Trinidad and Tobago’s Senior Men’s Team Head Coach Stephen Hart has announced a 23-man squad for these country’s three-match international schedule later this month.
The “Soca Warriors” will depart on May 20th for Lima where they will face Peru’s Senior Men’s Team on May 23rd before journeying to Montevideo to face Uruguay’s Senior Team in another international friendly on May 27th. Following those two games, T&T will then jet off to China to face that country’s Senior Team in another friendly in Qin Huang Dao.
Hart will have the services of ten players who played in the recent victories over St Vincent and the Grenadines in CONCACAF World Cup qualification – Dutch-based Levi Garcia, goalkeeper Marvin Phillip, Aubrey David, Justin Hoyte, Daneil Cyrus, Khaleem Hyland, Andre Boucaud, Yohance Marshall, Willis Plaza and Sean De Silva.
Missing will be captain Kenwyne Jones, Orlando City’s Kevin Molino, Seattle Sounders’ Joevin Jones, Trevin Caesar, Colorado Rapids defender Mekeil Williams and Russian-based defender Sheldon Bateau, all unavailable due to club commitments.
Garcia and Hyland will not be available for the China game, making way for Carlyle Mitchell and Marcus Joseph to join the squad.
Also in the squad for the three matches is DirecTV W Connection trio Shahdon Winchester, Hughtun Hector and Jomal Williams while Danish-based defender Radanfah Abu Bakr makes a return after missing out the past two qualifiers because of injury.
Hart has included three new faces in the team, El Salvador-based defender Weslie John, North East Stars goalkeeper Glenroy Samuel, who has played for T&T at two youth World Cups in 2007 and 2009 and Nathan Lewis of San Juan Jabloteh. The likes of Andre Etienne, Tristan Hodge and Makesi Lewis, who were involved in the Grenada friendly in March, have also been selected for these three matches.
“The consideration for selection was a bit difficult mainly because the first two games do not fall on a FIFA Date, so what I have decided to do was to go with a number of players that have looked well in the Pro League and try to mix them with players that have been utilized in the World Cup qualification,” Hart told TTFA Media.
“It was a difficult decision because you want to put your best foot forward in those games but unfortunately because it is outside of a FIFA window a number of players were not available to us. There has been a lot of discussion in Trinidad and Tobago football about giving players an opportunity and this is my one sort of opportunity to bring in a number of players and see if I can get the squad to gel together and play what will be two very difficult games (against Uruguay and Peru),” Hart added.
“We are going to have a long travel to play the China game. But having said that China have been on the up, their recent results have been very good and overall this tour will test us in every way possible both on and off the field.
“What this will do is give me is an idea of which players could handle the stress of playing in a very difficult situation. Having to play Peru and then Uruguay in Uruguay which is one of the best teams in South America is going to place a lot of mental stress on the players and you want that. I want to see who can handle it and adapt quickly and for myself, it is going to be a challenge because to get that squad to gel is really going to test myself and the staff,” Hart said.
Commenting on the selection of Nathan Lewis, Weslie John and goalkeeper Samuel, Hart said they had performed well enough to secure an opportunity on the national team.
“Nathan Lewis has done well for Jabloteh in the League and now we will see if he can take his ability to another level. Glenroy has been outstanding for North East and is a big factor in their rise up the table so it’s a good for him to push for selection. And then of course Weslie John, who I have been following on InStat Scout has done very well in El Salvador and I will be interested to see how he adapts,” Hart said.
The T&T squad, including the home-based players as well as David who is already back home, will begin a live-in training camp on Sunday at Metro Hotel in Couva and will engage in training sessions at the Hasely Crawford Stadium starting on Sunday.
Trinidad and Tobago squad for upcoming friendlies
Goalkeepers:
Marvin Phillip (Morvant Caledonia United), Adrian Foncette (Police FC), Glenroy Samuel (North East Stars)
Defenders:
Daneil Cyrus (W-Connection), Justin Hoyte (Dagenham & Redbridge/England), Yohance Marshall (Murcielagos FC/Mexico), Aubrey David (Deportivo Saprissa/Costa Rica), Radanfah Abu Bakr (HB Koge/Denmark), Curtis Gonzales (Defence Force), Andre Ettienne (Central FC), Tristan Hodge (W-Connection), Weslie John (CD Universidad de El Salvador)
Midfielders:
Khaleem Hyland (KVC Westerlo/Belgium), Andre Boucaud (Dagenham & Redbridge), Hughtun Hector (W-Connection), Levi Garcia (AZ Alkmaar/Netherlands), Sean De Silva (Central FC), Leston Paul (Central FC), Jomal Williams (W-Connection), Nathan Lewis (San Juan Jabloteh)
Forwards:
Willis Plaza (Unattached), Shahdon Winchester (W-Connection), Makesi Lewis (Police FC)