Cayman’s ‘raw diamonds’ started to sparkle in the furnace of elite-level competition in Portugal last week, according to national football coach Joey Jap Tjong.
Three matches against professional under-23 squads — including SC Braga, the club where Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim established himself — provided a testing ground and international training camp for the Cayman national squad.
And while the results went against them, the tour was ideal preparation for a World Cup qualifier double-header in June against Bermuda and Honduras.
A youthful 19-man squad travelled to Ofir, a small coastal town north of Lisbon, to face the pro squads of GD Prado, SC Braga and FC Vizela.
All three sides featured players who have competed at the highest level in Portuguese club football as well as rising stars expected to make it in the upper tiers of European football.
Jap Tjong said he was pleased with the performances if not the results.
“There were moments when I couldn’t tell the difference between us and Braga,” he said.
“We played some high-level one- and two-touch football.”
He said the amount of chances that his team had created against three professional-level teams was encouraging. And there were some high-class moments in front of goal from striker Gunnar Studenhofft who scored twice in three games.
“He scored some top-class goals, but he couldn’t do it without the team behind him creating chances,” Jap Tjong said.
Results
GD Prado 3 Cayman 1
SC Braga 7 Cayman 2
FC Vizela 4 Cayman 1
He also praised the fitness and mentality of his squad. With just 16 fully fit outfield players, several individuals played almost every minute of three high-intensity games in the space of six days, coming straight off a 30-hour flight from Cayman.
“I really didn’t see much difference between the fitness levels of our players and the opponents,” the coach said.
“What we have learned and where we have to improve is in the speed, the fast play and movement of the ball and the accuracy of the passing. These are professional opponents and we must be proud of our players and the way they improved as the games went on.”
Cayman goalscorers
D’Andre Rowe
Kareem Foster
Gunnar Studenhofft x 2
Though the team went down 4-0 at half time in its final game against FC Vizela, Jap Tjong was delighted with how his team fought back to “win the second half” for an overall 4-1 loss.
He said they had held their own in terms of skill against an elite side.
“We have some raw diamonds,” he said.
Bermuda and Honduras await
He added that exposure to pro-level competition was the best way to improve.
The three-game tour served as a warm-up for Honduras and Bermuda who will provide a different kind of test in June’s qualifiers.
Honduras, who has World Cup experience and is packed with senior pros, are the favourites in the five-team qualifying group.
Bermuda is also traditionally strong, but more on par with Cayman in terms of size and stature.
“We always want to win and nobody can question the mentality of the players. They are always striving and they have the mindset to run through walls,” Jap Tjong said.
“Of course, we must be realistic. Honduras is a top-quality side but we are at home and with a good crowd. We hope we can get a result.”
Bermuda has had better results against Cayman in the past but Jap Tjong is hopeful the preparation of the players and their experience in US college teams and pro teams in Europe can help.
The team features four players currently playing for European clubs and three playing in the United States.
“We respect the opposition but we fear nobody,” he said.
Next up
Bermuda vs Cayman, World Cup qualifier in Bermuda, 6 June
Cayman vs Honduras, World Cup qualifier in Cayman, date to be confirmed
Squad
Goalkeepers: Lachlin Lambert, Deshawn Whittaker;
Defenders: Cameron Gray, D’Andre Rowe, Jah Dain Alexander, Wesley Robinson, Jahziah Johnson, Jabari Campbell, Jahiem Campbell;
Midfielders: Matthew Suberan, Sebastian Martinez, Kevin Foster, Kareem Foster, Zachary Scott, Elijah Seymour, Trey Ebanks;
Forwards: Jacobbi Tugman, Gunnar Studenhofft, Christopher Reeves.
