Five new faces, including an England-based player, have been named in the national football squad for the historic FIFA international friendly match against Honduras in New Orleans, United States, slated for Sunday.
Leicester City teenage midfielder Abdullah Javaid gets a first-time call-up along with Brittons Hill United star forward Corey Hoyte, Empire goalkeeper Jerome Blackman and his teammate Nico Harper.
UWI Blackbirds striker Kyle Forde-Blades, who represented Barbados at the Under-20 level, has also received a maiden call for Sunday’s 8 p.m. kick-off.
Head coach Orlando Da Costa has named a 23-man squad.
Barbados will take on Concacaf giants Honduras, who are ranked No. 9 in the federation, at the Olympia Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The Barbados squad is made up of home-grown and overseas players. UWI Blackbirds striker Niall Reid Stephen, Kidderminster Harriers FC defender Krystian Pearce and Paradise midfielder Renaldo Trim have been recalled.
The squad leaves the island today. (PR)The full squad:
Goalkeepers: Liam Braithwaite (Wotton FC), Raheem Agard (Whitehall FC), Jerome Blackman (Empire).
Defenders: Keymar Holligan (Empire), Shane Coddington (Ellerton), Ramon Griffith (UWI Blackbirds), Andre Applewhaite (Weymouth Wales), Nico Harper (Empire), Akeem Chandler (Paradise), Krystian Pearce (Kidderminster Harriers FC).
Midfielders: Shaquan Clarke (Ellerton), Shaquan Collymore (Ellerton), Elijah Downey (Wotton FC), Jomo Harris (Paradise), Renaldo Trim (Paradise), Devonte Richards (University of Central Arkansas), Curtis Jemmett-Hutson (Unattached), Abdullah Javaid (Leicester City).
Forwards: Kyle Forde-Blades (UWI Blackbirds), Niall Reid-Stephens (UWI Blackbirds), Corey Hoyte (Brittons Hill United), Tajio James (University of Central Arkansas).
Team manager: Ortis Williams; head coach: Orlando Da Costa; assistant coach: Ricardo Fernandes; goalkeeping coach: Bernard Howell; and physiotherapist Dr Nicola Yard.