Cayman’s rising young football stars face St. Kitts and Nevis Tuesday in the final game of their CONCACAF U20 qualifying tournament.
The match will go ahead in Basseterre despite a pause on all local football activity for at least the next week following Sunday’s shooting at the Ed Bush Stadium in West Bay.
A group of committed and professional young players have impressed coaches with their attitude and performances during the tournament.
And they proved a point on the pitch as they drew 1-1 with regional heavyweights Puerto Rico on Sunday.
Justin Byles opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with a well-struck drive from distance.
And a well-organised Cayman side gamely withstood second half pressure from the Puerto Ricans, until a wonder-strike from Benjamin Donato levelled the contest with just over ten minutes left on the clock.
Donato’s spectacular overhead kick was a sucker punch for Cayman that leaves them unable to qualify for the next phase of the CONCACAF Under-20 Championships.
‘Very proud’ of team
Byles said his goal was a good moment, but bittersweet in the context.
“I’m happy I could score a goal for the team today. Unfortunately, we ended up drawing 1-1 so we can no longer qualify.
“However, I’m very proud of how the whole squad and staff performed”
Defeat against Haiti on Friday, in their opening game in this regional qualifying tournament in St. Kitts and Nevis, had left them with their backs against the wall and nothing less than a win was needed Sunday.
Watching from the stands, president of the Cayman Islands Football Association, Alfredo Whittaker, saw plenty of room for optimism in the performances of the young squad.
“This is a group that we can build a senior national team around for the future,” he told the Compass on Sunday, prior to the separate incident in West Bay.
“They eat, breathe, and sleep football and they execute on the pitch. They have a very professional approach in everything they do and it shows in their performance.”
What pleased him most about the 1-1 draw Sunday was the disappointment of the players at the final whistle.
“They weren’t happy with getting a point against a so-called top team. They knew they could win.”
Whittaker said coach Ian Lindo and his team had done a magnificent job with the squad in a short space of time. He believes the 4-1 loss to Haiti, Friday, was down to a handful of individual errors and did not reflect the closeness of the game.
With St. Kitts coming up on Tuesday, he’s confident the under-20s can end with a victory and leave with their heads held high.
Some of the squad, many of whom play college football in the US or in academies in Europe, could form the core of the next senior national team.
“We are thinking of the medium and long term, so many of these players will be in consideration,” said Whittaker.
Cayman plays St. Kitts and Nevis Tuesday, 6pm, Cayman time, in Basseterre.
Live coverage of the tournament is being carried on Fox Soccer Plus.
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