Influential midfielder facing Andorra and Estonia...
St.Kitts and Nevis international, Romaine Sawyers insists the Sugar Boyz will improve as a result of playing European opponents.The Caribbean nation are set to face Andorra (12th November) and Estonia (17th November) in the coming days in two international friendly fixtures.
Sawyers linked up with his fellow countrymen earlier this week and insists the matches will serve the team well.
“It will be the first time the country has represented itself in Europe so it's a great opportunity for the nation to grow,” Sawyers commented. “It might lead to fixtures in the future against bigger European nations, no disrespect to Andorra or Estonia, so it can only be a positive thing.
“For the players that aren’t based in Europe it’s an opportunity to play on the continent and maybe catch someone’s eye and get a chance to play here at club level.
“Both Andorra and Estonia will have played the likes of England, Belgium, Spain and France in their recent history, so there pool of match experience will have been against a greater level of opponent.
“But that doesn't mean we won't be up for the game and show them what St Kitts and Nevis are capable of.”
St.Kitts and Nevis suffered defeat to El Salvador in June as their bid to reach the 2018 World Cup came to an end. Sawyers is one of a few players who featured in the game to currently ply his trade in Europe and insists the Caribbean-based players will have to adapt to the conditions.
“We currently have seven European based players,” he added. “The skipper plays in MLS for FC Dallas, one based in El Salvador, three in Trinidad and Tobago, one in the Philippines and the rest of the squad based in St Kitts in the local league.
“For myself it will be another opportunity to play football in another country but for most of the team it will be the first time they have played in Europe.
“Some of our players will have never really experienced playing in the cold like the European based players but it will be a historic trip over the next eight days.”
Neil Etheridge (Philippines), Tom Bradshaw (Wales) and Rico Henry (England u19) complete a quartet of Saddlers away on international duty.
Our postponed fixture with Shrewsbury Town has been rearranged for Tuesday 1st December (7.45 kickoff).