By Neto Baptiste
Coach of the Antigua and Barbuda Men’s Under-20 Football Team Schyan Jeffers has made a passionate plea for financial support following the team’s success in Group C of the Concacaf U20 Qualifiers in Costa Rica.
Jeffers said the road ahead will not be an easy one and that government, the ABFA and all other stakeholders must come on board.
“I’m not asking for things for myself and not because the ABFA is doing what they’re doing because they perceive it that way. I’m not asking for that; I’m asking for the 18-year-old kid, the 17-year-old kid … putting on the flag on their shirt, on their chest, carrying Antigua and Barbuda; not the ABFA, Antigua and Barbuda. They do it with pride and just the other day before we came down here, we played against Grenada and we picked up some injuries. The players licked their wounds and come down to Costa Rica and continue to play for Antigua and Barbuda. Every single time they have the flag, flying Antigua and Barbuda, making us proud. Why the government not supposed to help us when we need the help?” he asked.
The Young Benna Boys advanced to the Concacaf U20 Championships following an unbeaten run in group play, defeating favourites the Dominican Republic one-nil on Tuesday, to seal their place in the 12-team championships stated for later this year.
Brandon Satchell scored the only game of the contest, when he headed home a Keyonte George corner kick in the 89th minute.
The coach said he had never seen a more motivated set of players.
“The boys, they showed me that they were well gritty. They wanted it even more than I do. I could see it in their eyes, their passion, their belief, how they spoke when we were around the lunch table, when we were at meals, how they spoke about the game, it’s marvellous. It’s a feeling that you just have to experience for yourself. I think that they progressed nicely in the game as well because from the time the game started, they were out flying. When we saw that the striker for Santo Domingo [Dominican Republic] got a red card, it even pushed them more,” he said.
Jeffers, himself a former national player at all levels, said the experience has left him a better coach.
“It’s a dream come true. I’m overjoyed. I’ve always wanted to test myself on the international stage and here I am, my first shot at it as a head coach. I like how I progressed in the tournament as a coach. It taught me a lot and it’s a feeling that I can’t explain,” he said.
The win was Antigua and Barbuda’s fourth in as many matches as the squad recorded a 100 percent record in the group to finish at the top of the standings with 12 points. In addition, the team did not concede any goals in their four matches.
The 12-team Concacaf U20 Championships is scheduled for the summer of 2026, running from July 25 to August 9, and will feature the region’s 12 best men’s U-20 national teams divided into three groups of four. The tournament will also serve as the qualifying competition for both the 2027 FIFA Men’s U-20 World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics.
