
Tags: St Vincent And The Grenadines, Ezra Hendrickson, Concacaf World Cup qualifying
Despite overseeing notable progress within a youthful St Vincent and the Grenadines squad, head coach Ezra Hendrickson is uncertain about whether he will continue in the role once his current contract expires next month.
Hendrickson, who took charge of the Vincy Heat on a one-year deal that runs through July, confirmed that while he has yet to speak with the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF) about a possible extension, those discussions are expected in the coming weeks.
“Yeah, you know, it’s something I have to sit down and talk to my family about,” said Hendrickson when asked directly whether he would consider staying on. “My kids are in the States, so that’s been a little difficult for me. But it’s something I’ve been talking to them about... I need to sit down with the Federation and let them know what it’s going to take to go forward. Some things need to change, some things need to be done better... things that are very important for the continued development of this team.”
St Vincent and the Grenadines were officially eliminated from contention for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 10 following a 2-1 loss to Puerto Rico at the Estadio Centroamericano in Mayagüez.
However, Hendrickson believes that the foundations laid over the past year offer promise for the future — whether or not he is at the helm.
“Being that the core of the group is very young — most of the players are 25 and younger — we think we have a good core going forward,” he said. “It’s promising to have a team with young players developing nicely, but you need some experience and you need to make sure that these young players continue to get that experience.”
He stressed the importance of consistent development outside of tournament windows and emphasized the need to continue scouting the diaspora for players who can complement the local pool.
Still, Hendrickson acknowledged that specific areas on the pitch remain problematic.
“We need to sort out the outside backs and also find a traditional number 10 — a midfield general who can carry the game when we’re under pressure,” he explained. “And with Cornelius Stewart likely to retire from international duty, we’ll need to find a new number 9.”
Stewart, 35, has not formally announced his retirement, but Hendrickson indicated it is widely expected.
“He hasn’t told me that yet, but that’s what I’m hearing from his people,” he said.
Reflecting on the Puerto Rico match, Hendrickson pointed to a missed penalty late in the first half as a pivotal moment. With the game tied 1-1, Kyle Edwards failed to convert from the spot — his first miss after a perfect record — a moment that could have changed the entire complexion of the contest.
“I think if we score that PK... we put ourselves in a better position,” he said. “We came out in the second half and scored early. If we were up 2-1, Puerto Rico would’ve had to chase the game, and we’re very good on the counterattack. I think we win the game in that scenario.”
Despite the disappointment, Hendrickson remains optimistic about the direction in which the team is heading, even as he concedes that their elimination was due in large part to dropped points in the opening matches last year.
“We as a staff tried to stress the importance of finishing strong, even though we had essentially lost the group back in June last year,” he said. “Not getting through is really the result of not picking up any points in those first couple of games.”
Whether Hendrickson is the man to lead the Vincy Heat through their next chapter remains to be seen. The coach, who played internationally for St Vincent and later made a successful coaching career in Major League Soccer, is open to continuing — if the right conditions are met.
“I think the Federation is happy with the performance and the progress,” he said. “Hopefully that bodes well for me. But like I said, we’ll see. There’s still a conversation that needs to be had.”
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