By Neto Baptiste
A total of seven overseas-based players have been included in a 24-member senior men’s national football team ahead of the Antigua and Barbuda Benna Boys’ Group A opener against Bermuda in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign here on June 5.
The list is led by Newport Town FC’s goalkeeper, Nick Townsend. Townsend is joined by Worthing FC defender Daniel Bowry, midfielders TJ Bramble (Welling United) and Dion Pereira (Luton Town FC) and strikers Josh Parker (Oxford FC), Dayonn Harris (New Mexico United) and Jalmaro Calvin (Cavaliers FC).
Media officer for the senior men’s team, Troy Gibson, said the team fancies its chances of advancing from the first round of the qualifiers.
“We’re in a World Cup group that is basically, we can make it to the next round which is the big money round prior to a World Cup Final. We also think that we have enough talent even in transition as a very young team because a lot of them are under the age of 21 but it is important for us to get the good result because it has been a while so everyone is putting in the hard work,” he said.
The squad is bolstered by the inclusion of the Premier Division’s top scorer, Raheem Deterville of Old Road, who finished the league with 20 strikes and All Saints United’s D’Andre Bishop. Experienced midfielder and captain, Quinton Griffith of Grenades FC is also back in the line-up alongside defenders Vashami Allen of Grenades FC and Roneba Cordice of All Saints United.
Following Wednesday’s opener at the FA’s Technical Center located on the Sir Sydney Walling Highway, the Benna Boys travel to the Cayman Islands for their next fixture.
Gibson said things are in place for the team to leave immediately following Wednesday’s clash.
“We have a tight turnaround getting Cayman. It is not easy getting to that end of the Caribbean and managing the Under-15s many years ago, and trying to get there wasn’t easy. So we’re trying to make sure that after we are victorious on Wednesday that we have the boys rested and recovered and over there as quickly as possible and settled in,” he said.
Goalkeepers: Jayden Martin, Zaieem Scott, Nick Townsend; Defenders: Zafique Drew, Shavon Phillips, Deniel Bowry, Vashami Allen, Roneba Cordice, Kieron Richards, Cardel Roberts; Midfielders: Tyrique Tonge, Kenduka Challenger, TJ Bramble, Quinton Griffith, Kwame Kirby, Tyrik Hughes, Sean Tomlinson, Dion Pereira; Forwards: Josh Parker, Javorn Stevens, Raheem Deterville, D’Andre Bishop, Dayonn Harris and Jalmaro Calvin.
