Latibeaudiere accepts midfield critique, slams stadium surface
Published:Sunday | September 17, 2023 | 12:11 AMLivingston Scott - Gleaner Writer
REGGAE BOYZ Central midfielder Joel Latibeaudiere says, although the surface of the National Stadium made it difficult to play, he is prepared to accept the criticism the midfield has received for their performances in the two Concacaf Nations League A Group B games recently.
The Coventry City player does not mind the criticism, he said it just means they have to work harder to get better.
“It’s hard playing in midfield, especially with the condition of the pitch,” he told The Sunday Gleaner.
“It’s hard to get on it (ball). We have to stretch the play a little longer. But fans are always going to be tough and that’s the way I like it. I rather they tell us straight than lie. It means we need to keep working and building together and we’ll be good.”
Latibeaudiere made his debut in May of 2022 and has become a regular under Coach Heimir Hallgrimsson, and he intends to keep it that way and help the team achieve its goals.
“I just want to sustain my shirt, keep starting, be a regular starter and bring as much as I can.
“I want to get us at competitions we should be at, the Copa América, Gold Cup, World Cup. I come here to bring success to Jamaica. We haven’t won a trophy in a long time. So I want to get my hands on a trophy and bring home something,” he commented.
He credited the players for their team spirit and resolve to come from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Haiti on Tuesday, and said he will be working to improve his game for the next set of matches in October.
“We showed great character and togetherness. We stuck together as a team. We knew we could do it and fought back to get the draw and could have won the game as well.
“I’m just trying to improve and get better and better and bring more to the team.
So now I am going back to my (club) team in England and I will train hard, knowing that we have two big games in October.”
Latibeaudiere represented England at the Under-17 and Under-18 levels. In 2017, he helped the Under-17s to the U17 European final and to the 2017 FIFA U17 World Cup title.