Cayman Islands Men’s National Team kicks off series of friendlies in Portugal

Cayman’s men’s national football team traveled to Portugal over the weekend, where it will kick off in a series of friendlies this week as it prepares for June’s FIFA World Cup 26 qualifiers against Bermuda and Honduras.

Cayman will face GD Prado at Noon (Cayman local time) on Tuesday, March 18 before taking on SC Braga on March 20 and FC Vizela on 22 March. The full match schedule can be found below.

“It is, for us, a big challenge to play against European teams who [move] the ball,” Cayman Islands Men’s National Team Head Coach Joey Jap Tjong said. “But if you see the group, the mentality, the spirit — we are one team. So we are so hungry to play these matches.”

Jap Tjong selected the following squad:

• Goalkeepers: Lachlin Lambert, Deshawn Whittaker;

• Defenders: Cameron Gray, D’Andre Rowe, Jah Dain Alexander, Wesley Robinson, Jahziah Johnson, Jabari Campbell, Jahiem Campbell;

• Midfielders: Matthew Suberan, Sebastian Martinez, Kevin Foster, Kareem Foster, Zachary Scott, Elijah Seymour, Trey Ebanks;

• Forwards: Jacobbi Tugman, Gunnar Studenhofft, Christofher Reeves.

The team features four players currently playing for European clubs and three playing in the United States.

“Most [important] is, of course, that we learn,” Jap Tjong said. “We’re going to learn because of high, high quality teams. That’s a very good experience for us. I’m very grateful to have this experience and we are growing.”

The full schedule this week includes:

• GD Prado vs. Cayman Islands

March 18 | Noon | Parque Jogos do Faial – Vila do Prado, Vila Verde, Braga

• SC Braga vs. Cayman Islands

March 20 | 6 a.m. | Campo 1 Cidade Desportiva SC Braga – Braga

• FC Vizela vs. Cayman Islands

March 22 | 5 a.m. | Parque Jogos do Faial – Vila do Prado, Vila Verde, Braga

* Kick off times listed in Cayman Islands local time

The CIMNT has won or drawn in four of its last seven matches.