So far, so good

St Vincent and the Grenadines is perched at the top of Group C of League B in the2023/ 2024 Concacaf Nations League(CNL).

Sitting on six points from two matches, St Vincent and the Grenadines is the lone unbeaten team in the four-team group, with maximum points.

The Vincentians earned a 2-1 win over Belize last Friday September 8, a fixture played on neutral ground in Martinique, as agreed by both countries’ football federations.

The last Tuesday, September 12, here at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, the Vincentian crowd had much to shout about, as the home team came away, 4-3 victors, albeit a nervy affair versus a technically and tactical Bermuda outfit.

As it stands, it is the best start for Vincy Heat as they are called, since the CNL began five years ago.

Undoubtedly, the two wins would immediately heighten expectations towards a possibility of a promotion to League A in the next edition of the CNL.

But it is early days yet, as there are four matches to go. The rest of the fixtures show St Vincent and the Grenadines meeting French Guiana twice next month, whilst they meet Belize and Bermuda in the November window.

The prospects are before us, it is for the relevant authorities, namely the Executive of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation to throw its support behind Vincy Heat.

Therefore, every iota of resources should be now injected into the team to ensure that St Vincent and the Grenadines tops the group, hence, a ticket to be among the bigger boys in Concacaf.

This may require some financial output to realise international friendlies, players’ nutrition and well being, as a lot can happen as the team awaits it back to back meetings with French Guiana in October.

Rewriting the wrongs are on the table, as leading up to the last two encounters against Belize and Bermuda, match readiness for the national outfit was restricted to in house as well as against club and community teams.

Certainly, this was unacceptable, unless we are just there in the CNL simply for participation only.

Furthermore, at stake too, is that opportunity for life to be breathed again into the national Football set up, as we had lost our way because of a series of defeats and some administrative faux pas.

But critically, the national senior men’s team can be up against it, not because of their own undoing, but their CNL campaign falls smack into a pending elections of the SVGFF.

We all have come to acknowledge and accept that whenever football elections come around, that takes precedence over the sport and its development.

That unwanted but inevitable state of affairs and an embedded Football culture, can hurt the chances and focus of the men selected to represent the country in the remaining matches.

Of note too, is the managing of emotions of the players, keeping them grounded, focused and away from the various distractions and noises, inclusive of their involvement in the community leagues and public hopes and aspirations.

It may be beyond the coaching staff of the senior men’s Football team to control all the variables that present themselves.

We have history to go on, as in 2019, St Vincent and the Grenadines was at the doorstep to qualify directly to the Gold Cup, as well as gain promotion to League A.

However, the country failed at the final hurdle, losing to Dominica in their last match.

Hence, we should not allow such to reoccur, as six or seven more points can do it.

The task is for the technical staff of the team, along with all the logistical and other systems to kick in and work towards giving the team, the best chances to top the group.

Vincentians need something to lift their spirits at this juncture, as all the social and economic challenges are breeding despondency and laissez – fair among many.

So far, so good for Vincy Heat, so the approach is one match, one win at a time.