Trinidad and Tobago will be hosting the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Under-17 Championships Group 4 qualifying tournament next week.
This was announced at a Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation press conference at the Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain yesterday.
Brandon Creed will lead the national Under-17 at the tournament.
T&T will be hosting Guyana, the British Virgin Islands and Suriname in Group Four from July 24-28, with the top team going through to the next round of CFU qualifying for the 15th FIFA Under-17 World Cup to be held in the United Arab Emirates from October 17 to November 8 next year.
The winners of Group Four will join Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica in the next round.
The final group of qualifiers, Group Five, involving Barbados, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis and the US Virgin Islands will be played later this month.
The winners of the five qualifying groups and the best second placed team will move into the final round of qualifiers to be held from August 19-30 ,with the top five teams going into the CONCACAF finals scheduled for April 6-19 next year.
The final squad is yet to be named, with the players still doing their final preparations. Twenty-three players are in the training under head coach Shawn Cooper who said it will be a difficult task to cut the squad to 18.
T&T will play their first match in the qualifiers on July 24 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Head of marketing at the TTFF Anthony Harford said yesterday it would cost $500,000 to stage the group qualifying. He said despite the organisation being strapped for cash, it was important to bring international football to T&T.
He also noted that there were some international friendly matches in the making including one against a top African nation for next year.
He said that despite the challenges with money, the TTFF have kept the national teams active. He revealed that T&T senior side have an international friendly against Canada on August 15, as well as one against Puerto Rico in September but both matches will be played away from home.
He said they just could not afford to play any matches in T&T.
T&T Under-17 roster—Brendon Creed (captain), Kevin John, Stephon Seepersad, D'eandre Villaroel, Martieon Watson, Josiah Trimmingham, Leland Archer, Shaquille Moses, Maurice Ford, Stephan Spicer, Shannon Gomez, Jabari Mitchell, Jarred Dass, Andre Fortune, Mani Walcott, Matthew Woo Ling, Levi Garcia, Kishun Seecharan, David Maloney, Akeem Garcia, Aikim Andrews, Brent Sam, Weah Adams.
Technical Staff—Christopher Govia (manager), Shawn Cooper (head coach), Terrance Marcelle (assistant coach), Leonson Lewis (assistant coach), Ross Russell (goal-keeping coach), Michael Taylor (physio), Nathale Thomas (equipment manager).
CFU U-17 Qualifying - Group 4
At Trinidad & Tobago
Tuesday, July 24
Guyana vs. Suriname
Trinidad & Tobago vs. British Virgin Islands
Thursday, July 26
British Virgin Islands vs. Guyana
Trinidad & Tobago vs. Suriname
Saturday, July 28
Suriname vs. British Virgin Islands
Trinidad & Tobago vs. Guyana
Creed to captain U-17s in upcoming CFU qualifiers.
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).
SKHY FC midfielder Brendon Creed will captain this country’s Men’s Under 17 team in their upcoming Caribbean Football Union Qualifying tournament which kicks off with a double header at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Tuesday.
Creed was unveiled to the media along with his teammates at a media launch at the Queen’s Park Oval ballroom on Thursday afternoon. T&T will face the British Virgin Islands from 7pm on Tuesday following the double header opener between Guyana and Suriname from 5pm.
Head Coach Shawn Cooper has a squad of 23 players in camp at the moment and the final 18 man squad will be announced on the weekend. On Wednesday night, the Under 17s lost 4-0 to a strong North East Stars line up coached by Angus Eve at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
Their goals came from Kaydion Gabriel (2), Micah Lewis and Neil Mitchell. North East’s squad included Cornell Glen, Kerry Baptiste, Seon Power, Under 23 team players Kareem Moses, Sheldon Bateau, Jayson Joseph, Jeromie Williams, Jean-Luc Rochford and Guyanese international Charles Pollard.
Cooper said he was not bothered by what some may view as a T&T/Guyana rivalry as the hosts will the face them in their final group fixture on Saturday.
“I don’t think there is a rivalry between us and Guyana, maybe at the senior level but at the youth level we have always been dominant and we have done well against them,” Cooper said.
But he is experienced enough to know that complacency will do no good to T&T but a bit of confidence never hurts.
“We spent some time screening players. We saw over 400 of them and we came to forty and now it’s 23 players in camp and it’s been a difficult job to get the final squad as the competition has been stiff. We have worked hard and there are some exciting players in the team.
I think they are capable of getting the job done and qualifying for the World Cup is certainly a possibility. We will take no team and no match for granted.” Cooper added.
Skipper Creed, shy at first, sounded more relaxed and certain of his team’s capabilities as he responded to question number three.
“Well we are hoping to do well,” he initially replied.
“Of course I am confident in all of my teammates. We want to finish on top and we have worked really hard so far. We are very anxious to get out there and Tuesday and start the first match. This is what we have been working for… to win matches,” he continued.
TTFF Marketing Manager Anthony Harford disclosed that Blue Waters, Caribbean Airlines, Coca Cola, Gatorade and Wi Sports have come on board as partners for this tournament.
He also revealed that the T&T Under 20 team will play the Grenada senior team in a friendly there later this month.
With the T&T Senior Team carded to face Canada on August 15th, Harford mentioned that the friendly against a top African nation will now be played on the FIFA date in February 2013 but that currently negotiations are taking place for a friendly international against Wales in Cardiff in November.
Another friendly way to Puerto Rico in September has already been confirmed.
T&T Under 17 Squad
01. Kevin John - GK - Southern F.A
02. Stephon Seepersad - GK - W Connection
03. D'eandre Villaroel - GK – San Juan Jabloteh FC
04. Martieon Watson - DF – W Connection
05. Josiah Trimmingham - DF - Jabloteh FC
06. Leland Archer - DF - St.Ann's Rangers
07. Shaquille Moses - DF - St. Ann's Rangers
08. Maurice Ford - DF - Caledonia AIA
09. Stephan Spicer - DF - SKHY FC
10. Shannon Gomez - DF - Jabloteh FC
11. Jabari Mitchell - MF - W Connection
12. Jarred Dass - MF - W Connection
13. Brendon Creed - MF - SKHY FC
14. Andre Fortune - MF - Needham Broughton High School (USA)
15. Mani Walcott - MF – Eleanor Roosevelt High School (USA)
16. Matthew Woo Ling - MF - W Connection
17. Levi Garcia - MF - T&TEC FC
18. Kishun Seecharan - MF - FC Santa Rosa
19. David Maloney - MF - Eagles FC
20. Akeem Garcia - MF - San Juan Jabloteh FC
21. Aikim Andrews - MF - San Juan Jabloteh FC
22. Brent Sam - FW - Police FC
23. Weah Adams - FW - Roxborough Lakers
Technical Staff
01. Manager: Christopher Govia
02. Coach: Shawn Cooper
03. Assistant' Coach: Terrence Marcelle
04. Assistant' Coach: Leonson Lewis
05. Goalkeeping Coach: Ross Russell
06. Physio: Michael Taylor
07. Equipment Manager: Nathale Thomas