Trinidadian coach Rajesh Joseph Latchoo has been appointed head coach of St. Lucia's senior men's national football team, taking charge ahead of the 2026-27 Concacaf Nations League campaign. Latchoo, who previously coached the Commonwealth of Dominica's national side, replaces fellow Trinidad and Tobago national Stern John, who led the St. Lucia team, known as the Piton Boyz, across 25 matches between 2022 and his departure.
The appointment marks a return to regional coaching for Latchoo, whose tenure with Dominica's national programme gave him direct experience of the demands of Concacaf competition. His move to St. Lucia places him at the helm of a side seeking to build momentum in the Nations League, the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football's flagship national team tournament.
St. Lucia will look to Latchoo to steady the programme after John's 25-game spell in charge. The Piton Boyz compete in the lower tiers of Concacaf's national team rankings, where consistent results and squad development are central priorities. The 2026-27 Nations League cycle offers the new coach an early opportunity to assess his player pool and implement his approach in competitive fixtures.
Latchoo's connection to Dominica adds a layer of regional familiarity to the appointment. During his time with the Dominica national team, he worked within the Eastern Caribbean football structure, facing many of the same opponents and operating under similar resource conditions that St. Lucia now presents. That experience is likely to inform his preparations as he settles into the role.
The coaching change comes as Caribbean national teams continue to prepare for the next cycle of Concacaf competition. St. Lucia's football administration has not yet outlined a detailed schedule for Latchoo's first fixtures, but the Nations League calendar will provide the framework for his early matches in charge.
For Dominica, Latchoo's departure to a regional rival highlights the movement of coaching talent within the Eastern Caribbean. The Dominica national team, under head coach Kurt Herd, recently secured a 1-0 victory over Anguilla at Windsor Park Stadium, with Reon Cuffy scoring his first international goal in the 49th minute and goalkeeper Dwight Eloi keeping a clean sheet on debut. Herd acknowledged after that match that finishing remains a concern ahead of the Nations League campaign, noting that the team created numerous chances but struggled to convert them.
Latchoo's appointment in St. Lucia is expected to bring a fresh tactical direction to the Piton Boyz as they prepare for the challenges of the 2026-27 Concacaf Nations League. The Trinidadian coach's regional pedigree and prior experience with Dominica's programme position him to make an immediate impact in St. Lucia's campaign.