Trinidad and Tobago’s Defence Force sent a warning ahead of the 2011 Military World Games when it held Brazil’s Defence Force goalless before going down to a 5-4 penalty defeat against the South Americans in the Armed Forces Continental Football Championship on Sunday in Suriname.
“I think we made the country proud by matching Brazil after full-time,” said T&T Defence Force FC manager Major Malcolm Nedd following the team’s return to Trinidad on Monday morning.
Both Continental Football Championship Finalists Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago advance to next year’s Military World Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 12 – 24 July, 2011.
Nedd continued, “It’s the first time we have achieved this, creating great history for the Defence Force and Trinidad and Tobago.”
Nedd said that such achievement would not have been possible without the input of Chief of Staff, Major Edmond Dillion who made the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force part of CISM(International Military Sports Council).
Head Coach Ross Russell was without key striker Devon Jorsling—who scored back to back hattricks against Canada’s DF (Group phase) and Ecuador’s DF (semi-final round)—, midfielder Albert Dexter Thornhill who scored a double against hosts Suriname in the opening Group match and defender Rawle Fletcher.
The trio was entered in the referee’s book under red cards in the 4-3 semi-final win against Ecuador, by ironically, a Brazilian official.
The under-strength Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force still managed to measure the Brazilians (equipped with five professional players in their roster) goalless at full-time.
However the islanders were edged 5-4 from the penalty spot shootout. Team captain Corey Rivers, Kerry Joseph, Kurt Williams and Ronald St. Louis were all on target while Keston Williams and Rondell Elcock missed.
T&T DF’s journey to the Continental Football Championship Final saw them top Group B with wins over hosts Suriname(3-0) and Canada(5-0) before edging Ecuador(4-3) in the semi-final round.
Nedd who described the tournament as well organized, added, “Based on our performance in the (Continental Football Championship) Final, we surely set the tone for the Military World Games in Brazil next year.”
It was the second attempt by the TTDF having failed to qualify for the Military World Games back in 2006.
According to Nedd, the Armed Forces Continental Football Championship performances in Paramaribo, Suriname will help the team as it challenges much bigger goals.
With the domestic Digicel Pro League Championship and CONCACAF Champions’ League high on the agenda, Nedd explained, “The consistency will help the team based on the long breaks in the League.
“We intend to keep the one hundred percent performances of Round One (in the Digicel Pro League) because we want to win the League and look towards the CONCACAF Champions’ League.
“Playing against the South Americans Ecuador and Brazil gave us an awareness of what to expect in the CONCACAF Champions League.
“We realize that we need to have dept—quality players and a more well oriented technical staff— heading into the Military World Games and the CONCACAF Champions’ League next year,” he ended.
Defence Force will be in action on Wednesday against S&E Diamond United from 5pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium in the2010 FA Trophy Round of 32, and will be in action again on Friday when they take on Police FC from 6pm at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Round Two Match Day One of the 2010-2011 Digicel Pro League Championship.