HEAD coach of the T&T men’s Under-17 national Team Shawn Cooper has announced his 20-man squad for the Concacaf Under-17 Championship to be held in Guatemala from February 11 to 26.
Cooper released the roster to the TT Football Association (TTFA) and the media shortly before a press briefing on Wednesday afternoon.
The squad includes five players from the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premiership champions, St Benedict’s College – namely, Lyshaun Morris, Josiah Ochoa, Derrel Garcia and Jeremiah Niles and Malachi Webb.
Three players from the Premiership runners-up Fatima College were also called up. Goalkeeper Jaden Ottley, defender Jaden Williams and striker Michael Chaves will all represent the yellow and blue outfit from the north on the national youth team.
To add some foreign experience to the roster, Cooper included Crystal Palace’s Rio Cardines. The American sextet of Ailan Panton, Samuel Duncan, Jeremiah Cateau, Armani Rowe, Dominic Wilson and Tyrell Moore were also selected. The young Warriors’ coach believes that these players will be key members of his team, not only for the tournament but also for the future.
On papaer, the young Soca Warriors, on paper, face a difficult task at the tournament having been drawn alongside the United States, Canada and Barbados in Group B.
To prepare for the battle ahead, they will play two matches against fellow tournament participants, Jamaica, on February 4 and 7 in Kingston, Jamaica.
In his press briefing on Wednesday afternoon, Cooper stated, “I, alongside the staff, had a very tedious task in selecting these players. But, I think that they are working very hard and they are looking forward to this competition.”
He continued, “Going through the screening, we wanted players who could have added value to us and not (those who are) just equal to some of our (current) guys. I think, going through the process, we realised that there were about five or six players who can add some sort of experience to the young chaps that we have coming out of the SSFL.”
“We also have an under-14 player – Seth Hadeed – who came through the screening and we will be taking him to Jamaica. So, the squad (for the Jamaica trip) will not be of 20 (players), but it will be 21. We think his development needs a game or two at the top level because, as far as I see, he’s (a step) above most of the (other) under-14s.”
“I have always thought that, when picking an under-17 team, you must select about three youngsters who will be around for the next under-17 (cycle) for some continuity, and Seth Hadid is one that I think has a bright future and I’m looking for big things from him.”
Cooper also believes that the players he selected, despite having no international experience, are capable of competing at a regional tournament. “They have a lot of potential”, he said, “(I think that) going to Jamaica will prepare them. They will have an idea (of what playing other countries will be like) because, remember, we haven’t played any international games before.”
“Most of them are just playing with their secondary schools. (But) we (do) have a couple of players coming from the US and England who would have a bit more experience. But, because we didn’t have the opportunity to go through the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) qualifying stage, we were barred from giving the boys the chance (of international football) going into this final leg of (the) Concacaf (Championship).”
The two group games against the US and Canada will prove to be the team’s biggest tests. However, Cooper is confident that his Warriors can match the North American juggernauts and deliver results.
He expressed, “We (Trinidad and Tobago) have matched them before. The last time we played the US U-17s back in 2015, we lost 2-0 with Christian Pulisic being one of the scorers. Before that, in 2013, we played Canada and also lost 2-0. So, I think we can match them. They have a lot more experience than us but, on the day, it’s youth football.”
“They (USA and Canada) are carrying professional players (to the tournament); we are carrying schoolboy footballers. But I think the mentality is what needs to change. The boys are taking the advice they are getting and I’m expecting big things from them.”
T&T will open their campaign against Canada on February 11. Addressing the preparation for the maiden fixture, Cooper stated, “Right about now, what we are dealing with is the structure and organisation (of the team). We need to be organised to play against these teams.”
“We don’t want to be leaking goals, so we want to be very strong at the back. Transitioning going forward, we have a lot of guys who were dynamic in the SSFL – guys like (Lindell) Sween, (Josiah) Ochoa and (Michael) Chaves who can put the ball in the back of the net with ease. But what we really want to do is have the team structured properly that can be in the game for long periods.”
