Barbados’ senior men’s national football team, nicknamed the Bajan Tridents, has arrived back on home soil holding the top position in League B Group B of the Concacaf Nations League, with head coach Kent Hall and captain Andre Applewaite already gearing up to defend their lead in the upcoming fixtures. The team returned on Tuesday following two consecutive away matches hosted at Saint Lucia’s Daren Sammy Stadium: a 2-0 shutout victory against Saint Lucia last Friday, and a heart-stopping 2-2 draw against Guadeloupe this past Monday.
In an interview with Barbados TODAY immediately after their arrival, both coach Hall and captain Applewaite expressed confidence ahead of the team’s back-to-back home matches against Bermuda, scheduled for October 2 and 5 at the BFA Technical Centre in Wildey. Though Applewaite admitted he was disappointed the side did not secure full points against Guadeloupe, he praised his teammates for their resilience in fighting back from an early second-half deficit to earn the draw. “The conditions were really challenging with the extreme heat, and Guadeloupe is a high-quality side, so to put on that kind of performance after going down a goal is something we can all be proud of,” Applewaite said.
He went on to break down the match dynamics, explaining that the goalless scoreline at halftime was aligned with the team’s game plan. “We came out for the second half and conceded quickly, but coach kept motivating the lads to push forward, and when we made our substitutions, it completely shifted the momentum of the game,” the captain recalled. Looking ahead to the Bermuda fixtures, Applewaite emphasized that the team’s primary goal is to hold onto their top spot in the group. “We’re going into these final two group games ready to give everything we’ve got to get the wins at home. Of course we want both results, but we can’t do it without the home fans. We’re encouraging everyone to come out and support us — that backing will make all the difference,” he added.
Coach Hall shared the captain’s optimism about the team’s progress so far in the campaign, but urged the squad to stay focused and grounded ahead of the upcoming matches. “We have to remember we’re only a third of the way through the entire campaign, and just halfway through this current match window. What makes me most proud isn’t just the results we’ve gotten, but that the whole squad is in excellent physical condition right now,” Hall explained. “A few players got more minutes than we initially planned, but we’re in a great position heading into these two home games. We’re really hoping the home crowd can come out and be our 12th man, giving us that extra boost we need.”
According to Hall, strong results against Bermuda would leave Barbados perfectly positioned heading into the final set of fixtures in November, putting the country in contention to qualify for the Concacaf Gold Cup for the first time in its history. Like Applewaite, Hall acknowledged that the draw against Guadeloupe left the team with some regrets, but he stressed that the squad is not dwelling on the past. “It crosses my mind every few minutes, honestly, but we have to stay focused on what’s ahead — what’s done is done,” Hall said. “The good news is we didn’t lose, and we’re still in a really strong position in the group. We still have every chance to finish top of the group, so we’re shaking off that disappointment and looking forward to the challenge ahead.”