The St. Kitts and Nevis Under-17 National Men’s football team has intensified its training as they prepare for the upcoming Concacaf Under-17 qualifiers in Costa Rica. The young Sugar Boyz will kick off their campaign on Monday, February 10, against Cuba at the Estadio Nacional in Costa Rica.

At a recent press conference hosted by the St. Kitts and Nevis Football Association (SKNFA), head coach Travis Rogers shared his insights on the team’s preparations.

"The training has been vigorous. We've been training straight through the carnival season, and I can say that they are ready to participate and compete against these countries and represent the Federation very well. Development doesn’t happen overnight; it takes time. Being around this group of players, we have a great squad, both females and males, who, with time, resources, and training, will represent this federation in the near future and make us proud," Rogers stated.

St. Kitts and Nevis have been drawn in Group F of the tournament alongside Cuba, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the United States. Despite the challenges ahead, the team remains confident in their ability to compete at a high level.

Assistant coach Jamal Jeffers emphasized the importance of mental and tactical preparation for the young players. "Firstly, we have to sit them down and teach them what it means to play for St. Kitts and Nevis. We also have to prepare them to face bigger opponents with greater facilities and larger populations. But at the end of the day, a football game is 11 versus 11. We just try to teach them as much as possible so that they are ready for the tournament and can be successful on game days."