"Benna Boys” READY

Antigua and Barbuda Football Association’s (ABFA) technical director, Rolston “Debu” Williams, is confident ahead of Wednesday night’s International Friendly against the Bermuda senior national team at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.
Williams, who will also make his return to coaching after recovering from a bout of illness, said the 31-member training squad met for the first time on Monday and all went well.
“The guys are looking sharp and I think I am satisfied with what I am seeing. We have done some homework, as it pertains to the players in terms of how many minutes they have been playing with their clubs back in England, and we’re quite satisfied that they have played enough minutes to handle these games, and so we are happy with the fitness level thus far,” Williams said.
The ABFA, late last week released a list of 31, including 8 England-based players ahead of the Bermuda clash. A 20-man squad will be selected to carry the country’s flag in what is being dubbed the “election friendly.”
As for the team’s chances against the Bermuda national team, Williams said he hasn’t seen much of the Gombey Warriors lately but believes the Benna Boys will get the job done.
“We haven’t seen them for a while and I haven’t been able to get clips of them to really see what they are doing in terms of formation and stuff like that, so it’s difficult to know what to expect at this point in time but I think we are ready. We are playing at home so we should be confident going into the game. All we have to do is to be disciplined and carry out the function,” the director said.
Goalkeeper, Brentton Muhammad (Tindastoll FC); Defenders: Zaine Francis-Angol (AFC Fylde FC), Daniel Bowry (Charlton Athletic FC), Luther James-Wildin (Nuneaton Town FC) and Mahlon Romeo (Millwall FC); Mid-fielders: Calaum Martin (Newport Town FC), Joshua Parker (Gillingham FC); and Forward: Myles Weston (Ebbsfleet FC) are the eight overseas-based players.
The training squad also includes Prince Walter, Vashami Allen and Kieron Richards of Grenades FC’s; Molvin James, Omarie Daniel, Mervyn Hazelwood of Tryum FC along with Brent Parker, Juwan Roberts, Joel Jacobs and Kendulkar Challenger of Swetes FC. Marvin Martin of Pigotts Bullets rounds-off the local selections.
The fixture is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m.
Following the Bermuda contest, the senior national team travels to Jamaica to face the Reggae Boyz on March 25 before hosting Dominica here on April 1 at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.