With the next set of competitive fixtures carded to take place in September when Trinidad and Tobago host the semi-final round of the Caribbean Cup qualifiers, national team head coach Stephen Hart wants his players to earn the right to make into his final team.
Not because you’ve earned an invitation to train with the squad means you can simply think you’re going to wear the national shirt on the field of battle. That’s what Hart has said.
Saying that it was his message to the players after the two matches against Argentina and Iran, Hart feels that his men would have had a better understanding of their responsibilities following the South America trip.
“I spoke to these players individually and said to them that they have to come into the squad and train in a particular way and accept roles and responsibilities and basically they have to earn their selection,” Hart said.
“Not because I brought them into the squad means I need to play them. I already showed confidence in them by selecting them in the 22-man squad and it’s now up to them to fight their way onto the pitch and they have now sort of now realizing that. They are not willing to accept being number 14 or number 16 players.
“It is very important for them to come to a camp like the one we had in Argentina and Brazil and be in this kind of situation and t realize they have to earn it,” he added.
Hart is encouraged by the commitment and level of discipline and play shown by the country’s overseas-based players and feels it will benefit the country for more players to make the transition to higher standards of professional football on the outside.
“We’re seeing players in our country with the ability, getting a good start and showing the potential to make it out there. It’s important that we continue to get players moving on to higher leagues.
“The players have to come into the national team definitely at a high international fitness standard. The must fight every living minute and when they get on… take their opportunity,” he said.