As the 2026-27 Concacaf Nations League draws near, Francis “Baba” Lastic, the interim head coach of Saint Lucia’s men’s national football team, the Piton Boyz, has voiced unshakable confidence in his squad’s prospects ahead of their opening matches. The Caribbean side is scheduled to launch their campaign at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground on September 25, kicking off against regional rivals Barbados, before turning around to face Bermuda just three days later at the same home venue.
Even though unseasonably bad weather has disrupted the team’s on-field training schedule over the past week, Lastic says the locally-based core of the roster has remained committed to putting in the rigorous work needed to compete at the international level. Speaking following a demanding evening training session at the Saint Lucia Football Association Technical Centre in Grande Riviere, Dennery, the former long-time national team defender emphasized that his top priority in pre-camp preparation has been boosting the squad’s fitness to meet the physical demands of international competition.
“Our main focus right now is ramping up training intensity and getting the players’ cardiovascular fitness up to match standard,” Lastic explained. “I’m working every day to get them up to speed and aligned with the requirements of this level of competition. The bad weather definitely slowed progress on some of the tactical work we planned to get done, but there’s no time for setbacks—we adjusted and got the necessary conditioning work in regardless of the conditions, to make sure we hit the fitness baseline we need for these opening matches.”
Stepping into the top role following the recent departure of former head coach Stern John, this is not Lastic’s first turn as an interim manager for the national side. That prior experience, he says, has allowed for a remarkably smooth transition for the League B, Group B competitors, with the whole squad and technical staff already aligned on expectations.
“This transition has been really straightforward for me,” Lastic shared. “This isn’t my first time stepping into this position, so the players, the staff, everyone already knows what I bring and what’s expected of me. My job right now is to put in the work, get the squad ready, and get the team in the right mental frame for these two critical opening matches.”
Lastic was quick to credit the solid foundation his predecessor left behind, noting that he and the rest of the technical staff learned invaluable lessons about the high operational standards required to prepare a national side for elite regional competition during John’s time in charge.
Despite the smooth transition, Lastic is already grappling with immediate selection challenges. Multiple key defensive players are expected to miss the opening September match window due to injury, forcing the coaching staff to adjust their plans. But help is on the way: Lastic confirmed that the Saint Lucia Football Association is currently in contact with several eligible overseas-based players, including experienced striker Caniggia Elva and defender Terell Thomas, to secure their availability for the campaign.
“Most of these players have already committed to joining us, and by next Monday, we should have a clear picture of who will be available for the squad,” Lastic said. He also praised the drive and dedication of the locally-based players currently in camp, noting that they are hungry to represent the national colors and deliver strong performances for their home country.
That hunger will be put to the test when the Piton Boyz face the Bajan Tridents (Barbados’ national team nickname) under the lights in Gros Islet next Friday. While Saint Lucia claimed a narrow 2-1 win over Barbados in their most recent meeting during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, Lastic is not underestimating his side’s regional opponents, and is planning for a tough, competitive contest.
“Barbados is a proud football nation, and they won’t be coming here to roll over,” Lastic warned. “We’re doubling down on our preparation, refining every detail of our game plan to make sure we’re ready to face their challenge. It’s on us to put our best product on the pitch and secure a victory on home soil next Friday.”
With both opening matches hosted on Saint Lucian soil, the squad holds a valuable early opportunity to set a strong tone for their Nations League campaign right out of the gate. If Lastic’s methodical, focused preparation is any indicator, the Piton Boyz are primed to rise to the challenge as they kick off their regional campaign.