Zoran Vranes, coach of the Egypt Fifa Under-20 World Cup-bound T&T Under-20 footballers said his team is ready to spring a few surprises at next month’s tournament.
Vranes, who led the young “Soca Warriors” to the finals after a fourth-placed finish in the Concacaf Under-20 Championship held in T&T in March was speaking at the end of the team’s final practice session at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, yesterday.
The 22-man squad and technical staff will leave tomorrow to begin its final warm-up tour in England before moving to Turkey and Cyprus over the next few weeks, as the team prepares for the opening match of the tournament against hosts Egypt in Alexandre on September 24. Before heading to Egypt, T&T coach will select his final 21 players. T&T will also play Paraguay (September 28) and Italy (October 1) in their group matches in the 24-team tournament.
Looking ahead to the tour, Vranes said, “It’s our final tour before we get to Egypt and the big equation for us.” “In Egypt it will be a big opportunity for everyone including the country. At the same time it’s difficult to predict what kind of results to expect but I’m confident we can spring a few surprises. “Our guys are expected to be a little nervous and scared at the start of the opening match against the host, but we will prepare them for that. “They have shown that they could play and compete well with the big countries like Brazil and Nigeria on previous warm-up tours and that has helped to give us the experience we need going into the finals.
Belgium-based midfielder Khaleem Hyland and German-based striker Jamal Gay are expected to join the team closer to the kick-off of the Championship. However, even those two players are not certain picks in the team according to Vranes. “Hyland and Gay are important parts of the squad and will be coming to join the team in Cyprus and fit in with our style of play. “They have the abilities to help our team a great deal, but if they don’t bring to the team what we expect of them I will have no problem cutting them from the final team. “It’s must not be about Hyland, Gay or whoever else comes into the squad, but must always be about T&T,” he said.
T&T squad:
Goalkeepers
Glenroy Samuel (United Petrotrin), Jesse Fullerton (Nova University), Andre Marchan (Joe Public).
Defenders
Daneil Cyrus (Joe Public), Robert Primus (San Juan Jabloteh), Sheldon Bateau (San Juan Jabloteh), Curtis Gonzales (Ma Pau), Uriah Bentick (Liberty University), Aubrey David (W Connection), Mikeil Williams (Ma Pau), Akeem Adams (United Petrotrin), Jevon Morris (St Ann's Rangers), Nicholas Walker (St Ann's Rangers).
Midfielders
Leston Paul (St Mary’s College), Sean De Silva (College of Charleston), Jean-Luc Rochford (Joe Public), Marcus Joseph (Joe Public), Khaleem Hyland (Zulte Waregem/Belgium), Marvin Manswell (Joe Public), Kevin Molino (Mau Pau).
Forwards
Jamal Gay (Rot-Weiss Oberhausen/Germany), Qian Grosvenor (University of South Florida), Jamal Clarence (United Petrotrin), Trent Lougheed (United Petrotrin).