Vincy Heat not backing down against Jamaica in Concacaf qualifier tonight

Football fans attending tonight’s Concacaf Qualifiers matches between St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Senior Men’s team, Vincy Heat and the Jamaica Reggae Boyz, at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, can be assured that the host will not be backing down from their Jamaican counterparts.

That is the bold assertion of St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Head Coach, Ezra Hendrickson.

Speaking a press conference at the Media Centre, one day prior to their home fixture, Hendrickson expressed confidence in bringing the fight to the opponents.

“We are aware that they have a bit more professional players on their team than we do, but at the end of the day, the game is played on the day. We have been very successful recently and we want to continue in that vein,” an upbeat Hendrickson affirmed.

Hendrickson, however, is cognisant that the Jamaicans will not be easy to topple, given their pedigree and history.

“We cannot take them lightly; the Jamaica team is a good team. We want to leave here going into Jamaica with three points. The key for us is to take care of our home field tomorrow night”, Hendrickson stated.

Apart from the players selected, who Hendrickson assured will give their best on the night, the Head Coach points out that the thousands of patrons who will be flocking the venue will have to play their part.

“We definitely need them to the twelfth man. We want a crowd that is there cheering the guys on because as a former player, I know what the energy from the crowd does to you especially in game of this magnitude”, the former St Vincent and the Grenadines Captain commented.

Meanwhile, Vincy Heat Captain, Oalex Anderson, like Hendrickson, advanced that they will be going into the first leg with a positive mindset.

“We are a team that is up for the challenge. We are up for the fight what hardship lies ahead. We are ready. I strongly believe with the right mindset and everybody buying into the cause we can get the job done.”

Hendrickson’s opposite number, Steve McCLaren is not taking the Vincentians for granted either.

“We’ve watched them a lot over the last five or six games. They’ve prepared well, and they have some good players that can hurt you. So, I have stressed to the team that this is not going to be easy. What I’ve realised in my six months in the Caribbean is that there are no easy games. They’re all different and tomorrow will be the same,” Mc Claren said.

“We have to adapt, accept, and win.”

The match kicks off at 7:06 p.m today, Friday, March 21. The return leg takes place at Sabina Park, Jamaica, next Tuesday, March 25, 2025.

The winner of the tie advances to the Concacaf Gold Cup in the USA, in June of this year.