National Under- 23 Football Squad Prepares

By Anthony De Beauville

The St. Lucia National Under 23 football squad, presently in training for next month’s CFU Olympic qualifiers in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, on Saturday 18th August, 2007 resumed its training at the Vigie Playing Field, one day after the passage of Hurricane Dean which left a toll of destruction in its path.
This reporter spoke to coach Dennis Lukens who said, “To date, I am satisfied with the way things have gone thus far leading to next month’s encounter as the island seeks to qualify for the 2008 Olympics. We are taking it one step at a time. The guys have shown their commitment and dedication and they all want to do well in the upcoming qualifying round which starts in three weeks time.”
Asked whether he has kept his promise to call or make contact with any of the island’s football players living abroad to be a part of the contingent presently in training Lukens said, “There are preliminary discussions ongoing with players of St. Lucian parentage playing in England. Having them here does not guarantee that they will make the final team.” Lukens further went on to say that the players must come to training to show and prove what they got like anybody else. Presently the squad has players with great ability.
St. Lucia will play host to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and the Commonwealth of Dominica at the Victoria Park commencing on Sunday 9th to Thursday 13th September, 2007.