Vincy Heat to set Bermuda ablaze this weekend

Vincy Heat goes into the second round of the Digicel Caribbean Football Cup in Barbados this weekend looking to secure a place in the grand finals set for Trinidad and Tobago next year.

But first they have to get past Bermuda this Sunday in their opening encounter, at the National Stadium, located five miles from the capital, Bridgetown.{{more}}

Next Tuesday they tackle the host and round off their campaign, Thursday against the Bahamas.

St Vincent and the Grenadines reached this phase after placing second to Haiti in Group B of the preliminary round.

The 18-member squad released earlier this week showed the return of former captain Ezra Hendrickson. The lanky defender who plays for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer in the USA, in 2004 had announced his intentions of retiring from representing St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Also returning to national representation is Marlon James. Like Hendrickson, James last played a full international back in 2004, in a failed attempt at reaching the World Cup qualifiers final round.

Marion Grant, a midfielder, converted to defender makes a comeback following two years of absence, while utility player Richard Hayde and striker Sean Glynn are making their first major tour as senior players. Glynn though toured England in 2003 as part of national senior training squad.

The goalkeepers named are Melvin Andrews and Winslow Mc Dowald.

Malaysia based Cornelius Huggins, Wesley Charles who plays professionally in Ireland combined with home based players, Greg Myers, Dexter Walker and Benford Joseph to form the defence line up.

The midfield department is occupied by Trinidad based Kendall Velox, Kevin Joseph, Darren Francis, Collingham Delves, and Andrew Douglas. This department is without the hard nosed Wesley John, who played a pivotal role in Vincy Heat reaching this stage. John who plays in Portugal is unavailable.

Striker Shandell Samuel completes the squad.

Technical Director-Zoran Vranes, Coach -Roger Gurley, Manager- Roxell John, team doctor-Perry De Freitas and Kit Manager- Kevin Richardson are the support staff.

First Vice President Leopold Dopwell travels as the executive member accompanying the team.

Cuba and Martinique have advanced from Group I to the final set for January 31- February 11, 2007.The other group pits Guyana, the Dominican Republic, Antigua and Barbuda and Guadeloupe to be played in Guyana November 24-28.

A play off among the three third place teams from the second round will determine the seventh finalist, with the host Trinidad and Tobago completing the quota. The winner of the finals earns US$120,000.