Vincy Heat heads back to Central America

Despite being eliminated from going any further in the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers, St. Vincent and the Grenadines senior men’s Football team, Vincy Heat, leaves today, Tuesday, November 8 for the Belize to engage the host in their first leg of the final round of Group E of the CONCACAF Zone.{{more}}

The teams play each other this Friday, November 11, but have no chance of advancing to the next phase.

However, the match holds historic significance for both teams.

Apart from being their first meeting in international Football, St. Vincent and the Grenadines is regarded as the original home of many Belizeans, as they are descendants of the Garifuna, who were banished from this country in the early nineteenth century.

But history and sentiments aside, the Vincentians will be looking to finish their campaign strong with wins to improve on their world rankings.

At present, Belize is ranked number 143, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines 146, on FIFA’s latest rankings table.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is making its second trip to Central America in two months, after its outing to Guatemala on September 3.

Central America has not been a happy hunting ground for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as this country has never won a match there. This country’s best result was a 2-2 draw with Nicaragua, also in World Cup Qualifications in June, 2004.

Favourable results in the encounter with Belize, could see St. Vincent and the Grenadines having their best showing in the group stage of the World Cup Qualifiers, as they can take the runner-up spot.

Guatemala tops the group with twelve points from their four matches and is through to the next phase. Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are locked on four points each, but the Grenadians are ahead on goal difference.

Belize lies last in the standings with three points from their four matches.

The Guatemalans have won all their matches, beating St. Vincent and the Grenadines 4-0 and 3-0, and Belize 2-1 and 3-1.

Grenada lost to St. Vincent and the Grenadines 1-2 and drew 1-1 in the return leg. Against the Belizeans, Grenada lost 0-3 in the first leg, but rebounded to beat their opponents 1-4.

Since drawing with Grenada 1-1 on October 15 in Grenada, which virtually put paid to their chances of advancing, the preparations of the Vincentians have been mainly confined to warm-up matches against local club teams.

The Colwyn Rowe coached Vincentian outfit played their last warm up match against Prospect United last Saturday, at the Arnos Vale Playing Field.

The other match in the group this Friday, sees Grenada away to Guatemala.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines hosts Belize here, on Tuesday, November 15; likewise, Grenada is at home to Guatemala on that same day. (RT)