By Neto Baptiste
The Antigua and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA) has named a training squad of 30 Antigua-based players as the senior men’s team jumpstarts preparations for the next round of matches in the Concacaf Nations League slated for late March.
Leading the selections is Benna Boys captain Quinton Griffith from the Grenades FC. He is joined by leading scorer in the Premier Division, Old Road FC’s Raheem Deterville. Deterville has scored 15 goals to date in the top flight.
Among the selections as well is striker Junior Benjamin from Ottos Rangers FC, Javorn Stevens of Greenbay Hoppers FC, Novelle Francis Jr of Willikies FC, and Grenades’ FC defender Vashami Allen, who has been recalled following a long absence.
Team manager, Jason “Basu” Peters said management is still in the process of finalising the list of available overseas-based players.
“That process involved writing to their respective clubs because you have to write to the clubs to get their sanction. Also, the overseas coach … Mikele Leigertwood is still looking at some potential players, so that has not been finalised so this is why we looked at the pool we have locally. Some are very young, some in between and some [are] just because they have been performing well during the domestic competitions and to let them know they are on the radar,” he said.
Antigua and Barbuda Benna Boys will host Guadeloupe on March 23 in their League B, Group A clash before facing Barbados three days later on March 26. Both matches are scheduled for 3pm at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
Peters revealed that a former national defender and Greenbay Hoppers player has joined the team’s coaching staff and that training sessions are due to commence within days.
“To date, all that has been ratified is that George ‘Sowa’ Dublin is one that will be working along with the senior squad. Training sessions should commence [soon] because we are going to be having some meetings because … the last time around there [was] a breakdown in communication, and the biggest breakdown in communication stemmed from money.
“I said in my report the last time that when this is the situation, provided that the team has been selected, I want to have a meeting where we discuss these things and put them into the open as to what we are willing to offer so this is like a job interview,” he said.
Antigua and Barbuda Benna Boys are currently third in the Group A standings with six points after two wins from four matches. Cuba leads the standings with nine points with Guadeloupe in second also on nine points but with an inferior goal difference. Barbados are yet to get off the mark at the bottom of the standings.
Full Squad: Marion Dion Edwards (Bendals FC), Shahoi Dorsette (FC Aston Villa), Zaieem Scott (Green City FC), Roneba Cordice (All Saints United), Zaire Scott (Green City FC), Marques Lewis (FC Aston Villa), Jahzime Barthley (Greenbay Hoppers FC), Leroy Graham (All Saints United), Vashami Allen (Grenades FC), Kwami Byers (Willikies FC), Zafique Drew (All Saints United), Tyrique Tonge (SAP FC), Shavorn Phillip (Liberta FC), Kenduka Challenger (All Saints United) and Quinton Griffith (Grenades FC), Tiquan Isaac (Swetes FC), Kieron Richards (Grenades FC), Kwame Kirby (FC Aston Villa), D’Jarie Sheppard (Willikies FC), Novelle Francis Jr (Willikies FC), Jalmaro Calvin (Ottos Rangers FC), Carl Osbourne (Grenades FC), Raheem Deterville (Old Road FC), Akeem Isaac (Pigotts Bullets FC), Daryl Massicot (Jennings United FC), Ken Greene (Blue Jays), Junior Benjamin (Ottos Rangers FC), Javorn Stevens (Greenbay Hoppers FC), Rodney Lawrence (Greenbay Hoppers FC) and Wilden Cornwall Jr (Garden Stars FC).
