National Under 20 Team coach Zoran Vranes is currently overseeing ongoing training sessions as this country continues its preparation for the 2009 FIFA Under 20 World Championship in September.
Southampton midfielder accepts invitation.
The team has also been boosted by the return of prolific former Under 17 striker Stephen Knox. He was injured out of the Qualifying series for the Under 20 World Championship earlier this year. Knox topped all scorers at the Under 15 and Under 17 level and is now in full training with the T&T team.
Knox is attached to Boston University and finished the 2008 season with four assists and two goals.
Midfielder Chike Sullivan who played for T&T at the Under 17 World Championship is also back in the squad after being denied time off from College to participate at the qualifiers. Sullivan is attached to the Colorado School of Mines.
Sullivan and midfielder Sean De Silva have been appearing for Joe Public in the Bmobile Super League. They are not allowed to play for a local Professional club because they are on scholarships in the US and rules prevent them from playing professionally. Leston Paul and Qian Grosvenor are also with Joe Public.
Team manager Chris De Silva added that aside from the National team playing practice matches against Pro League outfits once ever week, some of the other national team members are also appearing for their clubs in the T&T Pro League on a regular basis.
Striker Jamal Gay also trained with the team for a month before returning to Germany recently. There was some further good news for the T&T camp on Monday as English-born midfielder Jake Thomson was in contact with the T&T management and has confirmed his interest in joining the National U-20 team.
Thomson, who was a member of England’s National Under 17 team in 2006, has a Trinidadian father. Thomson is a member of the first team for Southampton FC and was also on loan to Bournemouth AFC in January this year.
“It’s good news for us because after we enquired about his availability earlier this year, Jake has gotten back in contact with us and he wants to play for the country. We will now make the necessary arrangements to have him join the team for training and possibly the training matches we have prior to the tournament.” De Silva told TTFF Media.
The TTFF will finalize further international matches for the team. The previously announced tournament in Venezuela has been pushed back to a later date. T&T will kick off the FIFA Under 20 World Championship in the opening game against host nation Egypt on September 24.