Warm-up for national teams

The national senior team and the Under-20 outfit will get valuable warmup this weekend at the Victoria Park ahead of their upcoming overseas assignments.

Providing the fine tuning is French neighbour Martinique.{{more}}

The Under-20 preparing for their second round of the Caribbean Football Union qualifiers play Martinique from 8 tonight, with the seniors facing the visitors Sunday from 7 pm at the same venue. These matches sandwich another international friendly between St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Barbados women’s teams. The SVG/Barbados match begins 5 p.m on Sunday.

The Under-20’s head for Trinidad and Tobago next Monday, where they will meet St. Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday. Their next encounter is next Friday October 27, versus the Dominican Republic. The Vincentians crown off their qualification efforts against Trinidad and Tobago next week Sunday October 29.The top team from each of the two groups automatically advances to the CONCACAF grouping, along with the best second place.

The local squad has been bolstered by new coach Sammy Carrington, who is working along with Earl Samuel, the man who was at the helm at their advancement. The young footballers intensified their training over the past two weeks and the inclusion of other players adds to the seriousness of their Trinidad and Tobago mission.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines topped Group D of the preliminary round played in St. Lucia in August. Feeling the weight of the Vincentians were the host, Grenada and Barbados.

This country’s flagship team Vincy Heat will engage Bermuda , the Bahamas and Barbados from November 19-23 for a spot in next year’s Digicel Caribbean Cup finals to be played in Trinidad and Tobago January 31- February 11.

Vincy Heat ended second to Haiti earlier this month in Jamaica to advance to this phase.

In the process St. Vincent and the Grenadines toppled last year’s winner Jamaica.

Sunday’s meeting is the second engagement for Vincy Heat since their historic triumph over Jamaica.

Vincy Heat had hardly relished their achievement deflated by Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca Warriors 0-5 in a hastily arranged fixture in Port of Spain October 7.

The visitors are also preparing for the second round of the Digicel Cup. As host, Martinique are slotted in Group I along with Suriname, Guadeloupe and Cuba from November 8- 12.