Former T&T striker Kerlon Ferguson has been included in Neal & Massy Caledonia’s 21-man squad for their Concacaf Champions League Group Four home clash with Honduran club, CD Marathon at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva tomorrow from 8 pm.
The “Morvant/Laventille Stallions” needed to boost their attack, after going down to US Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders in their opener last month in Washington. Ferguson or his fellow Tobago-born striker Trevin Caesar is expected to lead the attack with Jamal Gay for Caledonia which cannot afford a loss.
“Ferguson is the perfect fit for our attacking options, that’s why we signed him on a twoyear deal” stated Caledonia technical director, Jamaal Shabazz. “He can play with his back to the goal and he can make powerful runs into the spaces as well.
I think we got us another Lalonde Gordon,” joked Shabazz as he compared his new signing to London Olympic Games 400m final bronze medal winner, who also hails from Tobago.
For tomorrow’s match, Shabazz said he will be giving more of an attacking license to offensive- minded right back Kareem Joseph by pushing him up in a midfield role while employing new signing Aubrey David at right back. Joseph was the scorer of Caledonia’s lone goal, from the penalty spot in the loss to Seattle.
The speedy Joseph, Gay and Conrad Smith were able to get behind the Sounders’ defence on several occasions in the first half of their match, but lacked the numbers to finish off chances.
However, it is in the defensive third that Shabazz must make his biggest adjustments with goalkeeper Glenroy Samuel, and defenders Radanfah Abu Bakr, Nuru Muhammad, Walter Moore and David needing to improve on their last display with a more disciplined approach against a marathon squad which is noted for its potency.
Shabazz said: “Of course we have to up our game but I think it’s more mental than physical. Technically and tactically we are up to the task, but we must believe in ourselves more and in our right to be playing at this level.”
“I believe in this Caledonia squad. They have created history for the club and we are going to push them to give all that they have in this game. “It’s vital for us to pick up points.”
TEAM
Goalkeepers: Glenroy Samuel, Colin Ewards
Defenders: Aubrey David, Radanfah Abu Bakr, Nuru Muhammad, Walter Moore, Aquil Selby, Colin Nelson.
Midfielders: Kareem Joseph, Stephan David, Keyon Edwards, Abdallah Phillips, Trayon Bobb, Conrad Smith, Nathan Lewis, Kemron Purcell, Cornelius Stewart.
Forwards: Jamal Gay, Trevin Ceasar, Kerlon Ferguson, Sheldon Holder.