U-17 manager lauds gutsy team

MANAGER Dave Small has hailed the character of the Barbados Under-17 side after they overcame several challenges to advance in the Caribbean Football Union Youth Cup last weekend. Entering their final Group D game on Saturday needing just a draw to advance, they drew 2-2 with Suriname at the Andre Kamperveen Stadium to book their ticket to the next round.However, they were forced to overcome a power blackout, huge home support and a sending off to pull off the result. Almost half-hour into the first half, the game was stopped for almost 40 minutes by a nationwide power cut with the score still nil-all. “The team played their heart out and as we always tell them, you have to play with a lot of guts,” Small told CMC Sports. “With a 2-0 deficit and against a sold-out partisan home crowd, the youngsters overcame tremendous odds.“Suriname provided worthy opposition with an attractive short-passing game but we were able to match them in all departments and our speed up front kept them on their heels.”Small said the team would not rest on its laurels and would remain focused on the next stage.