Sunday, October 12 – Les Abymes, Guadeloupe:  The spice Islanders, Grenada, shocked the Caribbean yesterday when they scored the first goal in Stage 2 of the Digicel Caribbean Championships held in Guadeloupe.  Up against favourites Martinique, Grenada, who came into Stage 2 with only 3 points, held their own against the fancy French side to end their first match in DCC’s Stage 2 with a 2-2 draw.

Coach Kellon Baptiste, former national player for 15 years, comments on their match against Martinique: “We played well.  We knew nothing about Martinique before coming into Stage 2 but we got in and played our best.  It is very important to get points in the first game of these tournaments.  We are disappointed about the first half when the referee did not grant us the goal; if it weren’t for that the score would have been 3-2.”  Baptiste refers to the dubious offside flag raised as Grenada’s Shane Rennie found the net for a second time in the first half.

However, Grenada have no regrets and look forward to the two matches ahead in Guadeloupe.  Coach Baptiste explains: “We are looking forward to playing Guadeloupe.  We have not seen them play in a while.  We played them in 2002 in this tornament and they beat us 5-4 so it will be a good game.  We just gave to do our best and play a good game of football.

“Cayman has the talent and they have a good coach so it will be an interesting game.”

But the question raised on the first day of the Digicel Caribbean Championships’ Stage 2 was: “How did Grenada improve since Stage 1?  Coach Baptiste answers the question: ”Our Premier League started after we played in Stage 1 so we have had a lot more practice and we are playing better as a team.  We also have new players so the team is stronger.”

Grenada has brought in eight new players in Stage 2:  #14 Marvin Frederick, #18 Henson Cuffie, #10 Kithson Bain, #27 Junior Paul, #13 Dwayne Leo, #3 Shanon Phillip, #19 Kimron Redhead and #1. Peter Jules. And it is obvious the new team are stronger and better able to make the DCC Finals. 

Baptiste is confident of a place at the DCC finals: “We are aiming to be first in Group F but are willing to settle for second.  But we will be in Jamaica come December.”

Grenada will face Group F hosts Guadeloupe on Monday October 13 and Cayman Islands on Wednesday October 15.  The Digicel Caribbean Championships’ finlas will be held in Jamaica December 4 to December 14, 2008

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