Trinidad and Tobago head coach Dennis Lawrence says it’s going to be exciting for his players to take to the pitch and show their worth in Friday’s International friendly against Barbados as he looks ahead to his first international match in charge of the Men’s Senior Team.
Lawrence made his international playing debut for T&T back on March 18th, 2000 in a 1-1 draw with Curacao in a 2002 World Cup Qualifier. This time he will also debut in March in his new capacity.
For his maiden appearance in 2000, Lawrence had Carlos Edwards and Ross Russell as his teammates and on Friday Russell will partner Lawrence once more as his goalkeeper coach while Edwards is expected to take the field of play.
I think it’s going to be exciting for the players. I think the work we have done over the time should have prepared them for a game of this magnitude. I am looking forward to it and to see how much the boys have taken on board over the past couple of weeks we have been working,” Lawrence told TTFA Media after training on Wednesday morning at Larry Gomes Stadium.
A 22-man squad will go into the encounter and the former Everton assitant coach said he will be looking to have a lot at as many players possible during Friday’s fixture.
“It hasn’t been that difficult (to select the squad) because the numbers at the moment is actually the numbers we will go in with for the game. Seon (Power) is someone that has just come back from Thailand. He is not with a club at the moment an we’ve invited hm to come in and be part of the group for now. He is obviously not ready for competitive football at that level so we will leave Seon out. We’ll go with the next twenty outside players and two goalkeepers.
“The idea is to make sure is that everybody gets a good portion of the game because I think it’s only fair wit the work being done, to give them the opportunity to present themselves and say to myself and say to Trinidad and Tobago that they are ready for selection come March 24th and 28th,” Lawrence added.
Tickets for Friday’s match which kicks off at 7pm will be on sale at the venue on gameday and are priced at $50 (adults) and $20 (children. Gates open at 4pm.
Fans will be able to access tickets for the upcoming 2018 World Cup Qualifiers against Panama and Mexico from this coming Friday March 10th at Lotto Locations throughout Trinidad and Tobago.
The TTFA has decided to offer an early bird ticket which will cost $300 (per match) for the covered section and $160 (per match) for the uncovered from Friday March 10th until March 17th. Then on March 18th the Tickets will cost $350 (per match) for covered and $200 (per match) for covered.
Season Pass Holders will have access to both matches and persons interested in purchasing their Season Pass can do so at any First Citizen’s Bank Branch.
Trinidad & Tobago Squad
Goalkeepers:
Marvin Phillip (Morvant Caledonia United), Glenroy Samuel (Ma Pau Stars).
Defenders:
Carlos Edwards (Ma Pau Stars), Curtis Gonzales (Defence Force), Daniel Cyrus (Unattached), Maurice Ford (W Connection), Jesus Perez (W Connection), Triston Hodge (W Connection), Alvin Jones (W Connection), Taryk Sampson (Ma Pau Stars).
Midfielders:
Keron Cummings (Central FC), Akeem Humphrey (Club Sando), Leston Paul (Central FC), Sean De Silva (Central FC), Jared London (Club Sando), Hughtun Hector (W Connection), Jomoul Francois (St Ann’s Rangers), Darren Mitchell (Central FC).
Forwards:
Jamille Boatswain (Defence Force), Hashim Arcia (Defence Force), Akeem Roach (Club Sando), Jameel Perry (Police FC).
T&T prepares for Barbados Friendly - Lawrence speaks ahead of the Friendly