SVG U-20 Males to battle for Concacaf Group- D Qualification

Four overseas based players have been named in the St Vincent and the Grenadines Male Under-20 team for the Concacaf qualifiers set for the Haseley Crawford Stadium, Trinidad and Tobago, February 23 to 27, 2024.

The quintet are midfielder- Sebastian Alexander as well as forwards- Logan Cozier, Kentre Gordon and Frankroy Cain.

They are joined by 16 locally based players who have made the final cut.

The full squad reads:

Goalkeepers Devon Morgan, Jermaine Jarvis, and Triston John.

• Defenders: Dimitri Thomas, Lerence Benjamin, Amaro Charles, Joenaldo Payne, Tyrique Stephens, and Lazaro Lynch.

• Midfielders: J’Quan Glasgow, Juemar Luke, Mackellie Ferdinand, Sebastian Alexander, Emroy Edwards, and Kirtney Franklyn.

• Forwards: AJ Delpesche, Steven Pierre, Isiah Charles, Frankroy Cain, Logan Cozier, and Kentre Gordon.

Head coach is Wayde Jackson with assistant coach- Richard Hayde and goal keeper coach- Urtis

Blackette. Also part of the backroom staff are Shadel Cyrus- mental fitness coach; Shevon Smith –Physiotherapist, along with team doctor- Michael Stowe.

The team’s manager is Dr Ronen Francis, with committee member of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation’s executive- Dwight Baptiste completing the travelling party.

St Vincent and the Grenadines begin their sojourn this evening, Friday February, 23,2024 versus host Trinidad and Tobago from 7:00 p.m.

The Vincentians then oppose Canada on Sunday February, 25, from 4:00 p.m and close off their quest for a Group D qualification when they take on Dominica next Tuesday, February 27, 2004 from 4:00 p.m.

Wayde Jackson, head coach exuded confidence ahead of his charges’ assignment in the two-island republic.

“ For the last week or so, we have been working on keeping our shape, transitioning plays and being disciplined”, Jackson told SEARCHLIGHT as he acknowledged that coming up with the final travelling squad was painstaking.

“The players gave it their all, and it is unfortunate that we could only take twenty-one, but that is the

nature of things…

“ We have a group of guys who complement one another, therefore we expect them to compete, give of their best and the results will take of themselves.”

Jackson is hoping they can get it right and be the team that will advance from the group.

The six group winners head to the next round where they will be joined by the USA, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.

The 12 will then be stashed in three groups of four, where they will engage in round robin play.

Thereafter, the first and second places from each group, along with the two best third places, will form the pool of quarter finalists.

The knock out format will see the eight whittled down to four for the semi -finals, then the two finalists.

The semifinalists will get berths to the FIFA Under-20 final set for Chile in 2025.