Seventeen members of this country’s Soca Warriors will depart for Montego Bay at 6 am today where they will be joined by the six remaining overseas-based players remainder ahead of their opening 18th Caribbean Football UInion Cup Final encounter with Curacao on Tuesday at Montego Bay Sports Complex.
Yesterday, coach Stephen Hart conducted a final training session at the Hasely Crawford Stadium which included Cardiff City striker and team captain Kenwyne Jones, Daneil Cyrus, Marvin Phillip, Adrian Foncette, Jonathan Glenn, Leston Paul, Jan-Michael Williams, Aubrey David, Joevin Jones, Carlyle Mitchell, Shahdon Winchester, Hughtun Hector, Jamal Gay, Kevin Molino and Ataullah Guerra.
They will be met in Jamaica by Khaleem Hyland of Belgium’s Racing Genk, Lester Peltier of Slovakian champions Slovan Bratislava, Andre Boucaud (Dagenham & Redbridge/England), Kevan George (Columbus Crew/USA), Radanfah Abu Bakr (Kruoja Pakruojis/Lithuania) and Justin Hoyte (Millwall/England).
Speaking after the training session, Hart expressed some satisfaction with the work put in by the players as he looked ahead to matches against Curacao, French Guiana (Thursday) and defending champions Cuba, two days later, at the end of which the pool winner will advance to the final on November 18.
He said, “It’s been a decent week for us. We got in a few sessions with the players that are here. OF course we will have about six guys who will meet the team in Montego Bay so we should have a full complement of players for the session on Sunday (today).”
“I’ve seen a good effort from the players so far this week and that’s always good. The players have exhibited a strong sense of commitment and I think there is the belief among everyone in the squad that we can achieve our goal and be successful in this tournament.
The first objective is qualifying for the Gold Cup next year but of course you go into a tournament wanting to win it also. So there is a lot at stake here and we’ll approach this tournament with the mindset that we’ve got to take care of business.”
Iceland-based forward Glenn, a first time senior team call-up is also hoping to make a positive impact during the tournament for T&T as it hunts a first CFU title in 13 years after previous triumphs in 1989, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2001.
“I am very humbled to be part of such a great squad and I’m looking forward to doing my best to contribute to a successful run in the Cup for our country,” Glenn said. “It's very special to be selected as it has been a dream to be here.
I intend to make the most of this opportunity so I can be considered for future tournaments as well. The preparations itself has gone quite good and I’ve been welcomed into the squad. It’s just about learning more about each of my teammates and trying to give it my best at everything, both on and off the field and in training and game time.”
Pool B comprises three former winners in Haiti (2007), Jamaica (1991, 1998, 2005, 2008, 2010) and Martinique (1993) alongside former top ranked CFU team, Antigua & Barbuda. At the end of each round-robin group in Jamaica, the top teams will contest the final, while the second placed teams will meet for third spot.
All four teams competing on the final day will also qualify for next year’s Concacaf Gold Cup while there is also the added incentive that the CFU champions will compete at the 2016 Copa America, against the best of South America.
The best third place team from CFU (according to group stage results) will also have a chance to qualify for the Concacaf Gold Cup via a qualification play-off, against Honduras, the 2014 Copa Centroamericana fifth-placed team.
T&T 23-Man Squad
Goalkeepers: Jan-Michael Williams (Central FC), Marvin Phillips (Pt Fortin Civic Centre), Adrian Foncette (Police).
Defenders: Radanfah Abu Bakr (Kruoja Pakruojis), Justin Hoyte (Millwall), Joevin Jones (HJK Helsinki), Daneil Cyrus (Ha Noi T&T), Carlyle Mitchell (Vancouver Whitecaps), Aubrey David (FF Jaro), Yohance Marshall (Unattached).
Midfielders: Khaleem Hyland (Racing Genk), Andre Boucaud (Dagenham & Redbridge), Kevan George (Columbus Crew), Ataulla Guerra (Central FC), Leston Paul (Central FC), Jamal Gay (Rovaniemen Palloseura), Hughtun Hector (Hanoi T&T).
Forwards: Lester Peltier (Slovan Bratislava), Kenwyne Jones (Cardiff City), Jonathan Glenn (IBV), Kevin Molino (Orlando City), Shahdon Winchester (FF Jaro), Cordell Cato (San Jose Earthquakes).