Vincy Heat battles El Salvador for CONCACAF top spot

St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Senior Men’s Football team, Vincy Heat, will battle El Salvador in two matches at the Arnos Vale Playing Field.

The first match is scheduled for 9:00 p.m on Thursday, October 10, and the second will be played on Sunday, October 13, 2024, also starting at 9:00 p.m.

These two unbeaten sides in Group A of League B, respectively will battle for top positions in the Concacaf Nations League (CNL). The SVG versus El Salvador encounter will be the first time that the Arnos Vale Playing Field will be hosting international Football at night. Likewise, on both days, Montserrat and Bonaire will square off from 4:00 p.m, as the entire October window is being hosted at the venue.

Given the disparity in the two teams’ current FIFA Rankings, the Vincy Heat encounter with El Salvador is being dubbed a David Versus Goliath match-up. St Vincent and the Grenadines is currently ranked 174th on the latest FIFA list, while El Salvadore is at number 80. However, Head Coach of the Vincentian outfit, Ezra Hendrickson is banking on the hunger for success of the team. Speaking at Heritage Square during a promotion exercise on Friday, October 4, 2024, Hendrickson noted that getting over El Salvador would not be easy, but he is holding onto them team’s mantra, “We Vincy don’t back down from nobody”.

The executive St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF), in conjunction with the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and its Marketing Committee, are aiming to have at least 9,000 spectators at the Arnos Vale venue on both days. Chair of the LOC, Nelson Hillocks,speaking at last Friday’s promotion at Heritage Square, said, “I just want all Vincentians to know now is it. Two days, four epic games… One and all, come out to the Arnos Vale Playing Field and show your love to Vincy Heat”.

Hillocks is calling on the Football loving public be the “twelfth man”, as Vincy Heat aims to topple El Salvador.

Dating back to 2000, St Vincent and the Grenadines had never beaten El Salvador in their three encounters- all at World Cup Qualifiers. The scorelines have been 7-1, 2-1 and 3-1 in favour of the Salvadorians.

Incidentally, Hendrickson was a member of the team that was beaten 7-1 in El Salvador on July 23, 2000.