CAPTAIN?Mario Harte and coach?Asquith Howell were singing the same chorus. And all the football recruits in the Barbados Defence Force’s sports programme joined in to do a song and dance at the National Stadium on Sunday night.
Displaying a steely resolve and a fighting spirit, the Barbados Defence Force twice came from behind to beat Mackeson Brittons Hill 4-3 in a thrilling KFC?Knockout Cup final.
Howell, who is also the national Under-20 coach, told MIDWEEK SPORT he never felt BDF?would lose even when Brittons Hill led 2-1 in the 63rd minute and went ahead again 3-2 in the second minute of extra time.
“One of the things that I’ve been building in this unit is a team that never dies. We got to play at least 90 or 95 minutes or more when it comes to this tournament. We put in the work and this is the reward,” he said.
‘The guys gave their all and one of the things that I had to do on the sidelines was to motivate them even when we were down and they did a tremendous job,” he added.
He said winning titles and developing the players at the same time is what the BDF’s football programme is supposed to be about.
Another transition
“These youngsters moving on. This year is another transition year for us and it could only get better from here,” Howell said.
Harte was also delighted that the team was able to win a second Knockout title, 17 years after capturing their first in 1994.
“It feels great after working so hard during the week. The guys put in the work in the Knockout and really came out and fight and we got the result. It wasn’t easy but at the end of the day, we had to dig deep and that’s what we did and we came out victorious,” Harte said.
‘This is my first title. We have always been there, knocking at the door step but it good to finally go all the way. Its a good experience and a good feeling to do this,” he added.
Harte said the addition of a number of new recruits late in the season, gave the team a lot more depth and strength.
“The new guys really came in, fitted in and helped the team a lot. It is unfortunate that we didn’t have them from the beginning of the season. Maybe, we would’ve done better and challenge more for the Cup,” he said.
He also thanked the supporters who came out and cheered the team on.
“Because the team was doing so well, we brought out the soldiers and they really helped us with their support and we must thank them also,” Harte noted.
He said the army side has gained many admirers because of the quality and style of play of the current crop of BDF?footballers.
“I think people would look at the BDF’s sport programme as a development programme and not just a programme where you kick the ball long as people looked at us before and realize that it is going somewhere,” Harte said.
Harte also believes that the triumph should open the door for more financial support from Government so that the players can get attachments overseas.
Howell was full of praise for Harte.
“Mario is really the leader of the team. All the plays build around Mario. He’s a tremendous player and one of the things that
I said to Mario is that ‘this is his team’. He’s coming to the end of his tenure (in the BDF) but he’s going to try to go for another year. But at the same time, moulding these guys with the experience that he has is the correct method in going forward,” Howell said.
The coach also explained the thinking about the decision to replace national player Kadeem Atkins with rookie Mario Williams during extra time.
“Kadeem was all caught up in reference to the refereeing and I know Kadeem well, so the thing was to try to get him off the field so that we won’t have to play with ten men.
“I took a gamble, so to speak with a new recruit, who hasn’t played a game as yet but he has potential and this is what the programme is all about, giving everybody an equal chance,”? Howell said.
