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ST JOHN’S, Antigua/Barbuda, May 13, 2016 – Three ECVA teams (St.
Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada arrived here
ready to compete in the U19 Boys Youth Championship. They will
be hosted by home team Antigua/Barbuda to make it a four team
contest.
Each team complained about a checkered preparation period due to
fact that most of the boys of this age are engaged in regional
exams at this time however all averred that they were her to win
Coach of the Antigua team (Olsen Lewis) made the boldest
predictions so far. He believes that the contest will come down
to his home team and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“I have analyzed the three visiting opponents and in my opinion
St. Vincent will pose the stiffest challenge to our objectives
of taking home goal. At this level I think we have bettered St.
Lucia and Grenada will have to come with some surprise elements
in order to derail us. However, my gauge is St. Vincent and the
Grenadines as we had a really tough time defeating them at this
level last time around,” he surmised.
“Most definitely we are here to win and I am confident that we
can do so,” was the response from the coach from St. Lucia
(Bernard President) when asked about the purpose for being in
the tournament.
Raphael Brathwaite of Grenada suggested that he was not making
the preparation an excuse but suggested that it is something
that the organizers to look into.
“I believe that I have the charges to come out on top in this
competition. The setter who is also the captain has been a
national Youth player for over three years now and his twin is
also another experienced player. The rest of the players are
relatively new but it is a good all round team that is quite
capable of winning,” he noted
Vance Andrews of St. Vincent and the Grenadines was adamant that
the reason for them coming to Antigua was to win. “Despite
missing one or two key players who are not here I still think
that we can come out as winners. We have a good all round team
and those who are here are ready to give of their best in order
to achieve that objective. We are aware that at this stage
Antigua and St. Lucia pose some problems but we are ready for
them,” he said.
The tournament opens with host Antigua/Barbuda taking on St.
Lucia at 9 am on Saturday 14th May and then at 11 am
St. Vincent and the Grenadines will lock horns with Grenada. |
