St Lucia step up for Home Matches

CONCACAF Nations League

Saint Lucia’s National Men (Snr.) team is currently gearing up for their second away game in the CONCACAF Nations League—before they return here for their first of three home matches, starting next week.

SLFA’s technical director Cess Podd says this tournament is big and is something very important to the association. “We’ve brought in coach Jamal Shabazz who has kind of added a little bit more spark to what we have,” he explained. “Most of the players that we have now make up a very young team with a few experienced players.”

Podd said with the final away game on today (Saturday) against the Dominican Republic, the team will be looking forward to do well in the three home matches that is scheduled for the Daren Sammy Cricket Grounds [DSCG], on October 15, and November, 16 and 19.

The St. Lucia squad took in some late afternoon training sessions, on Wednesday, under the guidance of the technical staff that included Shabazz and assistant coach Francis “Baba” Lastic. The team departed on Thursday for a tough encounter against DR, and according to Podd “that’s going to be a tough game …as they beat El Salvador and this is going to be one of our toughest games.”

The home matches starting next week will feature:

October, 15 St Lucia vs. El Salvador -5pm.

November, 16 – St Lucia vs. Dominican Republic – 6pm.

November, 19 – St Lucia vs. Montserrat – 7pm.

Podd is urging the sporting public to turn out in large numbers to support the home team, as “it’s going to be a good game …we lost to El Salvador, but we expect to do better at home because we have the home advantage.”

Despite having to face tough opponents, a loss to the DR and a draw against Montserrat, the technical director feels that the home matches will favour St Lucia and is optimistic that with the “home advantage we expect to do well against Montserrat at home.”

Podd said there are some overseas based players on the team, including Shaim Roserie and Sherwin Emmanuel that has helped to boost up the team.