National Head Coach Leo Beenhakker maintained on Saturday that he is satisfied with the assessment he has been able to make on the players at his disposal over the past month before finalizing his 21-man squad for the 2006 World Cup qualifier against Panama on June 4 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Beenhakker announced the names following the 1-0 victory over Bermuda at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium on Friday and will narrow it down to a final 18-man squad this coming Friday on the eve of the Panama match.
The regulars from the squad that took on Bermuda all made the cut with the exception of Gillingham defender Ian Cox who then made a decision to return to England this weekend.
Team captain Dwight Yorke is scheduled to arrive in the country on Sunday along with Real Salt Lake duo Marlon Rojas and Leslie Fitzpatrick while New England Revolution defender Avery John will fly in on Monday. The squad will begin the final live-in camp with a training session at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar on Monday morning.
Beenhakker said he was somewhat pleased with the progress made by the players but didn’t shy away from stating that the upcoming week of training would be well utilized to put the final seam on the “Warriors” outfit.
“The squad has the majority of the players that we have worked with and this is a plus for us because it means that we have gotten to know them better and there is a fair amount of understanding among everyone in the squad,” Beenhakker told TTFF Media on Saturday after the squad made a guest appearance at the National Youth Festival in Tacarigua.
Reflecting on Friday’s win over Bermuda, Beenhakker added: “It gave me a chance to see Ian Cox, Brent Rahim, Brent Sancho and Marvin Andrews for the first time and some of the final set of questions were answered in this game and that’s important for me at this stage. I have been able to see several players in recent weeks and they have demonstrated their talent and worked with a wonderful attitude which is a definite plus.
“There are some players I was not able to see like Collin Samuel, Jason Scotland and Silvio Spann but I have no more time and I have had to make my decisions. This is the squad that I have come up with and it’s now up to all of us to work together and get it right for the big games to come now against Panama and Mexico. Right now it’s not about talking about individual players but rather to do it as a team because it’s all of us who have to get it right for next Saturday,” Beenhakker added.
Rahim twisted his ankle on Friday but should be fine while Sancho felt a pull in his hamstring and received treatment from team’s sports therapist Zeph Nicholas on Saturday and the injury is reported to be not as serious as first thought.
The final week of the build up to Saturday’s game which has been dubbed “Judgment Day” by John, has been billed by many as crucial and fans are being urged to join the “Journey” this week. Citizens can also add the red “Soca Warriors” wristbands to their attire as a means of supporting the team and also being a ‘Warrior’ against crime, violence and even racism in T&T. These bands can be purchased at Sports & Games, Sports Master and Sports Outlet shops.
The Squad For Camp:
Goalkeepers:
Clayton Ince (Crewe Alexandra), Kelvin Jack (Dundee).
Defenders:
Dennis Lawrence (Wrexham), Marvin Andrews (Glasgow Rangers), Anton Pierre (Defence Force), Brent Sancho (Dundee), Marlon Rojas (Real Salt Lake), Avery John (New England Revolution), Atiba Charles (W Connection), Glenton Wolfe (National Quarries NE Stars).
Midfielders:
Carlos Edwards (Luton Town), Christopher Birchall (Port Vale), Leslie Fitzpatrick (Real Salt Lake), Aurtis Whitley (San Juan Jabloteh), Brent Rahim (Unattached), Densill Theobald (Caledonia AIA Fire).
Forwards:
Gary Glasgow (Unattached), Kenwyne Jones (Southampton), Stern John (Coventry City), Hector Sam (Wrexham), Dwight Yorke (Sydney FC).