Football/Soccer - Troubling concerns for Barbados Football in Digicel Cup campaign

bana2166 · Published by bana2166- 12-13-06

Troubling concerns for Barbados Football in Digicel Cup campaign

Web Posted - Wed Dec 13 2006

WHILE the controversy of whether or not current Technical Advisor to the Barbados senior football team, Keith Griffith may have been resolved Griffith is getting the nod to be the man present in Trinidad with the coaching squad as the national boys try to secure a spot at the upcoming Gold Cup; the Barbados Football Association (BFA) may be in for some other worries.

The pending announcement of Barbados' likely Technical Director expected for early next year had created some doubt as to whether the highly respected Griffith would have been retained for the finals leg of the on-going Digicel Caribbean Cup in Trinidad; but Advocate Sport understands that all has been settled with that matter.

However, the problems arising for Barbados and their campaign for the eight team final, stem from the actual playing dates being pushed up from January 31st February 12th and now slated for January 6 23; with the eligibility of some of the overseas players now being in doubt.

"They (overseas players) want to come, but a number of them have battles of their own back in England with their clubs and we don't know how it will affect our chances in Trinidad", said a well-placed BFA source. "Had the tournament not been pushed up, the timing would have been better for all concerned", Advocate Sport's source further lamented.

To make matters worse for the local boys, they have avoided being placed in the Bobby Sookram Group which features Guyana, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Guadeloupe; perhaps the real team of challenge to Barbados slotted in that four team group would have been Cuba. Instead, Barbados has to negotiate strategies with the likes of hosts Trinidad & Tobago, Martinique and the best third placed finisher among Haiti, Bermuda and the Dominican Republic likely to be Haiti.

"These are things which we have no control over", said the BFA official, "what it does mean is that the challenge will be a little more tedious, but it also means that the players would have to step up to the task and show their worth."

Barbados had the services of the English based Paul Ifill and Mark McCammon during their first two Group Stage rounds in Antigua and Barbados respectively; but with McCammon only recently regaining his First Team place with Championship League team Doncaster Rovers and Ifill having team matters of his own with Premiership team Sheffield United; such an early international schedule for either player would likely be detrimental to their club commitments and obligations.

But there are some avenues being considered by the Association; word is that they have managed to find two potential candidates in another of the English Premiership sides, and negotiations are feverishly on-going to assure Barbados has at least the services of one of those two players from that Premiership team.

"Everything is being done right now by the Association to make sure that Barbados fields the best team possible", the source went on to say, "we are covering all angles and in a week or so, we will know better how things stand."

Other possible options which it is understood are being pursued by the BFA include looking at a 19 year old footballer from the United States, in addition to a handful of Barbados more known players, who ply their trade in the English non-descript and lower leagues.

The following is the match itinerary for the Eight team, two groups final of the Digicel Caribbean Cup to be played in Trinidad -

THE SEDLEY JOESPH GROUP

12th January 2007 - Trinidad & Tobago vs Barbados

12th January 2007 - Winner Group J vs Martinque

15th January 2007 - Trinidad & Tobago vs Martinique

15th January 2007 - Barbados vs Winner Group J

17th January 2007 - Trinidad & Tobago vs Winner Group J

17th January 2007 - Barbados vs Martinique

THE BOBBY SOOKRAM GROUP

14th January 2007 - Cuba vs Guyana

14th January 2007 - Guyana vs St. Vincent & the Grenadines

16th January 2007 - Guadeloupe vs Guyana