National Under-23 (Olympic) football coach Zoran Vranes has been forced into making a few changes to the squad which leaves for a three-match tour of Bermuda on Saturday due to US visa problems.
It is understood that Vranes, who led T&T to the Fifa Under-20 World Cup Finals in Egypt last September had already selected his 18-man team and along with manager Cheryl Abrams sought US visas for the players yesterday at the US Embassy in St Clair.
However, a few of the T&T players named in the squad to travel were still without visas at the end of yesterday’s appointment and with Friday being Christmas Day, time was against Vranes and his staff.
The 55-year-old Vranes who helped the Under-20’s secure a historic first ever point at a Fifa Finals after a 0-0 draw in their final group match with Paraguay, will now have to make a few adjustments to his final roster for Bermuda.
The Under-23 coach will have two more sessions to do so as he will conduct session at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar from 4pm today and tomorrow before announcing his team.
Already out of the tour due to injury are Under-20 World Cup duo, Robert Primus and Sean De Silva while midfielder Kevin Molino has been debarred from football activities by his club Ma Pau for indiscipline.
In Bermuda, T&T will play the Bermuda Under-23’s in two matches for the Bermuda Football Association Cup on December 28 and January 1 while the young Soca Warriors also face top Bermudan club Devonshire Cougars on December 30.
The locals are preparing for the qualifying tournaments to the Central American and Caribbean Games (Under-21), Pan American Games (Under-22) and 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Currently a squad of 25 players is in training including 12 members of the Under-20 squad in Egypt in captain Leston Paul, Glenroy Samuel, Andre Marchan, Jean-Luc Rochford, Juma Clarence, Akeem Adams, Aubrey David, Sheldon Bateau, Marcus Joseph, Curtis Gonzales, Mekeil Williams and Qian Grosvenor.
The trio of Nicholas Walker, Jevon Morris and Trent Lougheed who just missed out on the Finals in Egypt were also named in the training squad.
T&T U-23s still in training
Glenroy Samuel (Petrotrin), Andre Marchan (Joe Public), Zane Coker (Caledonia), Sheldon Clarke (un-attached), Noor Abdulla Muhammed (Caledonia), Nicholas Walker (Rangers), Aubrey David (Petrotrin) Sheldon Bateau (Jabloteh), Jevon Morris (Rangers), Stephen Campbell (Petrotrin), Marcus Joseph (Petrotrin), Trent Lougheed (Petrotrin), Jerrel Britto (Jabloteh), Curtis Gonzales (Ma Pau), Mikeil Williams (Ma Pau), Micah Lewis (Joe Public), Akeem Adams (W Connection/Petrotrin), Jean-Luc Rochford (Joe Public), Daneil Cyrus (El Do East Sec/Joe Public), Jamal Juma Clarence (Petrotrin), Leston Paul (un-attached), Trevin Caesar (Ma Pau), Rashad Wint (Ma Pau), Wesley John (Petrotrin), Joevin Jones (W Connection).
Technical staff:
Zoran Vranes (coach), Hutson Charles (assist coach), Cheryl Abrams (manager), Michael Williams (equipmen manager), Ashton Mills (physiotherapist), Gilbert Bateau (trainer).