Becoming A Legend: How Vino Barclett is Striving for Football Glory

Vino Barclett is a footballing legend in the making. At just 25 years old, the Vieux Fort-born goalkeeper has already created an impressive résumé, with room for growth in the future. Over the past five years, his accolades include winning the CONCACAF Caribbean Cup Best Goalkeeper award in 2024 with Cavalier, leading his team to their first-ever Caribbean Cup and third Jamaica Premier League title in 2023, and playing a key role in Saint Lucia’s promotion from League C during the 2022-23 CONCACAF Nations League. Another notable achievement was his participation in the CONCACAF Champions League against Inter Miami, where he faced football legends Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suárez.

Nicknamed “The Wall”, Barclett has earned a reputation as an exceptional shot-stopper. But despite his success, many would be surprised to learn that football was not his first love. Instead, he loved cricket growing up. However, it was the influence of a family member and the encouragement of a teacher that led him to the sport that would become his career.

“I was more into cricket growing up,” he reminisced. “[But] I had an uncle, Osborne, who was a big football fan. He would take me to football events like Blackheart at the George Odlum Stadium—that was the first time I ever watched a football match. The first time I played was in primary school during inter-house competitions. Since I was already diving around in cricket, my PE teacher suggested I try goalkeeping. From that moment, football became my sport.”

His journey has not been without challenges. In the summer of 2023, a devastating fire destroyed his family home. During that same period, he suffered injuries in a vehicular accident. Despite these setbacks, he credits his overcoming adversity to his resilience: “I’m not saying you must go through hardships, but when you reflect on what you’ve been through, you understand why—and it makes you stronger.”

Having represented Saint Lucia, Barclett draws inspiration from local football figures such as Justin Joseph. His personal mantra is simple but powerful: “Always give your best effort, no matter the outcome.”

“I always had one mindset: to do my best. Whatever happened, happened. As long as I could leave the field knowing I gave my all, I was satisfied,” he added. 

Looking ahead, the young goalkeeper aspires to compete at the highest levels of the sport. His experiences facing elite players have only fueled his ambition. He predicts, “My goal for the rest of my career is to play at the highest level. Facing teams like Inter Miami and players like Suárez, Messi, Alba, and Busquets, I saw firsthand the level they are at. And I believe that, in time, I can reach that level too.

“As a goalkeeper, I have an advantage—goalkeepers have the longest careers. There’s a saying that the older you get, the better you become in goalkeeping. So, I work hard every day, keeping the faith that my time will come.”

With his unwavering dedication and talent, Vino Barclett is well on his way to becoming one of Saint Lucia’s greatest footballers.

Contributor: Quinn St. Juste 

Quinn is a young journalist from the community of Cedars, Castries, with a passion for sports and youth-related topics. He currently serves as a Sports Journalist for St. Lucia Times, though he occasionally contributes to other notable discussions on issues of national importance.