Central FC’s Jason Marcano will join the rest of the Trinidad and Tobago squad in Belize City on Wednesday ahead of the two upcoming friendlies against Belize and Peru.
The former Jabloteh player was drafted into the squad after skillful midfielder Ataullah Guerra was forced out as his passport will not be ready in time to allow him to travel this week.
Guerra recently signed with Finnish Premier League club RoPS on a six-month loan deal from Caledonia AIA but although he trained with the T&T team on Monday, he was informed a day later that his work permit will not be processed in time to allow him use of his passport. North East Stars defender Kareem Moses was also a late addition to the squad.
Guerra was scheduled to travel with twelve of his teammates who are scheduled to meet the rest of the squad in Belize on Wednesday morning.
Some members eventually left Port of Spain on Tuesday morning after the players advised team management that they would not be traveling to play the two games after a shortage of funding from the Sport Company of T&T did not include match wages and per diem for players and staff.
However, further discussions with Sportt and Sport Ministry officials in the early hours of Tuesday morning eventually led to the team’s departure for Belize City via Miami.
T&T head coach Hutson Charles was relieved that the team would go on to play the two games.
“It was not an ideal situation in front of us especially so close to the trip but thankfully those in authority were able to come to an agreement and the team has decided to travel for the two games,” Charles told TTFF Media.
“These are issues we will like to avoid in the remainder of the build up to the Gold Cup. These players should just be focusing on football and nothing else. We will do our best to get their frame of minds intact again this week before the game on Saturday against Belize,” Charles added.
The first set of players including Stoke City striker Kenwyne Jones, Port Vale midfielder Chris Birchall, North East Stars striker Cornell Glen, skipper Densill Theobald, Marvin Phillip, Devorn Jorsling, Carlyle Mitchell, Kevon Carter and other members of staff checked in at the Princess Hotel and Casino on Tuesday afternoon and the first training session will take place on Wednesday evening following the arrival of the remaining players.
VIDEOS:
T&T Team arrives in Belize for Saturday's friendly
Birchall talks about his return to the T&T Squad