Lack of proper preparations was as one of the main reasons why the Under-23 footballers failed to qualify for this year’s Athens, Greece Olympic Games.
The T&T players, under head coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier, finished third in Group B behind semi-final qualifiers Costa Rica and Mexico in the final round of the CONCACAF qualifying tournament.
In their three Group matches, T&T went under 1-3 and 0-4 to Mexico and Costa Rica respectively before edging out Caribbean rivals Jamaica 2-1 in its final match at the Estadio Jalisco in Guadalajara on Friday last.
Charles-Fevrier who returned with the squad on Monday said he left here with the objective of trying to qualify for the Olympic Games. “I always knew our opponents, especially Mexico and Costa Rica, were ahead of us in terms of preparations, but I still felt optimistic about our chances. Having gone through the tournament, I must say that our players gave everything they had.”
Charles-Fevrier said the most difficult thing for the guys was breathing during the matches, mainly the first two which were very intense. “In the first two matches we were able to hold our own until the final 20 minutes when fatigue stepped in.
“The tournament showed the team needed more time to prepare before the tournament, and if this was done, I feel we would have achieved our goals.” Asked to comment on the unavailability of Collin Samuel of Scottish Premier League club Dundee United, Charles-Fevrier it was a big disappointment.
“All the other teams in the tournament had their top players and a full roster of 20, while we had to do with 19.
“We were told at first, it was VISA problems, then there was no flight available to get him into Mexico, so we had to cope with what we had.” While T&T failed to reach the final stage, the St Lucian-born is hopeful of staying on as coach of the Under-23 team.
He is expected to meet with a committee comprising Raymond Tim Kee (T&TFF senior vice president), Richard Groden, (general secretary) and special adviser and FIFA vice-president Jack Warner to discuss his future coaching relationship with the federation.
“I’m contracted to the federation and will like to stay on in accordance with my contract, ended Charles-Fevrier.