English-based midfielder Ricky Shakes will not be making the trip home to represent this country’s National Under 21 team as previously expected but his absence should not be a setback to the country’s hopes in the CAC qualifying matches against Dominica and Haiti this week.
That’s the feeling of technical director Lincoln Phillips who felt that the Ron La Forest coached team had gone through sufficient preparations for the tournament which kicks off with the hosts taking on Dominica at the Larry Gomes Stadium this Friday.
La Forest’s final squad will be announced this week but the US-based pros already started arriving on Sunday with former national Under 20 skipper Makan Hislop, Yohance Marshall, Jason Devenish, Marcelle Francois and Clevon George.
Ancil Farrier and Abiola Sandy will arrive on Tuesday with recent national senior team debutant Kevon Neaves touching down on Wednesday and will go into the team camp ahead of Friday’s encounter.
Phillips explained the reason for Shakes’ late pullout after Swansea City management decided not to let him come home for the two games. Shakes had earlier made a second half appearance in his first international outing for T&T – in the 2-0 win over Iceland at Loftus Road last month.
“Ricky's coach was of the impression that he was scheduled to play only one game. The coach was very reluctant to have him stay away for ten days. In order to maintain good relations with the coach, we opted to have him stay at home and hopefully represent T&T in July should we qualify for the CAC games in Columbia,” Phillips told TTFF Media.
Another standout at the recent training camp in Tampa, Randi Patterson will also miss out on the qualifiers. Patterson was part of the United States youth setup.
“Randi was born in the US. His father died quite some time ago and he acquired his mother’s name Patterson. As such it was very difficult to get the appropriate paperwork to process Randi's passport in time for the qualifiers,” Phillips explained.
The T&T U21s suffered a 5-1 loss to local Pro League giants CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh at the Ato Boldon Stadium last Thursday but bounced back with a 4-2 whipping of Neal and Massy Caledonia AIA through goals by Hayden Tinto, Judah Hernandez, Shane Calderon and Keston Alexander. But La Forest will be working around the clock this week to iron out some of the problems, particularly the inconsistency of the team thus far after a 1-0 loss to Defence Force on Sunday at UWI grounds, St Augustine.
"We don't see the absence of the two players as a major setback because the rest of the team has some very capable players who are very eager to do well. The preparations have been good and we have seen progress over the period so I expect the team to be well up for the challenges coming up next week," added Phillips
La Forest and assistant Michael McComie will continue sessions each day this week before Friday’s opener which kicks off at 4pm. Haiti and Dominica will then meet at the same venue on Sunday from 4pm with T&T coming up against the Haitians on the Tuesday after from 4pm.