Photo Credit: CONCACAF
With four goals in his last two international windows, including a hat-trick against Bermuda, Kegan Caull is emerging as an important figure in Saint Lucia’s pursuit of a historic Gold Cup appearance. But for the young forward, the ambitions extend far beyond the immediate future.
For Kegan Caull, representing Saint Lucia has always been about more than simply pulling on the national team shirt. It’s about pride, opportunity, and the chance to help write a new chapter in the footballing history of his island nation.
And if his recent performances are anything to go by, the young forward is determined to play a leading role in that story.
Having made his senior international debut against Curaçao in June 2025 during FIFA World Cup Qualifying, Caull has wasted little time making his presence felt. Four goals during the combined September/October international window, including a memorable hat-trick against Bermuda, have thrust him into the spotlight at a particularly important moment for Saint Lucian football.
“It was an incredible feeling,” Caull said of his recent goalscoring exploits. “As a forward, you always want to contribute goals and help your team win, so to have that kind of impact for my country was very special.”
Photo Credit: CONCACAF
“The hat-trick against Bermuda was definitely a moment I’ll remember for a long time. It’s something every striker dreams about, but what made it even more meaningful was being able to do it in front of our supporters and help the team get an important result.”
The goals have arrived at an opportune time, with Saint Lucia locked in a tight battle with Barbados for a place at the CONCACAF Gold Cup. For a nation still seeking its first appearance at the tournament, qualification would represent a significant breakthrough.
For Caull, the prospect is almost difficult to put into words.
“It would mean everything,” he explained. “For a small country like Saint Lucia, qualifying for a major tournament such as the Gold Cup would be a historic achievement.”
“It would also mean so much to the people back home. Football has the power to bring an entire country together, and I think qualifying would give the nation something special to celebrate. More importantly, it would show the younger generation that it’s possible to dream big and achieve great things, regardless of where you come from.”
That ambition is not something that has emerged overnight.
According to Caull, the desire to take Saint Lucia to new heights has been a central part of the national team’s objectives, with the players increasingly aware of the opportunities that lie ahead.
“From the beginning, I think the ambition has been to take Saint Lucia to the next level. We understand the quality within our squad, and we know what we’re capable of when we work together.”
“The Gold Cup is a huge motivation for everyone, but we also understand that these things are earned through performances. We have to remain focused, take each game seriously and make sure our performances match our ambitions.”
Helping guide that ambition is head coach Rajesh Latchoo, whose recent appointment has introduced new ideas and expectations into the national team setup.
For Caull, adapting to those changes is simply another part of the process of building a competitive international side.
“Every coach brings different ideas, philosophies and ways of approaching the game, so as players we have to be open-minded, adaptable and willing to learn,” he said.
“We have talent in the squad, and if we can combine that with hard work, discipline and consistency, I believe we can achieve some great things.”
Photo Credit: CONCACAF
From Saint Lucia to Europe, and back again
Caull’s journey to international football began on the pitches of Saint Lucia, where the game remains deeply embedded in local communities.
Like many young footballers across the Caribbean, his earliest experiences were shaped by a love of the sport and the opportunities available close to home.
“Growing up, football was always around me,” he recalled. “It’s one of those sports where you don’t necessarily need much to get started. You just need a ball, some friends and somewhere to play.”
He developed through local club VSADC before embarking on a footballing journey that would take him far beyond the island’s shores.
Stops in Gibraltar, Slovenia, Spain and England have exposed him to different playing environments, coaching methods and cultures, each contributing to his development as both a player and a person.
“Each experience has taught me something different, both on and off the pitch,” Caull explained.
“The journey hasn’t always been easy, and there have been challenges and sacrifices along the way, but that’s part of football. I’ve always believed in my ability, and I still have a lot I want to accomplish.”
Those experiences have helped shape a versatile attacking player who thrives on pace, directness and the ability to create opportunities in the final third.
Comfortable operating centrally or out wide, Caull describes himself as someone who enjoys taking on defenders and making things happen with the ball at his feet.
“I want to be a player who defenders find difficult to deal with and, most importantly, someone who makes a difference for the team.”
For now, his club future remains open, with the forward exploring opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic.
