Trinidad and Tobago Senior Men’s Head Coach Stephen Hart has today announced a 22-man squad for the upcoming international friendly against Grenada in St George’s on March 19th.
The game comes as part of preparation for the 2018 CONCACAF Semi-Final Round World Cup qualifiers against St Vincent/Grenadines on March 25th in Kingstown and March 29th at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.
As hinted earlier by Hart, the squad comprises mainly home-based players and sees the return of DirecTV W Connection midfielder Hughtun Hector who was sidelined from action for close to year with injury before making his return a few weeks ago.
Belgium-based midfielder Khaleem Hyland is available for selection and has been included in the squad which includes four players from Hart’s team that have been involved in the qualifying matches for the 2018 World Cup so far. Those other players include goalkeeping duo Jan Michael Williams and Marvin Phillip and defender Daneil Cyrus. Some other names that have been in the national squad previous, who have been selected for this friendly include W Connection’s Shahdon Winchester, Alvin Jones and Jomal Williams, Central FC midfielder Sean De Silva, Marcus Joseph and Leston Paul.
There are also selections for Defence Force duo Jerwyn Balthazar, a member of the T&T Futsal team, and Curtis Gonzales, as well as newcomers Club Sando’s Akeem Humphrey, Jamali Garcia of Defence Force, defender Andre Ettienne, Kevon Villoreal, Nathaniel Garcia of Central FC and Police duo Elijah Belgrave and Makesi Lewis.
In a brief statement, Hart said: “I am looking for players who adapt quickly and can bring something different to the present squad. I am also looking to create a deeper playing pool, with an aim of establishing competition for places.
“This game will serve its purpose in that way and it provides that opportunity for players who have been knocking on the door. And of course we have a few of the regular squad players who will add that stability and experience to the team that will play in Grenada. This is also a good opportunity for us to get these players, several of them new to the stage of international football, in a training camp environment which allows us to see how the react to such conditions,” Hart added on Friday.
The team will enter a training camp on Sunday and will hold its first training session on Monday morning at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium. Sessions will take place both at the Manny Ramjohn and Ato Boldon Stadium prior to the team’s departure on March 18th. The game on March 19th is scheduled for 7pm a the Grenada National Athletic Stadium in St George’s.
Meantime, tickets for the T&T versus St Vincent World Cup qualifier on March 29th are presently available for purchase. Tickets are priced at $300 for the covered section and $150 for the uncovered section of the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
These tickets can now be purchased at Sports and Games outlets nationwide, Kenny’s Sports (nationwide), Sportway at Ellerslie Plaza and Gulf City, Ramsingh’s Sportworld in Couva and Heritage Sports, Scarborough Tobago from this Friday. Tickets can also be purchased online via the TTFA’s official website - TTFootball.Org.
T&T Squad for Grenada
Goalkeepers
Jan-Michael Williams (Central FC), Marvin Phillip (Morvant Caledonia United).
Defenders
Alvin Jones (W Connection), Andre Ettienne (Central FC), Tristan Hodge (W Connection), Jamali Garcia (Defence Force), Kevon Villaroeal (Central FC), Daneil Cyrus (W Connection), Elijah Belgrave (Police FC), Curtis Gonzales (Defence Force).
Midfielders
Sean De Silva (Central FC), Jomal Williams (W Connection), Nathaniel Garcia (Central FC), Hughtun Hector (W Connection), Akeem Humphrey (Club Sando), Jason Marcano (Central FC), Leston Paul (Central FC), Khaleem Hyland (KVC Westerlo/BEL).
Forwards
Shahdon Winchester (W Connection), Jerwyn Balthazar (Defence Force), Makesi Lewis (Police FC), Marcus Joseph (Central FC).