The Trinidad and Tobago Under-23 football team coach, has resumed training at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
“We’ve resumed training and I think the boys are just as enthusiastic as they were before the break which is always good news for a technical staff and there are no particular injuries to report,” said coach Angus Eve.
The “Young Warriors” is preparing for the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifiers in the United States from March 23 to April 2, with eight teams vying for two spots at the Olympic Games in London, England.
“It’s been a year or more we’ve been together as a group so they know the system of play that we are trying to perfect,” Eve continued. “It’s always difficult when players go back to their clubs and have to learn something different or adapt to a different type of preparation but our guys fitted back in well into our programme.
“They also seemed well-rested which is good for us because they were coming off a year of non-stop training and action,” he noted.
However, members of the Caledonia AIA squad were involved in their victorious conquest of the Kashif and Shanghai Tournament in Guyana.
A few players who are based in the United States have joined the team, including defender Daneil Cyrus, midfielders Kevin Molino, Sean De Silva and Chike Sullivan, goalkeeper Stephan Berkeley and forward Qian Grovesnor.
“We had a chance to look at them during a couple of the sessions last week,” Eve said. “I was pleased that they got the opportunity to make a claim for selection.
“Regarding Cyrus, he is definitely part of the training squad but while he is no longer in pain (from a season-ending leg injury last year), there is some bit of stiffness due to the type of injury he sustained and he will be working closely with (a) therapist to regain full fitness in the coming weeks.”
The Under-23s will have a warm-up game to look forward to, as they will host Finland ‘senior’ team at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet on January 25.
Training Squad (clubs in brackets) -
Sheldon Bateau, Joel Russell (Adam’s Construction San Juan Jabloteh); Jamal Gay, Aquil Selby, Micah Lewis, Zane Coker, Nuru Muhammad (Caledonia AIA); Akil Clarke, Kareem Moses, Cameron Roget (St Ann’s Rangers); Joevin Jones, Mekeil Williams, Jomal Williams, Andre Quashie (W Connection); Jayson Joseph, Aubrey David, Marcus Joseph (TTEC); Jeromie Williams, Kaydion Gabriel, Andre Marchan, Jean-Luc Rochford (DirecTV North East Stars); Sheldon Clarke, Curtis Gonzales (Defence Force), Marcus Chandoor (WASA); Kevin Molino, Sean De Silva, Daneil Cyrus, Qian Grovesnor, Chike Sullivan, Stephan Berkeley (US-based).