Having qualified for the final round Group A of the 2005 Concacaf Under-20 World Youth Championship Qualification along with Costa Rica, Panama and the host USA, T&T coach Anton Corneal has his eyes set on a couple of friendly matches against South American countries Venezuela and Colombia.
In the Concacaf final round series which is set for Carson Field, California, the young “Soca Warriors” will open its campaign against USA on January 12 followed by matches against Costa Rica (January 14) and Panama, two days later.
Contacted yesterday, Corneal said the players will be allowed to spend Christmas day at home with their families but will resume camp from Boxing Day until December 31.
During this time they hope to play the international matches.
“Hopefully we can get the live-in camp going by Monday, but with the hectic Christmas season, places to host the camp are all being booked out,” said Corneal.
Prior to their 6-5 aggregate win over Cuba, the T&T players were involved in a heated friendly encounter with Venezuela at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva with the match being called off a few minutes from regulation time due to an altercation between players.
“What happened at the end of the game was unfortunate, but the intensity of the match with the Venezuelans was very good, so we will making an application with the T&T Football Federation to face them or Colombia.
Asked if any new players would be added to the team, Corneal said: “We are eagerly awaiting news on the availability of English Premiership club Bolton Wanderers striker, 19 year-old Ricky Shakes.”
Shakes, who was first brought to the attention to the T&TFF by national players and Coventry City striker Stern John, has indicated his willingness to play for T&T and is eligible through his Trinidad-born mother.
“Arrangements are being put in place to have him join the team while the door is open to US-based players Makan Hislop, Kevin Crooks, Cleavon George, Ancil Farrier, Abiola Sandy and Jamal Warner, the son of FIFA vice-president Austin Jack Warner.”
“We don’t have a lot of time to get the team prepare so not too many additions will be made, but once these guys are here on holidays from school in the USA, they will be allowed to join the train.”
Corneal also noted that some people may be looking at the team and noticing the absence of some of the top players from the Secondary Schools Football League from last year and this season.
“Gorian Highley, Kevon Neaves and Josimar Belgrave were all part of the training squad however they all stopped training for their own personal reasons, and to ask them to re-join the team now, would not be fair to the T&T public and members of the team,” ended Corneal.
The top two teams from each group qualify to 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands from 10 June – 2 July.
Group B of the CONCACAF series be to be played in Honduras from January 26-30 involves Mexico, Canada, Jamaica and the host Honduras and will be played at the Francisco Marazan Stadium.
T&T U-20 training team:
Thorne Hasely Holder, Sean Bateau, Kezi Lara, Radanfah Abu Bakr, Marcelle Francois, Karlon Murray, Joel James, Shane Calderon, Kendall Jadeosingh, Atulla Guerra, Christopher Sam, Cordell Samuel, Hayden Tinto, Keon Daniel.