Newly selected defender on the National Team Jamali Garcia is buzzing over his call up for Saturday’s International Friendly versus Grenada at the National Athletic Stadium in St George’s.
Garcia is among several players who received their first call up to the National Senior team by Hart. He expressed a sense of honour after spending his first four days in training with the National Team.
“It’ been a different level compared to the club level. It’s more intense and faster. I was very enthusiastic coming into it
“Coach broke it up into parts for us. He explained to us what he wanted and the level he wanted it at. And I think the new guys like myself were able to settle in and give it one hundred percent. It’s really a boost for us to come into this level of preparation and then go back to our clubs with hopefully a new edge,” the Defence Force player told TTFA Media on Wednesday.
“This call up means everything to me. I’ve always aspired to play for the national team and is a goal I set myself from very early. Now that I am here I just want to keep on working and hopefully be able to get a recall and cement a spot in the future,” the 23-year-old from Diego Martin added.
Hart himself has been left encouraged by the willingness to work and improve from the players.
“It’s been fantastic. I know it is a new time for a lot of the boys but they came through it quite well. They grew each day and this is something positive for us. Of course heading into the game is different and we will see what happens on game day but we will monitor their progress and the senior guys are already accustomed to this kind of situation which hopefully could aid the process for the somewhat newer players on the team,” Hart said.
The match kicks off at 8pm on Saturday. Grenada is preparing for their Caribbean Cup qualifier with Sint Maarten on March 22nd while the “Warriors” are gearing up for the two back to back World Cup qualifiers with the Vincentians on March 25th in Kingstown and at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on March 29th at 7pm.
Hart also disclosed that Danish-based defender Radanfah Abu Bakr has been ruled out of the two qualifying matches due to leg muscle injury sustained while on club duty.
“We got the news that Radanfah will not make it after picking up an injury. It’s not good news for us but of course we will not let this turn into a worrying situation because there are other players in the team that can carry on the job for us. We already have a couple other injury concerns which hopefully will not get worse than it is,” Hart said. “Our build up continues as usual and we will stay focused on the task ahead of us.”***
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, Fan Zone at Centre City Mall in Chaguanas, Ramsingh’s Sportworld in Couva and Heritage Sports, Scarborough Tobago Tickets can also be purchased online via the TTFA’s official website – TTFootball.Org. Patrons are advised that no coolers or bottles will be allowed into the match venue on game day. Gates open at 4pm.