The quartet of Sheldon Bateau, Shahdon Winchester, Joevin Jones and Dwight Ceballo will be missing when this country’s Under-20 footballers leave tomorrow to begin a ten-day camp in Miami, USA.
Prior to their departure, the Under-20s will meet the national Under-17 squad in a warm-up match today at Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, from 4 pm.
A San Juan Jabloteh first team regular, Bateau, the national Under-20 team captain, is currently on trial with US Major League Soccer club, Sporting Kansas City, along with senior and Under-23 T&T defender Daneil Cyrus.
Striker Winchester and defender Jones, both 19-year-olds of W Connection, left here on Wednesday to join US Major League Soccer champion Colorado Rapids at its Commerce City, Colorado base ahead of the six-day pre-season training camp to Arizona starting at the end of next week.
This after the planned pre-season trip to Arsenal in England was called off. The Rapids will leave for the Phoenix area on February 11 and are due to play Columbus Crew, Sporting Kansas City and LA Galaxy in exhibition games there.
In addition to the trio on trials, Ma Pau’s Ceballo suffered an injury while at the MLS Combine workouts last month and will be sidelined for two months.
Due to the absence of the four players, national coach Zoran Vranes will travel to the USA with 14 locally-based players before linking up with four North American-based invitees.
Under-20 T&T squad for Miami
John Thomas, Greg Ranjitsingh, Stefan Berkely, Dinell Lopez, Kevin Raymond, Akil Clarke, Wesley John, Kenaz Williams, Ryan Frederick, Johan Peltier, Jerrel Britto, N’Kosi Mc Cree, Cordell Cato, Ross Russell Jr, Marcus Joseph, Jeron Morris, Ryan Mc Leod and Marvin Manswell.