Trinidad and Tobago’s Olympic Men’s Team head coach Zoran Vranes has announced his final team to contest the opening round of Caribbean Football Union 2016 Olympic qualification in Puerto Rico.
Vranes has been overseeing the team’s preparations for the past few weeks and was able to come down to his final selection this week.
The team is expected to depart to Puerto Rico within the next few days as team manager David Muhammad explained that some players are without US Visas and arrangements are being made for this to be obtained in order for them to travel for the opening group stage of the competition. Muhammed noted that CONCACAF is aware of the situation caused by a delay in VISA appointments.
Vranes has a squad of good experience and talent with a few players already earning senior international experience. Those include US-based forward Rundell Winchester, North East Stars midfielder Neveal Hackshaw, Aikim Andrews, Alvin Jones, forward Kadeem Corbin, W Connection wingback Shannon Gomez, W Connection’s Jomal Williams and Jesus Perez.
Several other players have made it from previous T&T Under 20 teams, Neil Benjamin, Dario Holmes, Maurice Ford, Shackiel Henry and Dwight Quintero.
“It’s the best selection we can have and I am confident in the team’s ability,” Vranes told TTFA Media.
“Okay maybe our preparation was not the best because we did not have any international matches but this is the situation and we will try our best to overcome the other teams in Puerto Rico. It is going to be very tough because only one team comes out of the group. The Association tried to give us what they could and now it has come down to this where we will go there and play to win all our matches.
“We have to be organized and not make too many costly mistakes, you know, because we have a lot in attack and I think we will create chances and we will need to put them away,” Vranes added.
T&T is scheduled to play Suriname on June 24th, followed by St Vincent/Grenadines on June 26th and Puerto Rico two days later. The winners of the four CFU groups will advance to the semi-final round in August from which the two finalists will advance to the CONCACAF Final Olympic qualifying phase in the United States.
The Ministry of Sport is a supporter of the team's opening round campaign.
T&T U-23 Team for Olympics qualifiers
1.Aaron Enil – San Juan Jabloteh
2.Jovan Sample – Central FC
3.Maurice Ford – W Connection
4.Jesus Perez – North East Stars
5.Alvin Jones – W Connection
6.Dario Holmes – San Juan Jabloteh
7.Tristan Hodge – W Connection
8.Neveal Hackshaw – North East Stars
9.Montell Joseph – Forest United (UK)
10.Jomal Williams – W Connection
11.Kadeem Corbin – St Ann’s Rangers
12.Shannon Gomez – W Connection
13.Aikim Andrews – W Connection
14.Nathaniel Garcia – Central FC
15.Jelani Felix – Defence Force
16.Dwight Quintero – Central FC
17.Neil Benjamin Jr. – W Connection
18.Shackeil Henry – Point Fortin Civic
19.Jibiri McDavid – Police FC
20.Rundell Winchester – Portland Timbers 2 (USA)