Trinidad and Tobago Senior men’s team enter their final leg of preparations today for Friday’s crucial 2018 World Cup qualifier against Panama at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
A 26-man squad will assemble for the start of a residential camp and head coach Dennis Lawrence will conduct an evening training session at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Among the players in Lawrence’s squad announced on the weekend is goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams who returns to the squad for competitive action for the first time since the 3-1 loss to Honduras in November in which he was forced to leave the field with a head injury.
Williams told TTFA Media: “It’s good to be back in the team after some time away. I have been involved in the training since Dennis has been on board. We started off with a win against Barbados which augered well for the group. And with the final squad including the home-based and foreign -based players I think we have what it takes to get some points in these games.
“The important thing is for the players to open their minds and understand all the ideas and tactics that the coach wants and for us to stay focused and give our best in these two games,” Williams said.
“The guys coming in including the home based players are already in battle mode. We have spoken and I think we understand what is needed and to leave everything else outside of the football field and focus on getting it right on the pitch.”
Defence Force defender Curtis Gonzales added: “It’s been a very professional environment since Dennis and his staff came on board. He was a soldier and I am a soldier, he was a defender and I am a defender so I will grab any knowledge that he passes on, There is a level of brotherhood there between the coach and the players.”
“This is a great opportunity for the home-based players to showcase their talent and the worth and once we call come together with the players coming in then I believe we can get the job done.”
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