Captain Javed Mohammed netted a double to guide Trinidad and Tobagos Under 17 footballers to a 6-2 victory over Barbados and into the next phase of the Caribbean Football Union World qualifying tournament.
Needing just a draw in their final Group A encounter at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, T&T made sure with the victory which pushed them to a maximum nine points following convincing wins over St Lucia and Bahamas who defeated the St Lucians 5-3 with two goals apiece from Audley Kemp (34th and 46th) and Lesly St Fleur (58th and 75th) and another from captain Cameron Hepple (23rd).
Caddius Emmanuel (29th and 71st) and Kendell Alphonse (85th) were on target for St Lucia in the first game of Sundays double header. T&T's Javed Mohammed of Naparima College, the first player of East Indian descent to lead a national team for as long as could be remembered, struck in the 25th and 70th minutes to make sure that T&T goes through to now face Cuba in a home and away tie in September.
Earlier on he put the young Soca Warriors ahead in the 25th minute, only to have Barbados fight back to equalize through Dwayne Mars before Mucurapo SCs center back Kaleem Hyland put T&T ahead from the penalty spot in the 41st when Guyanese referee Stanley Lancaster pointed to the spot after defender Dario Jordan was adjudged to have handled the ball while under pressure from striker Lester Peltier. Barbados fought back to tie the scores before half time when T&T keeper Charles failed to clear a long ball from Jermaine Caesar and Lorenzo Joseph was on hand to pounce home the loose ball.
But Grosvenors boys came out firing in the second half and went ahead inside the opening minute through St Pierre Composite striker Lester Peltier. Barbados chose to pack their defense and play on the counter but T&T adjusted and went for the kill. Further goals by Michael Brown (San Juan SC), Carlon Hughes (Mayaro Composite) and Mohammed sealed the deal for the hosts. Mohammed was ecstatic after the win, saying that seven months of preparations paid off in the long run.
We trained very hard for seven months and it paid off in the end, Mohammed told TTFF Media. We had been playing against big men so it was just a matter of polishing up our game and coming out and taking care of these teams. We were not afraid of the competition. Everyone from the coaches to my teammates deserves credit for this effort, added Mohammed who mentioned that the live-in camps proved to beneficial. We had three live in camps and that proved successful because the team is like a family. Its a great feeling to me to have captained this team. I did it with pride because it was a chance for me to serve the country I love.
Coach Grosvenor said his team had to lift their game after the break in order to break the Bajans.
We expected Barbados to raise their game and they also packed their defense and played on the counter. We were caught playing a little too patient especially in the attacking third, he explained. I told our guys to step it up after the break. We had to intensify our game and play the wide balls. We went at them and it paid off. What I loved is that we always kept focused even after they came back twice to tie the scores. We know now that the further the team goes, the harder the competition will get so we intend to keep the preparations going, hopefully with a few more international warm ups and We also hope to work along with the Secondary Schools League in terms of getting the players for preparations because the national team comes first but we dont want any conflicts at the same time, added Grosvenor.
As group winners Trinidad & Tobago and Haiti now advance to a two-game CFU Second Round Series (home-and-away) where they will play Cuba and Jamaica respectively. The winners of these parings proceed as the two Caribbean representatives in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying, to be held in New Brunswick, Canada, in May 2005.
Trinidad & Tobago:
Kareem Charles, Kaleem Hyland, Marvin James, Brendon Boucaud, Javed Mohammed (capt) (Kurt Williams 85th), Michael Brown, Nyron Orr, Silas Spann (Jeromy Williams 84th), Shastri Spencer, Carlon Hughes (Kyle McIvor 74th), Lester Peltier.
Barbados:
Kevin Smith, Robert Charles, Dario Jordan (John Yearwood 74th), Damar Evelyn (capt), Shane Downes, Jermaine Caesar, Lorenzo Joseph, Mario Johnson (Gian Cobham 60th), Ronaldo Marques, Mario Harte (Jamar Harewood 67th), Dwayne Mars.