellow Group B teams Bermuda and Barbados 24th and 30th, respectively. Barbados and Guadeloupe share the lead in Group B on four points, after each earning a win and a draw in Saint Lucia last weekend.
