Trinidad and Tobago head coach Stephen Hart commenced preparations with a selection of home based professions on Monday morning at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium for Saturday’s international friendly against Grenada in St George’s.
There were several new faces involved with the likes of Daneil Cyrus, Morvant Caledonia United goalkeeper Marvin Phillip, DirecTV W Connection forward Shahdon Winchester, Defence Force defender Curtis Gonzales, Police FC custodian Adrian Foncette and Connection midfielder Hughtun Hector being among those with previous international experience.
Belgium-based midfielder Khaleem Hyland is expected to join the training on Tuesday as Hart conducts double sessions at the Manny Ramjohn and Ato Boldon Stadium.
There was some news of concern over goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams who suffered a dislocated shoulder while on duty with Central FC in Caribbean Club Championship action in Jamaica on Sunday and according to Hart, will not be involved in the fixture with Grenada. Police custodian Foncette and Phillip will travel as the two goalkeepers. There was also word that Cordell Cato has been ruled out of the match with St Vincent due to a hamstring injury.
Hart is expected to name his squad for the two World Cup qualifiers next week. And among those expected to make the cut is Seattle Sounders player Joevin Jones. The ex-W Connection midfielder said on Tuesday that he felt the game versus Grenada would provide a timely opportunity for some of the home-based players to give Hart something extra to consider regarding future team selections,
“I think it’s a good way to see what talent there is out there that can come in and add something to the current team,” Jones told TTFA Media.
“I remember when I was in a similar stage in my career and how I felt when these kind of opportunities came. I knew when I got called up that I would have to go out and make an impression and force the coaches to keep an eye on me and keep in the selection for future games.
“Hopefully the guys can grab this chance and push on in their careers and at the same time bring some kind of added value to the team.”
Looking ahead to the two qualifying matches, the 24-year-old Carenage-born wingback, said while history would show that St Vincent is capable of posing a difficult challenge for the ‘Warriors” he expects Hart’s men to come out on top but will take nothing for granted.
“I think we have to leave nothing behind for these two games, especially the opening match in St Vincent. I remember in the past we’ve always had a tricky situation to face when these so called smaller Caribbean teams came up against us.
“But I think we have a strong force and enough fire to get the job done. As I see it, six points in these two games is totally gettable and would put us in a bit of a comfortable situation for the last round of matches,” Jones stated,
“Once we are prepared to go out there and put in the hard work and then transfer it into the games, then we can be unstoppable,” he ended.
Tickets are on sale at Sports and Games Nationwide, Sportway Ellerslie Plaza and Gulf City, Kenny’s Sports Nationwide, Heritage Sports in Tobago, Ramsingh’s Sportworld in Couva and online at TTFootball.org.