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US-based goalkeeper Keasel Broome listening intently as he is given some direction by Goalkeeper Coach Richard Bynoe during yesterday’s session.

Tridents ready for Golden Jaguars

The Bajan Tridents will be giving it their all this coming week when they get their feet wet for the first-time ever in the CONCACAF Nations League. Heading off to Guyana tomorrow for the first of four matches over the coming months, the senior men’s team will be looking for a win down South to open their campaign on a high note.

Speaking to The Barbados Advocate during a training session at the National Stadium yesterday morning, Barbados Football Association Technical Director, Ahmed Mohamed said that the team was in high spirits and that they were putting the finishing touches on their preparations.

“We are working on different things right now. We are going through the system, from offensive to defensive, defensive to offensive. We are working on our passing quality because we know in Guyana, the field will be very difficult. It is a sand-based field so we are trying to get our tactics a little bit better. Other than that, mentally the team is ready. Physically, we are here. So we are positive and looking forward to performing well in Guyana.” he said.

With the team playing a slew of international friendly matches, the most recent being this past week against Cuba, as they prepared for the upcoming tournament, Mohamed said that the idea was to get the team ready for the high level of competition.

“The international games were just to prepare the team and see who we have and see what kind of quality the team has going into the Nations League. We played a lot of test games but the Nations League is different – it is a different quality of football. All in all, I am very satisfied what we have done because the majority of the opponents we played were much better than us,” he continued.

Noting that their had been constant improvement in the team as it related to the quality of play over the course of the friendlies, Mohamed said that the local lads, all amateur players, also got a taste of what it was like to play against top international competition.

“The majority of our opponents have overseas-based players. When you see Guyana, they brought back 13 overseas players. Out of the 13, as far as I remember, nine are from England and two are from Portugal and they play a different type of football to us and when the clash comes between amateurs and professionals it is two different things. As far as I can see and say, we have done very well against professionals so far and we are ready for them,” he said.

The team will be heading to Georgetown with three returnees in Keasel Broome, who plies his trade in the United States, while Rashad Jules and Thierry Gale are back from trials with Honvéd Budapest in Hungary’s top league. With limited resources available Mohamed said that he would be making the most of what was at his disposal.

“I am a man that always works with what he has and I get the maximum out of it. We are at our full strength for what we have. We will get two additional reinforcements and those will be Krystian Pearce from Mansfield Town FC and Hallam Hope from Carlisle United,” he said.

The Tridents take the fight to Guyana on September 6, at the Leonora Stadium. (MP)

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