With just under three weeks left before this country resumes its 2018 World Cup qualifying efforts against St Vincent and the Grenadines in two back to back qualifying matches, the members of the team have began to gather their thoughts on what head coach Stephen Hart has already described as two games in which T&T needs to secure maximum six points.
“It definitely is going to be two games where we cannot afford to lose concentration or begin to feel we have full points in the bag,” said the former Morvant Caledonia United (formerly Caledonia AIA) player.
“I think we have experienced what these Caribbean teams are capable of. We played them in the Caribbean Cup qualifiers back in 2012 and they were a difficult side. And playing them away from home on the cricket pitch will not be easy. But I think our players and particularly the head coach and his staff are already preparing for the match mentally and this will transfer onto what we do on the field of play.
“Hopefully we can come together and prepare well for the two games to be able to put ourselves the driver’s seat for the next round. I know there is a strong desire to put the Haiti loss (Copa America qualifier) behind us and continue from the decent start we had in the semi final round of the qualifiers with the performances against Guatemala and the US,” David said.
In the interview which David talks more about his career, the Guyanese-born player also spoke about his decision to switch his ties back to T&T after playing for the Guyana senior team in some international friendlies. He had already represented T&T at the youth level prior to that. And then he was convinced to make his return to the T&T team.
“Honestly I was mostly acting on emotions and situations that were happening at the time because I had just been dropped from the T&T national U-23 team and of course I was disappointed,” said David, who attended Vessigny Government Secondary.
“Then the opportunity came to join the Guyana senior team for World Cup qualifiers which at the time I thought it was the best decision because I had the opportunity to play at that level. But when Trinidad and Tobago came knocking again I gave a lot of thought and I also sought some advice from my teammate Marvin Phillip, who I trusted for solid advice about the situation, and then he told me to also speak to Densill Theobald and Clyde Leon who gave me life changing advice. After hearing their words I was convinced to make my return,” David explained.
The 25-year-old David went on to make his debut for T&T in a friendly against Antigua/Barbuda in February 2012 and has since made 25 appearances including two CONCACAF Gold Cups in 2013 and 2015. David is now a regular member of the T&T Senior Team player pool.
Tickets for the March 29th World Cup qualifier versus St Vincent/Grenadines are priced at $300 (covered section) and $150 (uncovered). Those tickets will go on sale next week (exact date and outlets to be announced on Sunday) .There will also be online ticket sales via TTFootball.org. The match will be played at the Hasely Crawford Stadium and kick off time is 7pm.