The top three teams in each group advance to the Round of 16 knockout stage from 18 February, while the four Concacaf semi-finalists qualify automatically for the Peru 2023 Under-17 World Cup.
Full T&T Under-17 Squad:
Goalkeepers
Ailan Panton (Darlington Soccer Academy, USA), Jaden Ottley (Fatima College/QPCC);
Defenders
Lyshaun Morris (St Benedict’s College/Point Fortin Youth Football Academy), Samuel Duncan (Jason Day School/Charlotte FC, USA), Jaden Williams (Fatima College/QPCC), Joshua Figaro (Trinity College East/Trendsetter Hawks), Aydon Caruth (Queen’s Royal College/Police FC);
Midfielders
Josiah Ochoa (St Benedict’s College/Point Fortin Youth Football Academy), Derrel Garcia (St Benedict’s College/Cox Football Academy), Jeremiah Niles (St Benedict’s College/Point Fortin Youth Football Academy), Tau Lamsee (Queen’s Royal College/Pro Series Events), Jeremiah Cateau (Hillgrove High School/Concorde Fire, USA), Armani Rowe (St Benedict’s Prep/Cedar Star, USA), Rio Cardines (Crystal Palace, England), Dominic Wilson (Cumberland Valley High School/Nashville Academy, USA);
Forwards
Malachi Webb (St Benedict’s College/Club Premier FC), Lindell Sween (San Juan North Secondary School), Tyrell Moore (McEacheran High School/Nashville SC, USA), Vaughan Clement (Presentation College S’Fdo/Cox Football Academy), Michael Chaves (Fatima College/QPCC).
* Seth Hadeed included for the two friendly matches against Jamaica.
Technical Staff:
Shawn Cooper (head coach), Marvin Gordon (assistant coach), Devin Elcock (assistant coach), Gilbert Bateau (trainer), Declan Squires (goalkeeper), John Jerry (equipment manager), Michael Taylor (medic), Christo Gouveia (manager).
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St Benedict’s provide spine for T&T U-17s, as Cooper selects final team—plus special role for Seth.
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).
Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Under-17 Team coach Shawn Cooper is banking on solid defensive organisation, versatility and flashes of dynamism on the ball as he leads the junior Soca Warriors to battle in the 2023 Concacaf Under-17 Championship in Guatemala this month.
Cooper announced a 20-man squad today, which will represent the two-island republic in the Concacaf competition.
The National Under-17 Team comprises 13 local-based schoolboys and seven overseas-based players. Only one, Crystal Palace flanker Rio Cardines, is attached to a top-flight club.
In contrast, the United States roster includes two FC Barcelona youth players (goalkeeper Diego Kochen and midfielder Adrian Gill), two Bundesliga youth defenders (FC Aubsburg’s Noahkai Banks and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Aiden Harangi) and Liverpool FC forward Keyrol Figueroa.
Cooper admits that there is a gulf in terms of experience but he is happy with the ability and attitude of his players.
“They have a lot of potential,” Cooper told the TTFA Media. “[…] The boys are taking the advice on hand and I expect big things from them.”
St Benedict’s College account for a quarter of the final National Under-17 Team roster with defender Lyshaun Morris, midfielder Jeremiah Ochoa, flankers Jeremiah Niles and Darrel Garcia, and attacker Malachi Webb all booked for the Concacaf adventure.
Fatima College, the focus of much debate after the school had over a dozen players on the long-list, ended up with three players on Cooper’s 20-man squad: goalkeeper Jaden Ottley, defender Jaden Williams, and attacker Michael Chaves.
San Juan North Secondary contributed just one player, versatile attacker Lindell Sween. Yet, Cooper hinted that Sween could be one of their stars in the making, and much is expected of him if the young Warriors are to have an impact.
Ochoa and Chaves are understood to be in fine form as well, alongside Presentation College (San Fernando) flanker Vaughn Clement.
Cooper also commended the team’s overseas-based additions for what they brought to the table.
“We wanted players who could add value and not just be equal to our guys,” said Cooper.
