Source: SKNFA
Basseterre, St. Kitts, (Thursday 10th August, 2017) – The senior men’s St. Kitts-Nevis National Football Team is heading to India shortly to participate in the 2017 Champions Cup.
Twenty-four players have begun training for a tournament that will have India as host for the 17th to 27th August tournament. In addition to India, Afghanistan and St. Kitts-Nevis, one other team will take part in the tournament.
The final St. Kitts-Nevis Men’s Senior National Team will be accompanied by Jeffrey Hazel, George Isaac, Kenneth Douglas and Roger Hendricks.
The matches will be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai, India, under the auspices of the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
The competition shall consist of three stages that includes a League System and Final. In the group matches the teams will play each other in a league system. The Winner and Runner-up from the group shall qualify for the finals, an SKNFA official explain.
Commenting on St. Kitts-Nevis being invited to take part in the Champions Cup, SKN Head Coach Jacques Passy, speaking from Mexico, said, “For the first time in the history of football in St. Kitts and Nevis, we have been invited to be part of an international tournament with our senior national football team.”
He continued, “This is a invitation tournament, and because of our 2016 ranking that we achieved, because of the way we are approaching football, because of the Association’s tremendous approach to international football, to allow us to compete all over the world, St. Kitts and Nevis was chosen by the AIFF.”
According to Passy, St. Kitts and Nevis is showing the courage and the strength to be a part of international football.
Passy said it is important for the senior team to compete in upcoming tournaments, CONCACAF, including Caribbean Cup that would lead to Gold Cup 2019.
“Our way, our methodology, our vision is to compete internationally, and having this invitation by India, where India is part of our vision, our preparation this year for me is a tremendous honor, and I want to say thank you to the Football Association, thank you to the India Football Federation, for allowing us to be part of this tournament.”
According to Passy, this tournament provides an opportunity for several locally based young players.
“I’m going to take this opportunity to truly provide individual opportunities for many young local players who have been fighting, truly asking for top opportunity in the National team,” Jacques said.
He said also that it would be an opportunity for the players to show professional.
The players preparing to go to India are as follows:
Jamal JEFFERS
Adolpus BENTOS
Dennis FLEMMING
Clyde MITCHAM
Thrizen LEADER
Petrez WILLIAMS
Xavier FRENCH
Errol OLOUGHLIN
Joash LEADER
Delano HODGE
Tiran HANLEY
Kimaree ROGERS
Gvaune AMORY
Javaughn BROOKES
Dionis STEPHENS
Evanceroy BARNES
Carlos BERTIE
Vinceroy NELSON
Jayan DUNCAN
Kevin BENJAMIN
Zeleon MORTON
Tahir HANLEY
Yohannes MITCHAM
Raheem SOMERSALL
AFFILIATES: LIFA, CFU, CONCACAF, FIFA
