BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS - THE national football team is fit and ready for its encounter against Suriname in the second round of the CFU Caribbean Cup tonight (June 1) at the Warner Park Football Stadium.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, coach Jacques Passy explained that even though Suriname is a team known for providing some of the top players in the 1980s and 1990s, the Sugar Boys are ready for the encounter.
“We have quite a challenge tomorrow (and we) know the team quite will, but just like Roberto said we are very well prepared.”
According to Suriname’s head coach Roberto Godeken, his unit had good preparations coming into the game and is ready to put on a good show tonight.
“We are here to play the game against St. Kitts and Nevis and it is a very important moment for us as a Suriname team. The first round we played against Guadeloupe and we progressed that round and now we play against St. Kitts and Nevis and we know we can go further...and we are coming up against much stronger opponent.”
The Sugar Boys are in Group Five of the tournament that also includes St. Vincent and the Grenadines which are now joining the 2016 Qualifiers for the first time.
Meanwhile, in urging the public to show its full support for the encounter, President of the SKNFA Anthony Johnson said it is an important match in their quest to advance to the Gold Cup.
He wants the same level of support for the international game that was shown for the local teams during the Final Four Playoffs.
“The CFU men’s senior tournament is a precursor to the CONCACAF Gold Cup and we do believe that it is important for us here in St. Kitts and Nevis to advance onto the Gold Cup, but we cannot do that without making it to at least the last four,” Johnson said
Concerns were raised about the condition of the venue but that was recently put to rest by Johnson at the Final Four press conference, where it was noted that Warner Park Football Stadium was in top condition.
General Secretary Stanley Jacobs said the Association is pleased with preparations that went into getting the venue in a condition ready for game day.
“We looked at the field yesterday and it is in very good condition, and of course most persons would have witness that we just concluded the Final Four stage of our premier league competition. We are very pleased in relation to the ground preparation,” Jacobs expressed.
Team St. Kitts and Nevis have been unbeaten so far in the competition and have topped their group in the first round, beating arch-rivals Antigua and Barbuda 1-nil and downing Aruba 2-1.
The first whistle blows at 8:00.p.m with tickets for the stadium being sold for $40 and ground $30.
