By Neto Baptiste
The England-based head coach for the Antigua and Barbuda Benna Boys, Mikele Leigertwood, said he would consider a fulltime role with the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA).
His statement comes on the heels of public concerns that the current arrangement, which allows him to fly in just days ahead of a scheduled senior team encounter, may not be the best fit at this time.
Speaking on the Good Morning Jojo Sports following the senior team’s shocking 2-1 loss to Barbados in the Concacaf Nations League here on Sunday, Leigertwood, said that nothing is out of the question.
“That’s something I’ve seriously started to consider if those are discussions we need to have or needs to happen, so nothing is out of the question and I wouldn’t want to rule anything out at this stage. I really feel like in the short space of time that I have been here that the players have been really receptive and they have taken to what we are trying to do. I hope that Sowa [George Dublin] is going to be very much part of what we do and how we are going to do it. We’ve been having discussions, daily meetings on how we can build and just get better,” he said.
Leigertwood, who is currently assistant coach of the Reading Under-18 squad in England, was appointed as head coach for the Antigua and Barbuda senior national men’s team in January 2021.
However, it was with the understanding that the former player would be based in England where he would continue his stint with Reading.
Leigertwood said the experiences has been a good one so far.
“I am enjoying every moment of it. Obviously I don’t enjoy losing but I see there is a real belief about the squad and the current players and I feel like we still have an opportunity. Obviously we missed out on an opportunity [Sunday] but I still feel like we have an opportunity to go and do something quite good,” he said.
The Benna Boys missed an opportunity to advance to the Gold Cup prelims following their 2-1 loss to Barbados on Sunday.
A win would have moved the Benna Boys into the second position on the four-team standings, but the loss at the hands of bottom of the table Barbados means that group leaders Cuba and second-placed Guadeloupe will advance instead.