English-based midfielder Carlos Edwards will fly home from London on Monday to show his support for the Trinidad and Tobago’s senior team in Wednesday’s enticing semi-final round 2006 World Cup fixture against Mexico at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Edwards, nursing a ligament injury which has forced him out of action for the next five months, will come home on invitation from TTFF special adviser Jack Warner who felt it was necessary to have the Wrexham star close to his national teammates despite him not being able to play. Warner has made all the necessary arrangements for Edwards to be in Trinidad for a week and he also did the same to have skipper Angus Eve, suspended for the St Kitts/Nevis match and the injured Gary Glasgow, fly over to the tiny island on Saturday morning to link up with the team at the Marriot Hotel. They were expected to travel with the team to Warner Park for Saturday night’s match against St Kitts/Nevis before returning home on Sunday.
Warner, who arrived in Basseterre on Saturday morning with a group of T&T fans on a chartered flight and had asked former T&T captain David Nakhid to accompany the fans to St Kitts, but the Lebanon-based was forced to return home after receiving news at Piarco that his mother had passed away moments earlier. Nakhid arrived home last week to visit his ailing mom.
“I think it is important that the guys are made to feel as comfortable and receive the best treatment possible. If you want to get the best out of them then you’ve got to give them the best and that’s what I am trying to do now with the resources available,” Warner told TTFF Media as he dropped by the Marriot with other TTFF officials including General Secretary Richard Groden, Vice President Rudolph Thomas, CFU General Secretary Harold Taylor and some of the fans like Tim Nafziger at midday.
“The team needs all the support it can get now and I felt that if we are to go the distance then everyone must be together as much as possible and as such we are bringing Carlos to see the Mexico match and Angus Eve and Glasgow are now here with the team in St Kitts. The team is evolving and we are heading into exciting times,” Warner added.
Utility player Anthony Rougier will rejoin the team on Monday having returned from China where he just agreed to a contract with a club there.
Meantime, the Mexico team has been selected for Wednesday’s encounter and will be arriving on Monday on a chartered flight, play the game and then fly back out on the same night.
Mexican coach Ricardo La Volpe said his team was anxious ahead of the match having not played semi-final round match to date after the St Vincent and the Grenadines clash was pushed back due to the hurricane Frances preventing the Vincentians from getting to Mexico. He also spoke of wanting to see the current side succeed. "We have to build a new national team and give the people new idols, new figures," he said.
The players take part in a concentration exercise "On the river. on the bank" at training on Friday night at Warner Park. The team coming to face T&T includes prolific scorer Jared Borgetti, Adolfo Bautista,Daniel Osorno, midfielders Pavel Pardo of Club America and José de Jesús.
Mexican Team:
Goalkeepers: Moisés Muñoz (Morelia), Oswaldo Sánchez (Guadalajara).
Defenders: Carlos Salcido (Guadalajara), Hugo Sánchez (Tigres), Javier Rodríguez (Guadalajara), Héctor Altamirano (Santos), Salvador Carmona (Guadalajara), Ismael Rodríguez (Monterrey).
Midfielders: Gonzalo Pineda (U.N.A.M.), Mario Pérez (América), Pavel Pardo (América), Israel Lopez (Toluca FC), Antonio Naelson (Toluca), Luis Ernesto Pérez (Guadalajara), José de Jesús Arellano (Monterrey).
Forwards: Adolfo Bautista (Guadalajara), Sergio Santana (Pachuca), Jared Borgetti (Dorados), Daniel Osorno (Atlas).