Progressing National Team striker Kenwyne Jones is insisting that he will be ready to take a turn in the Guatemalans when they come up against this country’s senior footballers in next Saturday’s 2006 World Cup qualifier at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Jones was a starter when the Guatemalans came out 5-1 winners in the first leg in March but despite the drubbing, the former St Anthony’s College player feels that the upcoming affair will be of a different kind and that the visitors could be in for a rude awakening.
“I think this time it definitely is going to be a different battle. They enjoyed a win last time and we had to knock ourselves for it because they are definitely not a better team than we are and certainly not four goals better than us. I can tell you for sure that we will be all up for this game,” Jones told TTFF Media.
Reflecting on the recent 1-0 loss to the USA, he added “I thought the team did well in the second half with ten men we showed a lot more grit than anything else. It showed that once we can settle quickly into our game, things can be different. For the next game we definitely we need a change of mindset when we go out there and definitely we should have that now.
“I’m really grateful for that amount of time that I got in that last match because for last few games I wasn’t in there much. But I think I have showed that I have the heart to be out there and hopefully I can be part of the plans for the next game.”
Jones will fly into Trinidad on Tuesday on the same flight with returning midfielder Russell Latapy and the other UK-based pros. The Guatemalans are expected here later next week but will be in Jamaica this weekend to face that country’s senior team in a warm up. Meantime, tickets for Saturday’s clash go on sale today (Friday) at selected KFC Outlets and Republic Banks at $200 covered and $100 uncovered stands.