Barbados will be without star forward Thierry Gale but will be boosted by the presence of exciting striker Niall Reid-Stephen when they take on Aruba today at the BRA Technical Centre, Wildey, in a crucial CONCACAF World Cup qualifier which is scheduled to kick-off at 5 p.m.
The 23-year-old winger, who currently plies his trade in Poland with Piast Gliwice, is unavailable for selection despite being one of the Tridents’ most influential attacking threats. Gale last featured for the national side in November 2024 during a 5-3 defeat to Guyana in the Nations League Play-In Final, where he scored twice from the penalty spot. Since then, he has registered two goal contributions in Poland’s top flight during his loan spell from Austrian club Rapid Wien, which runs until the end of 2025.
His absence leaves a notable void in the attack for Barbados, who are still searching for their first win in Group C of the second round of CONCACAF qualifiers. The Tridents are bottom of the five-team group following back-to-back defeats last June – a 4-1 away loss to Curaçao and a 3-1 home defeat to Haiti.
Reid-Stephen, who scored in both matches, returns to the squad after playing in the United States with South Georgia Tormenta FC in USL League Two. National captain Andre Applewhaite, who has been playing with Appalachian FC, is also back and will slot in the defence, which will be marshalled by the experienced duo Mario “Bagga” Williams and Ricardio Morris.
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