by EZRA STUART

IMPROVING DEFENDER Rommell Brathwaite could be the next footballer from Barbados going to England for trials with a league club.

And the door could be open for more Barbadians once the national team continue to prosper and move higher up in the FIFA World rankings.

England-based Paul Ifill, who plays for Sheffield United in the English Premier League told Nationsport he was impressed with Brathwaite's play, noting he was good enough to land a contract in England.

Brathwaite has been assigned the important sweeper position in the centre of the Barbados defence for the Digicel Caribbean Cup first and second round qualifiers.

"I spoke to Rommell (Brathwaite) who played sweeper tonight. I am trying to get Rommell over to maybe trials with a few lower league clubs. I've got some contacts over there.

Little late

"I don't think at his age, he's ready for the Premiership. Being 24, it is a little late for him but I think, from what I've seen, he's one of the ones that is good enough to play League football," Ifill said.

"As you saw tonight (Tuesday), I thought he was excellent as sweeper and not only him, there are a lot of young boys who could fit the bill. I thought (Elvis) Defreitas and Gunk (Dwight James) were also good tonight but maybe he's (James) a bit old.

"Like I said, if we go up the rankings, people will start taking notice of us and it will be easy for me to bring people back with me because we will be more high profile," added Ifill.

Ifill said he was also thrilled with the performance of the Barbados team in their two second round matches.

"It has been very good. It is a nice start. We want to top the group really and go through as winners and show people what we can do really. Possibly, we want to move 15 places higher in the rankings and that is what I told the boys it is all about.

"Getting up the rankings and being a force in the Caribbean and that is what we are aiming to do. We want to become the best team in the Caribbean," Ifill said.

Ifill, who is being sought by a number of clubs in England to go on loan, said the field at the National Stadium was not really conducive to playing top quality football.

Hard pitch

"To be quite honest, it is hard and I am not quite used to it. The pitch is so hard and a little bit bubbly. We could do with a little bit of investment and get the pitch up to scratch.

" They are such good players we've got here, so much natural ability and I think if you got them on a decent pitch, we would be a match for most teams," Ifill contended.

Ifill said he has fitted in nicely with the locally-based players who have made him feel welcome.

"It is like I am one of them anyway so we are a big happy family at the moment, so it feels good," he said.l ezrastuart@nationnews.com