BASSE-TERRE, Guadeloupe– Dominica National Team Head Coach Rajesh Latchoo has full confidence that his team can deliver a positive result in its 2019/20 Concacaf Nations League Qualifying opener against Suriname on Thursday.
“I’m very confident in my players because I know at the end of the day they will do their best for their country and for the team,” said Latchoo in a pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Maria to Dominica’s national stadium. Dominica will be hosting Suriname on the island of Guadeloupe, located just 100 kilometers to the north of Dominica.
While Dominica won’t be on home soil, Latchoo knows that his team will still have plenty of support.
“We are pleased to be playing the first game in this Concacaf Nations League and even though we cannot play in Dominica because the hurricane destroyed our stadium, we still feel at home with all the Dominica people who live in Guadeloupe,” said Latchoo.
Since taking over as Head Coach of Dominica in March 2017, Latchoo has worked on developing Dominica’s young squad, whose average age is around 22.
Ironically, the fact that Dominica are not playing on home soil to star the tournament could beneficial to his squad.
“You could make the argument that not playing at home in our first game takes away the pressure on the young players,” said Latchoo.
Fortunately for Latchoo, there is some steady international experience on the team in the form of GK Glenson Prince.
Prince, who is one of three Dominica players who plays club football in Guadeloupe, says that Dominica have been busy reading up on Thursday’s opponent.
“We have been doing our research on the Suriname players. It’s natural to try to get as much information as possible on your opponents to get an advantage and I know they are doing their research,” concluded Prince.
