The Trinidad and Tobago National Men’s Under 20 Team is set to resume preparations for the CONCACAF Final Round of qualification towards the FIFA Under 20 World Cup in South Korea next year.
Head Coach Brian Williams and his staff will begin with sessions twice a week for the remainder of the year, starting at 4pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium on Tuesday with a 25-man squad. The overseas-based players were not included due to their respective commitments abroad.
Williams, speaking about the resumption, said plans for the remaining build up were discussed during a meeting with the TTFA Technical Committee on Monday.
“I sat in with the Technical Committee on Monday and we discussed some of our intentions for the upcoming preparations,” Williams told TTFA Media.
“We will resume tomorrow (Tuesday) with sessions twice weekly. The Intercol series is still ongoing so once that is completed, we will have a better idea of the schedule once we enter December into the rest of the year.
“There are plans to have a training camp in Miami and then possibly Brazil before we head to Costa Rica next year for the competition and the TTFA will be doing whatever in its power to try and get the the best preparations possible for the team which I am satisfied about at this point in time.”
Williams is also carded to head to San Jose, Costa Rica for the draw within a couple weeks.
“I will be at the draw and of course we will be hoping for the best possible schedule but at the end of the day we have to be prepared to face whichever opposition is placed in front of us. But once the schedule is drawn up we will have a much better idea with regards to how our preparations will shape up,” Williams noted.
T&T finished second in its group – behind Haiti – which was sufficient to qualify for next year’s CONCACAF U-20 Championship. The other four Caribbean teams qualified for the regional tournament are Antigua and Barbuda, Bermuda, Haiti, and St. Kitts and Nevis.
The 2017 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship will be played in Costa Rica from 18 February to 5 March 2017. The top four teams qualify for Korea 2017.
Out of UEFA, England, France, Germany, Italy and Portugal have already qualified for Korea 2017.
The OFC U-20 Men’s Championship 2016 was played in Vanuatu from 3-17 September. New Zealand and Vanuatu will represent Oceania in Korea.
The AFC U-19 Championship 2016 was played in Bahrain from 13 to 30 October 2016. Iran, Japan, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam have qualified for Korea 2017, joining hosts Korea Republic.
The South American U-20 Championship will be played in Ecuador from 5 to 29 January. 2017. The top four teams qualify for the World Cup. And The Africa U-20 Cup of Nations 2017 will be played in Zambia from 26 February to 12 March 2017. The top four teams qualify for the Under 20 World Cup.
T&T 25-man Squad
Goalkeepers
Jabari Brice – St Anthony’s College
Denzil Smith – Shiva Boys Hindu College
Dejourn Charles – Carapichaima East Sec.
Jabari Gray – Presentation College San Fernando
Defenders
Taryk Sampson – Ma Pau Stars
Shane Sandy – Naparima College
Keston Julien – Jabloteh FC
Kori Cupid – W Connection
Keirron Mason – Marabella Crisis Centre.
Isaiah Garcia – W Connection
Rondell Payne – Naparima College
Kyle Thomas – San Juan North Sec.
Simeon Bailey – Barataria South Sec.
Midfielders
Kareem Riley – Presentation College, San Fernando
Jabari Mitchell – W Connection
Micah Lansiquot – Murucapo East Secondary
Moses Jaikeran – Harlem Strikers
Jesse Joseph – Jabloteh FC
Rushawn Murphy – Malick Sec.
Forwards
Nicholas Dillon – Central FC
Kathon St. Hillaire – St Anthony’s College
Josh Toussaint – St Ann’s Rangers
Junior Asson – Shiva Boys Hindu College
Ronaldo Boyce – San Juan North Sec.
Nion Lammy – Presentation College, San Fernando