BASSETERRE, St. Kitts -- Atiba Harris, President of the St. Kitts and Nevis Football Association (SKNFA), expressed satisfaction with the Under-20 team's performance in the recently concluded CONCACAF Under-20 Championship Qualifiers.
While the team secured victory in one out of their three group games, they gleaned valuable lessons from the experience, gearing up for the transition to the next echelon within the sport. Harris emphasized that the qualifiers served as a scouting platform for several players eyeing spots in the senior team for the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers later this year.
"This is the final step towards joining the senior team. We're looking to identify players who can make that leap because we have World Cup qualifiers looming and another cycle for 2030. So, we're utilizing these matches, even the preceding training sessions, to assess player development," Harris explained to SKNVIbes Sports.
Despite not clinching desired results in the competition, coaches and SKNFA members have noted progress in player development. Harris believes that many players are poised for the next stage of their careers.
"Throughout the matches, some players demonstrated readiness for the senior level, while others are still in the developmental phase. We'll continue guiding them along their developmental paths, which will serve them well in the future," Harris added.
Acknowledging that not every player will ascend to the senior level, Harris emphasized the association's commitment to supporting players in various aspects of their football journey, be it professional opportunities, college prospects, or other roles within the football fraternity. The Technical Development System (TDS) plays a pivotal role in refining players' skills to meet recognized standards, particularly for younger athletes.
“Not all of them are going to make it to the senior level... I think that has already been established. But what we can do is help them and guide them to provide a quality way of life through football for them.
“Whether it's professional, whether it's college opportunities or whether it's other opportunities within football, within the football association or fraternity. And the TDS will assist in that transition and bring in the skills level of the players up to some recognizable standards. Yes, so the TDS is for the younger ones.”
The SKNFA executive is now directing efforts towards nurturing young talent and facilitating smooth transitions between age categories through its TDS program. "The younger players will fortify the foundation and pave the way for future under-20 and under-17 players, whom we hope will surpass the current crop," Harris concluded.
