PANAMA CITY, Panama, CMC-England and Liverpool legend, John Barnes, says the number of Caribbean footballers playing on the world stage is increasing.
However, the Jamaican born professional coach is insisting that a positive attitude to the sport, particularly in the smaller islands of the region, is desperately needed if the trend is to continue.
The England based Barnes, in the region as part of a training programme targeting young footballers, says there is no shortage of talent in the Caribbean.
“Indeed, in terms of the talent across the Caribbean and Central America, it is always as I expect it to be – very high”said Barnes speaking in Panama yesterday, where he kicked-off a regional training programme for teenagers.
“There is a whole lot of talent – both physical and technical – but I always stress the importance of the mentality that is required to be successful”.
A number of players, many born to Caribbean parents, currently compete in semi and professional levels in the United Kingdom and the United States as well as other leagues around the world. Barnes says while Caribbean footballers match their international colleagues on talent their efforts to play on the international stage are being hindered by a lack of the right mental approach to the sport.
