PHOENIX, Arizona - With eight senior national team caps to his name, Billy Forbes is the undisputed leader of the Turks and Caicos Islands Nationals Team.
The 27-year-old forward has enjoyed an excellent club career that includes scoring the game-winning goal in the 2014 NASL Championship for the San Antonio Scorpions.
Now Forbes is hoping that success can translate to the international game, beginning with this fall's CONCACAF Nations League qualifiers.
"Turks and Caicos Islands will benefit big time from the Nations League. Instead of having to wait every four years to play in World Cup qualifiers, we get to play more," said Forbes in an exclusive interview with CONCACAF.com.
"We need more opportunities to play at the next level, so these games will help us do that," added Forbes.
Turks and Caicos did get to play in a rare friendly last March versus the Dominican Republic. Despite the 4-0 defeat, there were positives to take away from the match.
"It felt good to be back with the national team. It was not the result that we wanted. You could tell that we were a young squad, for a lot of the guys it was their first exposure in leaving the country but I think it gave us an idea of where we stand," said Forbes.
On the docket in the CNL for Turks and Caicos are four difficult contests versus Cuba, Guyana, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the British Virgin Islands.
Following the Dominican Republic friendly, Forbes issued a very clear message to his international teammates as they begin preparations to face Cuba in September.
"I've been telling the guys to work on their fitness. Most of our opponents are professional players so it's important that guys get their fitness done. These opponents will give us a very good idea of where we stand as a national team and focus on the area in which we need to develop. We're looking forward to it," concluded Forbes.
