Ebbsfleet United striker Dominic Poleon hoping to add to Saint Lucia’s sporting feelgood factor after Julien Alfred’s Olympic 100m triumph and make history with qualification for Gold Cup Finals

Striker Dominic Poleon is aiming to make history when he plays for Saint Lucia later this month.

The 31-year-old Ebbsfleet forward will miss the National League game at home to Solihull Moors as Saint Lucia bid to reach the Gold Cup Finals for the first time.

While it’s a blow he can’t be in two places at once, it represents an amazing opportunity for Poleon - and one that any footballer would be keen to take.

“We’ve got a chance to make history for my country and that’s massive,” explained Poleon.

“That’s a massive part of being a footballer, especially for Saint Lucia, we’ve got a chance of qualifying for the Gold Cup which the country has never done. It’s massive but obviously it means you miss the club football.

“You see the people there, the country are really getting behind us. We’ve got the fastest woman in the world over 100m (Olympic champion Julien Alfred), the country has that buzz about it and they’re backing us to go on and do well.

“When you’re a footballer these opportunities don’t come around all the time so when they do, you’ve got to take them.”

Poleon’s grandparents were born in Saint Lucia and his family watch him playing for his country.

He only made his debut last year so is keen to make up for lost time.

“It’s a bit late in the day career-wise for me so I’ve got to make the most of it,” admitted Poleon.

“It’s always an honour, my family are proud. I’ve got family there so whenever I go, they come out and watch and I see my cousins over there.”

Saint Lucia lost 4-0 to Saint Martin last month but still lead CONCACAF Nations League Group B, with games against Grenada on November 15 and Curacao November 18.

Winning the group will give them automatic qualification for the Gold Cup group stages, the