NATIONAL FOOTBALL team assistant coach Hutson Charles is delighted after seeing the “Soca Warriors” advance to the quarter-finals of the 2013 Concacaf Gold Cup with a 2-0 win over Honduras in a Group “B” contest on Monday.
Charles is an assistant coach alongside Derek King to Stephen Hart, having led the team from the opening Gold Cup qualifier against French Guiana in St Kitts/Nevis last year. Now he’s working under Hart and Director of Football Leo Beenhakker who has also been at the training sessions here in the United States.
The former Defence Force and TT midfielder noted that the current coaching staff has developed an understanding and he appreciates what Hart and the Dutch mastermind have brought to the team.
“I think they’ve brought experience,” Charles noted. “Watching how Stephen Hart works and how Mr Beenhakker interacted, especially during the sessions and the advice he’s been giving, I think it’s been a tremendous help to the team. There is a lot to be learnt from this.”
Charles added, “I’m in here for the long haul and it’s been nice working with them. I can improve a lot in terms of the whole approach to the coaching. I think they’re bringing a lot to the team and I’m very happy they’re on board.”
The former assistant national youth team coach said the TT team’s performance against Honduras came through a more committed effort.
“I was elated seeing where we came from in the qualifiers to where we are right now. I think wanting to do well made the difference. It sunk into the minds of the players that it was time we do something to make the country proud. They went out there with right mental approach and we did the job.
“It will take time to get more consistency but hopefully we can keep it up. The next match against Mexico will be another big test for us but we’re really looking forward to this challenge,” Charles concluded.