The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Andre Villas-Boas has been to the Bahamas before but is eager to return simply because he’s bringing his famed Tottenham Hotspur soccer club to play an exhibition match against Jamaica’s “Reggae Boyz” in the new Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium on May 23.

Villas-Boas, of Portugal, who was appointed head coach of the Premier League Club a year ago, participated in a telecast press conference with members of the local media as he answered a variety of questions on the team, their visit and his expectations against the Jamaicans in their first match in the Caribbean.

Although they are preparing to come to the Bahamas to put on a show, Villas-Boas said their players won’t be under any added pressure because it’s going to be a chance for them to just enjoy themselves during the off-season and help to prepare them for the upcoming season.

“This is for the technical staff to look at our team and some of the players to see where they are right now,” Villas-Boas said. “We are very focused on the match, even though it comes at a time when we are not playing, but we are preparing for it. We will do whatever it takes to win the game.”

One of their players coming with the team is Gareth Bale, who was named Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year and the Professional Footballers’ Association’s Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year after he wracked up an astonishing 30-goal tally.

The 23-year-old mid-fielder, however, is being pursued by Real Madrid this summer, but all speculations are that he will remain with the Spurs who are currently sitting in fourth out of a field of 20 teams in the Premier League’s regular season, just ahead of arch-rival Arsenal. Manchester United leads the league followed by Man City and Chelsea.

Tottenham is coming off a 2-1victory over Stoke City on Sunday. They will be back in action on Sunday against Sunderland in their regular season finale before they head to the Bahamas.

“Gareth is going to travel with the team. This is an opportunity for him to touch that fan base that he has around the world,” Villas-Boas said. “So we are looking forward to him coming and competing down there.”

For the fans who have been following the club, Villas-Boas said they can expect to see their full squad in the Bahamas as they give them a taste of a high level of soccer that may not have been experienced here before.

“All of our players will be coming down. We have a few developmental players and we hope to bring them all so that they can get the experience,” Villas-Boas said. “We are coming to compete against the Jamaican national team. We don’t know what they will bring, but we will be ready for them.”

As for the fan base from both teams in the Bahamas, Villas-Boas said he expects the people to come and see a spectacular performance.

“We know that Jamaica has a strong base in the Bahamas, but we also have a strong base, so we have no problem with it,” Villas-Boas said. “We are just looking forward to having a good time and we put on a spectacular show for the fans, whoever they are pulling for.”

Said Villas-Boas when asked if he could make a prediction on the game: “The result is not important for us. It is important for the international connection for Jamaica, but we are not going to make any prediction on the outcome.”

Villas-Boas, however, predicted that it will probably take about 4-5 goals to secure the win, whoever comes out on top.

As for his visit to the Bahamas in the past with his wife, Villas-Boas said he had a great time and he’s looking forward to coming back with his Tottenham Hotspur team as they make an impression in the Bahamas.