Trinidad and Tobago’s senior team will depart for Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines at 2:45pm on Wednesday on a Caribbean Airlines Charter flight ahead of Friday’s 2018 World Cup qualifiers against the hosts at Arnos Vale.
The 22-man squad and technical staff headed by Stephen Hart will arrive in Kingstown during the afternoon period and will take to the training field on Thursday for their official pre-match session at the Arnos Vale.
Hart completed the home-leg of his preparations on Tuesday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium with his full squad including Russian-based defender Sheldon Bateau who was the last of the overseas-based pros to arrive in Port of Spain on Tuesday morning.
During the morning session at Ato Boldon Stadium on Tuesday, Hart welcomed Dutch-based midfielder Levi Garcia, US-based duo Mekeil Williams and Joevin Jones as well as Dutch-based defender Levi Garcia, Willis Plaza of El Salvador club Alianza FC and Aubrey David of Costa Rica’s Deportivo Saprissa. Along with Bateau, they were the last group to join the camp which started on Sunday evening.
“We’ve had everybody in and that’s always important. Sheldon was the last to come in because of the long travel and the other boys from North and Central America came in as well. We were also happy to have Levi come in an it’s an exciting time for him but he understands how serious the business of the national team is,” Hart told TTFA Media.
“We don’t know what the training conditions will be like in St Vincent so it was important that we had the few days here to be in control of our environment. And once we get there and settle in then we try to manage our situation as best as we can, ensure the players are in right mindset and go into the match looking to take care of business,” Hart said.
Garcia was enthused about his first call up to the team and his first training session under Hart.
“It’s a very exciting period for me and I’m just focused on working hard and settling in with the rest of the team. It’s an honour for me to train and play with Kenwyne and the boys. Coach spoke to me and he said he likes what he has been seeing but of course now I have to work hard and play for my pick. I’d love to play on Friday and play my part in helping us get the three points,” Garcia said.
Friday’s match kicks off at 3:30pm and both teams meet again on Tuesday from 7pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
“It’s a very exciting period for me and I’m just focused on working hard and settling in with the rest of the team. It’s an honour for me to train and play with Kenwyne and the boys. Coach spoke to me and he said he likes what he has been seeing but of course now I have to work hard and play for my pick. I’d love to play on Friday and play my part in helping us get the three points,” Garcia said.
Friday’s match kicks off at 3:30pm and both teams meet again on Tuesday from 7pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Video - Garcia was enthused about his first call up to the team and his first training session under Hart.