By Neto Baptiste
Head coach of the senior men’s national football team and former player Mikele Leigertwood has made no attempt to downplay the toughness he anticipates from what he is calling a “structured” Grenada team when they clash here on Friday in their CONCACAF Group A World Cup Qualifier.
Speaking on the Good Morning Jojo Sports Show, the England-based coach said the first mentality is to win every game, but they must also respect and acknowledge the ability of their opponents.
“Of course, we want to win every game and that’s the mindset we have to go in with but what we can’t do is allow ourselves to get down because I think this group has shown that and we’re playing against Grenada who are a well-organised and structured team,” he said.
“El Salvador, obviously, has done well after playing Montserrat and getting a draw but we’ll just take this game as it comes and hope we’ll get the right result and put us in the right position.”
Antigua and Barbuda will take on Grenada in a match starting at 4 pm at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground. A recent Cabinet decision will also see fully vaccinated members of the public being allowed into the venue.
Leigertwood welcomed the move as a possible motivating factor for the players.
“I think it’s great and I think that will certainly help, maybe give us a bit of a boost, but I am delighted they have allowed even if its 20 spectators because any sort of support from the inside would be helpful, really. I think [the players] all want to do well for the country. I know there will obviously be support from the outside people who will be watching on the TV, but that support inside would definitely give us a boost. It’s one of those old sayings but the fans can act as almost a 12th man,” he said.
The Benna Boys have four points from their two matches having beaten US Virgin Islands 3-0 on March 27. They drew 2-2 against Montserrat on March 24. El Salvador, meanwhile, trail on goal difference following their 1-1 draw with Montserrat on March 28 after previously defeating Grenada 2-0 on March 25.
On Wednesday night, Montserrat hammered USVI 4-0 when they met in the Dominican Republic.