Members of this country’s national senior team will assemble on Sunday evening and will engage in their first training session on Monday morning ahead of Wednesday’s Scotiabank Caribbean Cup qualifier against Dominican Republic at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva at 7pm.
Head Coach Stephen Hart is expected to have his full compliment of players available by Monday leaving him with two days of fine tuning before taking the field for the first of two games which includes a second outing versus Martinique in Stade-de-France on October 11th.
“It’s always a bit of a difficult situation where the players are in only two or three days before a match but we deal with it and we move on,” Hart told TTFA Media. “Our players have been through it before and unfortunately it’s the way the schedule is drawn up because of the dates and we simply deal with it accordingly.”
Among those returning is US-based forward Trevin Caesar who is coming off is “Player of the Week” performance in the United Soccer League (USL) for Orange County. Caesar scored a double last Saturday to lead his club to a 4-0 win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 4-0, and advance to the USL Cup Playoffs.
Now Caesar is hoping to add some Caribbean success to his CV.
“It’s been a pretty decent season for me with Orange County. I’ve been working my legs off and seeing results with the goals coming by and of course we are into the playoffs which is a great accomplishment for the club,’”Caesar told TTFA Media.
“Now with the focus back on the national team, I am hoping to maintain my form. I haven’t tasted any success at the Caribbean Cup level for T&T so I am hoping to play a strong part in helping the team reach the finals and hopefully we can go a step further than we did last time,” Caesar added.
The Tobago-born player has scored three goals in ten appearances for T&T at the senior level and is eying a first appearance at the Concacaf Gold Cup next year.
“I think it’s very important for us to make to the Gold Cup especially as we will be involved in the World Cup qualifiers around the same time. These two games against Dominican Republic and Martinique are surely going to be tricky and difficult because one slip up and you can be out.
“It will be important for us to stay concentrated at all times and finish off the job in both games. Once we get to the next phase, it means we would be through to the Gold Cup and then we can focus on trying to win the Cup,” he added.
Tickets for Wednesday’s match are now on sale at all Sports and Games, Kenny’s Sports Shops, Ramsingh’s Sportworld in Couva and Heritage Sports in Tobago. Tickets cost $200 (covered) and $100 (uncovered). Gates open at 4pm on Wednesday.
Trinidad and Tobago Squad
Goalkeepers:
Jan-Michael Williams (Central FC), Marvin Phillip (Morvant Caledonia United), Adrian Foncette (Police FC)
Defenders:
Mekeil Williams (Colorado Rapids), Aubrey David (FC Dallas), Daneil Cyrus (W Connection), Triston Hodge (Toronto FC II), Radanfah Abu Bakr ( FK Kruoja Pakruojis), Sheldon Bateau (FC Krylia Sovetov Samara)
Midfielders:
Khaleem Hyland (KVC Westerlo), Andre Boucaud (Dagenham & Redbridge), Kevan George (Jacksonville Armada), Neveal Hackshaw (Charleston Battery), Joevin Jones (Seattle Sounders), Cordell Cato (San Jose Earthquakes), Levi Garcia (AZ Alkmaar), Kevin Molino (Orlando City SC), Jomal Williams (Murciélagos FC)
Forwards: Kenwyne Jones (Central FC), Trevin Caesar (Orange County Blues), Shahdon Winchester (Murciélagos FC)