Trinidad and Tobago’s Under 15 Boys team opened their campaign in Florida with a 1-1 draw with Tampa Bay United’s Under 17 team in a warm-up match at IMG Academy in Bradenton on Wednesday morning.
The T&T team arrived there on Monday for a live-in training camp ahead of their opening match in the CONCACAF Under 15 Championship against Costa Rica on Sunday.
T&T got off to a quick start on Wednesday with an opening goal from Fatima College forward Justin Araujo-Wilson in the first minute of play. He had the simple task of a close range tap in on an assist by San Juan Jabloteh’s Josiah Edwards. Tampa Bay would go onto equalise in the 12th minute.
“It was a good encounter for the young boys to get the legs going. We have just a few days left before our first match against Costa Rica so everything in between now to then is about managing the boys carefully and ensuring we do things in the right manner before the start of the competition,” Latapy told TTFA Media.
T&T have been drawn into Group B alongside Costa Rica, United States and Canada. T&T opens their campaign on August 13th against Costa Rica and will play Canada a day later before closing off the group stage against the US on August 16th.
The other countries taking part include
Group A – Mexico, Honduras, Jamaica and Panama,
Group B – Trinidad & Tobago, Costa Rica, United States and Canada,
Group C – El Salvador, Bermuda, Martinique and Cuba,
Group D – Haiti, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic and Curacao,
Group E – Puerto Rico, Belize, Barbados and Guadeloupe,
Group F – St Lucia, Suriname, Guyana and St Kitts/Nevis,
Group G – Aruba, Cayman Islands, Bonaire and Saint Martin,
Group H - Antigua/Barbuda, Grenada, Dominica and Sint Maarten,
Group I – Bahamas, US Virgin Islands, French Guiana and St Vincent/Grenadines,
Group J - British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Montserrat and Turks and Caicos.
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Trinidad and Tobago Under-15 players, preparing for their opening game of the 2017 CONCACAF U15 Boys Championship against Costa Rica on Sunday, held Tampa Bay United Under-17 side to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday morning in a warm-up match at IMG’s world-renowned campus in Bradenton, Florida.
San Juan Jabloteh youth midfielder Josiah Edwards and Defence Force youth forward Justin Araujo-Wilson both combined to give Trinidad and Tobago U15s a goal scored by the latter in the first minute of play against Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay equalised in the 12th minute.
Trinidad and Tobago U15 coach Russell Latapy told TTFA media, “It was a good encounter for the young boys to get the legs going. We have just a few days left before our first match against Costa Rica so everything between now to then is about managing the boys carefully and ensuring we do things in the right manner before the start of the competition.”
Trinidad and Tobago, based on a CONCACAF 15 Championship draw, must face Costa Rica (Aug. 13), Canada (Aug. 14) before completing Group B against host nation, the United States (Aug. 16).
The tournament which takes place from August 13-19 at the IMG campus in Bradenton, Florida will involve 40 counties from across the confederation. Honduras won the inaugural tournament back in 2013. Guatemala finished runners-up while El Salvador and Bermuda finished in third and fourth respectively.
CONCACAF U15 Boys Championship 2017 (Group stage)
Group A: Mexico, Honduras, Jamaica and Panama;
Group B: Trinidad & Tobago, Costa Rica, United States and Canada;
Group C: El Salvador, Bermuda, Martinique and Cuba;
Group D: Haiti, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic and Curacao;
Group E: Puerto Rico, Belize, Barbados and Guadeloupe;
Group F: St Lucia, Suriname, Guyana and St Kitts/Nevis;
Group G: Aruba, Cayman Islands, Bonaire and Saint Martin;
Group H: Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Dominica and Sint Maarten;
Group I: Bahamas, US Virgin Islands, French Guiana and St Vincent & Grenadines;
Group J: British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Montserrat and Turks & Caicos.
Trinidad and Tobago U15 CONCACAF Boys Championship 2017 squad
Goalkeepers: 1.Jahiem Wickham (Trendsetter Hawks), 18.Kernel La Fon (North East Stars);
Defenders: 2.Randy Antoine (San Juan Jabloteh), 4.Antonio Chee Ting (San Juan Jabloteh), 3.Darian Bradshaw (St. Ann’s Rangers), 16.Marc Wharfe (Defence Force), 12.Rhowen Stewart-Williams (Club Sando), 5.Cephas St. Rose (Independiente Sabaneta / Colombia);
Midfielders: 9.Ezekiel Kesar (Point Fortin Civic), 6.Jabari Lee (W Connection), 10.Josiah Edwards (San Juan Jabloteh), 13.Zachary Welch (last known club QPCC FC), 11.Jaiye Sheppard (Phoenix FC), 8.Josiah Allen (unattached), 15.Adriel George (St. Clair Coaching School);
Forwards: 7.Jean-Heim Mc Fee (St. Ann’s Rangers), 17.Justin Araujo-Wilson (Defence Force), 14.Amaal Julien (Point Fortin Civic).
Team staff
Russell Latapy (head coach)
Duane Richardson (assistant coach)
Kevin Graham (goalkeeper coach)
Rawle Webster (physical trainer)
Otis Hislop (physiotherapist)
Aaron Pollard (team manager)
Devin Elcock (equipment manager)