Jamaica midfielder Jonathan Williams (right) battles Barbados' Brian Neblett for the ball during Sunday's friendly encounter at the National Stadium. Jamaica won 2-1, their first victory in five games. - Michael Sloley
Castries, St. Lucia, CMC: A STRONG ST. Lucia squad, boasting a first-round win over Caribbean Cup champions Trinidad and Tobago, arrived in Jamaica last night where they will contest the Group A CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifying tournament this week.
St. Lucia, currently ranked seventh in the Caribbean and 115th in the world, will be led by their vastly experienced forward Earl Jean as they tackle home team Jamaica in their opening match tomorrow under the guidance of coach Kingsley Armstrong.
"We think our chances, as long as we are well prepared, are just as good as any of the other teams," said Armstrong, a former national defender.
Jean, who has played professionally in Britain, Portugal and more recently China, is joined by Elijah Joseph and the prolific scorer Titus Elva - a dynamic trio at Trinidad and Tobago's W-Connection, the reigning joint Caribbean Club champions.
Midfielders Johnathon McVane, Alvin Xavier, and Sheldon Mark and forwards Valencius Joseph and Benna Walter, who also had stints with W-Connection, are also in the 18-man squad.
David Flavius, who plays for the Pittsburg Riverhounds in the US A-League, and former University of Albany striker Jarvin Skeete add to the formidable attacking unit.
In November's group phase of the qualifiers, the St. Lucians lost 2-1 to St.Kitts and Nevis, but upset Trinidad and Tobago 1-0 to snatch a final round spot as runners-up, behind Trinidad and Tobago.
St. Lucia will also face Haiti and Martinique in this week's four-team series, from which only the winning team will secure an automatic spot to the CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States and Mexico in July.
"It's a tough group, Jamaica a World Cup qualifier, Haiti likewise, and Martinique is another team with a great tradition in football, so we are going in as the underdogs, under a little pressure, but a lot is expected after our win against Trinidad and Tobago," Armstrong said.
"We have to see ourselves as having an equal chance, we will not fear any of the big names, we are definitely one of the minnows but in football even the underdog stands a chance," he added.
Squad: Kester Erysthee, Giovanni Deterville, Sheldon Emmanuel, Junior Samuel, Faustus Tobie, Shawn Kirton, Tennyson Glasgow, Nigel James, David Flavius, Johnathon McVane, Alvin Xavier, Earl Jean (captain), Sheldon Mark,
Elijah Joseph (vice-captain), Titus Elva, Valencius Joseph, Benna Walter, Jarvin Skeete.
