West Indies national football team

West Indies Football Association
AbbreviationWIFA
Formation2013
TypeSports
PurposeFootball
Region served
West Indies
Membership
NF-Board
President
James Baird
AffiliationsNF-Board

The West Indies national football team is the team that represents the West Indies. It is not a member of FIFA, CFU or CONCACAF, but is a member of the N.F.-Board, an organisation for teams who are not members of FIFA. They were admitted to the N.F.-Board as a provisional member in 2013.[2]

The West Indies FA will use Caribbean players from all over the world who have not played with their national team and give them the opportunity to represent the West Indies and let them experience international football.

The West Indies FA or WIFA will initially be based in Trinidad and Tobago and were scheduled to play in 2014's Viva World Cup.[3] Unfortunately, due to the short timescale afforded them, they were unable to take the field.

History

There have been many attempts to put a West Indies football team together but in the past they mostly failed although there was the British Caribbean Football Association established in 1957 and played various matches as the select team from the Caribbean mostly against English opposition.

Modern Era

Re-imaged in 2013, the WIFA organisation will play at various levels and encompass all forms of association football. Although a regional squad has been formed, matches have yet to be played as the team head coach assesses the current crop of players.

Due to the nature of the organisation, players from across the region have the opportunity to participate on a world footballing stage where perhaps they wouldn't be offered that chance with their home nation.

West Indies national football team
First international
WIFA Pirates 5–4 Petrotrin Sports Club
(Trinidad and Tobago; 17 January 2015)[1]

The development squad, WIFA Pirates played their first ever proper match on January 26, 2015 in a friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago Football Association side Petrotrin Sports Club, winning 5–4.

WIFA will also host a Futsal team based out of London, UK.

Current Management

WIFA have formed a group of executives, all of whom have been brought together, working in various fields, heading towards achieving the same goal.

Name Role Nationality
James Baird President Scotland
James Baird Head Coach Scotland
Bill Alsobrook Vice-President United States
John Furlong Secretary Trinidad and Tobago
Justin Lall Finance Trinidad and Tobago
Debby Ann Ojar-Baird Director/ Attorney-at-Law Trinidad and Tobago
Marc Roseblade Media/Website Scotland
Nathan Langaigne Assistant Coach Trinidad and Tobago
Clinton Lewis Coach Trinidad and Tobago
John Sime Goalkeeper Coach Scotland
Robert Brassett Futsal Coach England
Erik Klint Scout Sweden Have left the FA
TBA Physio
West Indies national football team
First colours
Second colours

Team colors

The WIFA will play its home matches in a brown and yellow kit and away matches in a red and yellow kit.

WIFA Squads

National Squad

As of 20 January 2015

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK Scotland SCO James Baird
GK Cuba CUB José Manuel Miranda Boudy
GK France FRA Paul Nephtalie Decimus
DF England ENG Jerel Ifil
DF England ENG Kirkie Thomas
DF Colombia COL Milton Correa
DF England ENG Keon Richardson
DF Canada CAN Clint Crouch
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF Colombia COL Julio Fernandes De La Roas
MF Sweden SWE Jonathan Grannum
MF England ENG Jamie Barnwell-Edinboro
FW Belize BLZ Colville Richards
FW Trinidad and Tobago TRI Keston Raphael
FW Sweden SWE Jade Grannum
FW Montserrat MSR Jaylee Allen Hodgson
FW England ENG Craig Matthews

Local Squad (WIFA Pirates)

WIFA partnered [4] with Texas Premier Soccer League club side Galveston Pirate SC on August 20, 2014. The partnership between both clubs saw the introduction of the WIFA Pirates, which would act as the WIFA development squad.

{-} Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Squad correct as of Jan 26, 2015.

No. Pos. Player Nation
GK Daniel Ringis  Trinidad and Tobago
GK Joshua Lamb  Trinidad and Tobago
DF Andrew Thomas  Trinidad and Tobago
DF Nixon Thomas  Trinidad and Tobago
DF Haylon Martin  Trinidad and Tobago
DF Shakir Thompson  Trinidad and Tobago
DF Jaheil Austin  Trinidad and Tobago
DF Gavin Luke  Trinidad and Tobago
MF Francis Rojas  Trinidad and Tobago
MF Lannel Hamilton  Trinidad and Tobago
MF Kevon Smart  Trinidad and Tobago
MF Joel Melville  Trinidad and Tobago
MF Brendon Romero  Trinidad and Tobago
MF Stephen King  Trinidad and Tobago
MF Kelson Wilson  Trinidad and Tobago
MF Marcus Alexander  Trinidad and Tobago
MF Darrion Bernard  Trinidad and Tobago
MF Khaleel Reid-Devonish  Trinidad and Tobago
MF Jerome Thomas  Trinidad and Tobago
FW Erik Ranoo  Trinidad and Tobago
FW Runako Vincent  Trinidad and Tobago
FW Tacuma Sadlow  Trinidad and Tobago
FW Jeron Melville  Trinidad and Tobago
FW Keston Raphael  Trinidad and Tobago
FW Lannel Hamilton  Trinidad and Tobago
FW Kareem Alleyen  Trinidad and Tobago
FW Che Edwards  Trinidad and Tobago
FW Javan-Marc Joseph  Trinidad and Tobago

Futsal

The West Indies Futsal team is based in London UK where many of the West Indies Futsal player participate in the UK leagues. The team is headed by Englishman Robert Brassett and continues to grow since its start in 2014.

Results and fixtures

Recent results

WIFA Pirates v Petrotrin Sports Club
21 January 2015 Friendly match WIFA Pirates 5–4 Petrotrin Sports Club Santa Flora, Trinidad and Tobago
18:00 Che Edwards x 3
Tacuma Sadlow
OG
Report Stadium: Petrotrin Compound

References

  1. ^ a b WIFA – List of matches
  2. ^ NF Board. "NF Board Membership". Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  3. ^ T&T Newsday. "VIVA World Cup". Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  4. ^ Galveston Pirate SC. "WIFA partners with Pirates". Retrieved August 20, 2014.