RALLY BEHIND the successful Barbados Under-17 football team.
With a $150 000 tag now attached to the team’s preparation for the CONCACAF finals in Jamaica from February 14 to 27, president of the Barbados Football Association (BFA) Ronald Jones has made an appeal for financial support for the talented group of teenaged footballers.
The youngsters will now face Honduras and Canada in a tough Group D of the 12-team finals which will see the top four teams advancing to the FIFA World Under-17 finals in Mexico in June.
“I want to appeal to Barbados generally for support. We will communicate to your schools, asking for some support for you. We have to do a whole set of equipping and re-equipping . . . and to the corporate sector, who have always provided some assistance, the appeal also goes out to them,” Jones said.
“$150 000 at this time is not a mountain to climb but the import of what is happening should not miss Barbados. Essentially, you might be three football games away of playing in a World Cup, albeit an Under-17 World Cup,” he added.
Jones estimated that it is going to cost approximately $7 500 per player from January 1 until February 26 or 27 to maintain this momentum gained from defeating Haiti and Guyana in the second stage of Caribbean qualification in the Dominican Republic last week.
“We are talking in the region of $150 000 to support this exercise. That would be getting the team to Jamaica, at least giving them two or three competitive warm-up games here in Barbados or off-island to keep them sharp and focused,” Jones explained.
“There will also be one or two short camps in Barbados where we can concentrate on not only the tactical (side) but also the psycho-social aspect of their development and I will be part of that,” added the BFA chief.
“I have faith in these young men [and] I’m hopeful that Barbados would respond to our various initiatives, particularly over the next four weeks to galvanise the resources to support.
“We salute the efforts of the Under-17 team. When young men are able to dedicate themselves to success, particularly at times when young men are facing a barrage of criticism, it speaks volumes to their skills, discipline and their focus,” the BFA chief said.