Ahmed Mohamed is looking to go pro.
Barbados’ technical director hasn’t given up on improving the senior side, having targeted some English overseas-based professional players to add to the men’s national football squad.
Mohamed disclosed the news following recent discussions with Maccabi Tel Aviv striker Nick Blackman and former Ipswich left-back Tyrone Mings.
“It is very important for Barbados to acquire this calibre of player because currently we are the only country that has no professional players on a team competing at this level,” Mohamed explained.
“Guyana has 14, Grenada has 14 and everyone else has at least a couple, so really and truly we are the only ones playing with all local players. In the long term that will be difficult for us to perform at a high level without them and still get good results.”
Mohamed’s call comes amidst a particularly poor year for the Bajan Tridents, who slumped to their lowest ever world ranking of 181 during 2017.
It all came to a head when Barbados finished last in a five-team Windward Islands tournament with a mere four points from two defeats, one draw and a 2-0 consolation win over eventual champions Grenada. And that was after the Tridents already suffered losses to Trinidad and Tobago, French Guiana and St Kitts-Nevis.
Yet those results weren’t enough to deter the likes of the Bournemouth-based Mings, who expressed interest in wearing the ultramarine and gold just last week.
“I have quite a lot of family ties in Barbados – uncles and aunties who live there – so my family connection is quite strong,” Mings told the Daily Echo. “I would potentially consider playing for Barbados in the future. I haven’t considered it until now because I don’t think that question ever got asked when I was at Ipswich.”
But his situation isn’t quite straightforward, though, as Mings is a third generation Bajan whose paternal grandparents are Barbadian and not his parents.
“We in Barbados have different rules from the rest of the Caribbean when it comes to citizenship, so either his parents would have to get citizenship or someone high up will have to give it the okay, but it isn’t as easy as that,” explained Barbados Football Association president Randy Harris.
But the 28-year-old English-born Blackman has no such issue, considering his father is Barbadian and has extremely deep ties to the Pine area.
However, Israel are also on the hunt for the talented forward, who has scored three goals in six appearances while on loan to Maccabi Tel Aviv from Derby County.
“From our conversations, it seems like he really wants to play for Barbados, and getting a player of his calibre is really crucial for our plans with the national team,” said Mohamed.
“And it’s not just that he wants to play for Barbados but he wants to give back to the Pine, too. He knows where he came from, and those are the types of players we are looking for because we want great ambassadors for this country and those willing to help improve the community.”
In recent years, Barbados have benefited from the services of former Wigan captain and 2013 English FA Cup winner Emmerson Boyce. (JM)