Darlington Soccer Academy goalkeeper Ailan Panton, the son of former Miss Universe Wendy Fitzwilliam, certainly ticks that box, while Cardines, Concorde Fire midfielder Jeremiah Cateau and Charlotte FC left back Samuel Duncan are also expected to play prominent roles in Guatemala.
Duncan is the son of former national youth team midfielder and Signal Hill Comprehensive standout Jason Duncan.
Incidentally, Cardines is still awaiting his Trinidad and Tobago passport. Wired868 understands that the Ministry of National Security still has to give clearance for the talented teenager to wear the national kit at the upcoming competition.
The National Under-17s leave for Jamaica on Friday for warm-up matches against the young Reggae Boyz on Saturday 4 and Tuesday 7 February in Kingston. They will then head to Guatemala on 9 February, just two days before their tournament opener against Canada.
Their late arrival in Guatemala is by design, as Cooper looks for a way to minimize the impact of playing at altitude—the Estadio Pensativo in Antigua Guatemala is 5,069 feet above sea level.
The medical wisdom is that sport teams can acclimatize to altitude by getting to the venue two weeks before the competition; or, conversely, by landing less than 48 hours before your first competitive exercise so your body does not realize what’s happening yet.
Incidentally, Trinidad and Tobago will travel with 21 players to Jamaica. Cooper convinced the Normalisation Committee on the importance of having 14-year-old midfielder Seth Hadeed involved in those matches at least.
Hadeed, a left-footed attacking midfielder, is so young that Trinidad and Tobago would have needed special permission from Concacaf to use him alongside 17-year-olds in Guatemala.
It is some testimony to his precocious ability that he made it this far and, even as Cooper prepares for a testing competition, he still made space on their flight so that Hadeed could make his international debut. He will serve as standby in case anyone is hurt before the Concacaf tournament.
“Seth has a bright future,” said Cooper. “He has developed very quickly and I am looking for big things from him for the future.
“[…] We think his development could do with a game or two at this level because as far as I can see he is above most of the under-14s. So I had a word with (National Under-15 Team coach) Densill Theobald and I told him we need to carry him [to Jamaica].”
In the end though, facing a physically grueling competition with three group stage matches in just five days, Cooper put a premium on versatility—with players capable of filling in at multiple roles having an edge.
As teams are only allowed 20 players, a questionable Concacaf ruling magnified by the frequency of the matches, it is important that coaches can replace any player at a moment’s notice.
“I will have to utilise the entire squad,” said Cooper, who also explained that physical recovery between games will be key to their plans. “[…] The next day, you may try to have a session early in the morning […] and then you have your entire day to recover.
“One problem we had before with that is having training fields available in the morning. When you are in a group with big teams, they get preference in the booking of fields around the area where you want to train.”
Wired868 understands that the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) has not yet booked training fields for the national youth team in Guatemala.
Although Concacaf does not permit teams to register more than 20 players for the youth competition, teams can make changes due to injuries. The United States announced a 23-man squad to travel to Guatemala.
The Trinidad and Tobago contingent, in contrast, may not be able to even get their entire staff at the same hotel—much less, be able to travel with additional players. It is one of several handicaps facing the young Warriors.
In Trinidad and Tobago, most youth players are active for between four to seven months. In developed football nations, youth leagues generally run for 10 months.
Cooper will soon discover how much his training sessions were able to bridge that gap, as they try to keep pace with the likes of Canada and the United States.
“We need to be organized to play against these teams,” said Cooper, who is also the head coach of Presentation (San Fernando). “We want to be stronger in the back and I think we have some guys who are very dynamic in transition, like Sween and Ochoa and Chaves.
“But what we really want to do is have the team structured properly, so we can be in the game for long periods.”
Trinidad and Tobago play their opening Group F fixture against Canada on 11 February, before tackling USA and Barbados on 13 and 15 February respectively.
The top three teams in each group advance to the Round of 16 knockout stage from 18 February, while the four Concacaf semi-finalists qualify automatically for the Peru 2022 Under-17 World Cup.