Head coach Asquith Howell outlined major keys to success for Weymouth Wales who retained the 2025 Barbados Football Association (BFA) Champions Cup with a 1-0 win over Kickstart Rush in Sunday’s final at the BFA Technical Centre in Wildey.
Midfielder Jaheim Neblett’s 81st minute strike secured the title for Wales who will soon represent Barbados at the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Caribbean Club Shield from July 26 to August 3 in Trinidad and Tobago.
High-quality individual talent, strong work ethic, and clear goal-setting are three pillars which Howell identified as keys to success for the top football club in the country.
Howell, who has been in charge since January, acknowledged the squad’s quality and depth as one of the main reasons for the club’s rich vein of form, noting that many of the club’s players are on the Barbados national team.
“They have good individual talent. In terms of their work ethic, when they are really focused they normally put in the work. In terms of what they want to achieve, they always set clear goals. That probably was built from the time they were in the Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme (BDFSP),” said the head coach who acknowledged that many of the current Wales players benefited from the ground work laid during their time at the now defunct BDFSP.
“It is not only [about] having the best players. You have to bring the best players into an environment and create an environment for them to really push themselves and also excel at the same time. It is okay to have good players, but they have to be coachable and you have to try to motivate them in many different ways,” said Howell to those who believe that Wales’ success is a foregone conclusion given the superior strength of their players.
The head coach is firstly focused on the upcoming task of the CFU Caribbean Club Shield; however, the club is eager to add the Prime Minister’s Cup and its $100 000 prize tag to its trophy cabinet after losing 1-0 to Ellerton in last year’s quarter-finals of the inaugural instalment.
“It is one of our targets for this year in terms of one of the things we want to achieve as a team. Our focus will get there probably after we come back from the CFU Club Shield because that is where our focus is right now–to go to that championship and not only do well, but try to see how far we can go before we get to the Prime Minister’s Cup, but that [PM’s Cup] is also one of our targets to end our year,”
“I see it [PM’s Cup] as an added incentive for these guys. It tries to bring that professional element where a lot of guidelines govern things like training. You must train, you must attend workshops so those incentives are good because when it comes to moving football to another level really and truly our players don’t understand the professionalism behind training, understanding nutritional values of eating, and understanding the recovery process. So these little things in terms of education will help them, especially the younger players, in their development. I think it [PM’s Cup] is a plus for the whole landscape of football in general.”
Personally, Howell, who has led the football programme at St Leonard’s Boys’ School and BDFSP, has been involved in local football at the school, club, and national junior level for decades. However, the “big pick” of national senior team head coach has eluded him.
“Nobody has ever reached out to me in reference to coaching the national team, but I am always open to do anything for my country.”
Howell is, however, grateful to the BFA for his various coaching training travels to the Cayman Islands, Mexico and even as far as Hungary to participate in an international coaching course.
Sunday’s glory marked a repeat cup and league double for Wales who, in May, lifted the 2025 BFA Premier League in a sensational campaign of 16 wins, 1 draw and only 1 defeat for 49 points in their 18 matches, well clear of runners-up Brittons Hill United and third-placed Ellerton who both finished on 33 points.
Last year under previous head coach Carlos Jackman, Wales triumphed in the Premier League and the Champions Cup to complete the local double in 2024.
Having gained automatic qualification to the CFU Caribbean Club Shield by winning this year’s BFA Premier League, Weymouth Wales leave the island on July 24 to embark on their regional football journey.
rohansonnwaithe@barbadostoday.bb
Weymouth Wales Squad: Ackeel Applewhaite,
Andre Applewhaite, Nicoli Brathwaite, Nadre Butcher, Kemar Chase, Elijah Downey, Zeco Edmee, Romario Harewood, Kemar Headley, Akeem Hill, Najee Holder, Hadan Holligan, Jante James, Janash Jaunai, Shakib Kellman, Armando Lashley, Coby Mayers, Ramar Miller, Jaheim Neblett, Kishmar Primus, Ricardio Morris, Rashad Smith, Shaquille Stuart,
Rasheed Williams, Mario Williams.
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