The United States is an attractive possibility, as is a return to European football. But rather than committing himself to a particular destination, Caull is prioritising the right environment for his continued development.
“Ultimately, it’s about finding the right project, the right coaching environment and a club where I can contribute, improve and showcase my abilities.”
“I’m still young, I’m ambitious, and I believe I have a lot more to give. I don’t want to limit myself geographically. I want to keep pushing myself and see how far I can take my career.”
A new era for Caribbean football?
While Caull’s personal ambitions remain considerable, they are closely connected to his hopes for Saint Lucia and the wider Caribbean.
Across the region, national teams are increasingly looking to combine homegrown players with members of their diaspora, creating squads that benefit from a wider variety of footballing experiences.
It’s a development that Caull believes is already helping to raise standards.
“Across the Caribbean, countries are recognising the importance of bringing together local talent and players from the diaspora who have experience playing in stronger professional environments,” he explained.
“I think Saint Lucia is a good example of what can happen when you combine those different experiences. We have players who have developed locally and players who have gained experience abroad. When you bring everyone together with a common goal, it raises the overall standard and creates healthy competition within the squad.”
Yet the region continues to face obstacles that are less common elsewhere in international football.
Travel, in particular, remains a significant challenge for Caribbean nations, where journeys between neighbouring countries can involve multiple flights, lengthy connections and limited recovery time.
“Sometimes you have long journeys, connecting flights, different time zones and limited recovery time before matches,” Caull explained. “You might spend a considerable amount of time travelling, and then have to get yourself physically and mentally ready to compete at a high level.”
He believes the introduction of single-host arrangements for competitions such as the Nations League could help alleviate some of those difficulties, allowing players and coaches to concentrate more fully on their performances.
However, logistical improvements are only one part of a much larger conversation about the future of Caribbean football.
For Saint Lucia, Caull believes the foundations are already in place to achieve more, provided the country’s natural talent is supported by continued investment in coaching, facilities and player development pathways.
“I think there’s a lot of natural talent on the island. We have young players with ability, passion and ambition. What we need to continue developing is the infrastructure, coaching opportunities, facilities and pathways that allow those players to progress.”
“I’d love to see more investment in local football because I genuinely believe Saint Lucia has the potential to produce more players who can compete internationally.”
It’s a sentiment that extends beyond his homeland.
With Caribbean nations becoming increasingly competitive within CONCACAF, Caull sees the coming years as an opportunity for the region to establish a stronger presence on the international stage.
“What excites me most is that we’re still at the beginning of what could be a very exciting period for Caribbean football.”
“As a player, I want to be part of that journey and help put Saint Lucia on the map.”
More than just qualification
For all the discussion of long-term development and the future of Caribbean football, there remains an immediate objective: securing a place at the Gold Cup.
Caull knows what qualification would mean to a nation whose footballing ambitions have often exceeded its resources.
He also knows that such an achievement would be the culmination of years of work and sacrifice, not only from the players themselves but from the families, coaches and supporters who have helped them along the way.
If Saint Lucia manages to secure its place at the tournament, his first instinct would be to share the moment with those closest to him.
“I’d definitely want to celebrate with the boys because we’d have worked extremely hard to make it happen,” he said. “I’d also want to share that moment with my family because they’ve been part of my journey from the very beginning and have made sacrifices to help me get to where I am today.”
But even then, Caull insists the celebrations would only last so long.
Qualifying for the Gold Cup might represent a historic first for Saint Lucia, but he is adamant that simply reaching the tournament should not be the limit of the team’s aspirations.
“Qualifying for the Gold Cup would be an incredible achievement, but I wouldn’t want us to see that as the finish line.”
“I’d want us to go there, compete, represent Saint Lucia with pride and show everyone what we’re capable of. We wouldn’t just want to participate; we’d want to make an impact.”
For a player whose international career is still in its infancy, the message is clear.
Kegan Caull isn’t content with simply being part of Saint Lucia’s footballing journey. He wants to help determine where it goes next.
Saint Lucia will face Bermuda on November 13, followed by potentially the match for the Gold Cup spot against Barbados on November 17. Both matches will take place in Guadeloupe.