'Bring It On', has been the call by national coach Terry Fenwick to his United States of America (USA) counterparts when the two football teams meet in an international friendly encounter on Sunday at the Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida, USA from 8 pm.
The match will serve as preparation for both teams ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, the CONCACAF Gold Cup, as well as the CONCACAF Nations League. But despite the similarities on the field for the next few months, however, Fenwick's task will be much more severe, having to initiate the start of a non-functional T&T Pro and Super Leagues, while at the same, attempt to get the Soca Warriors back on the world map where football is concerned.
The Soca Warriors will be without the experience services of midfielders Kevin Molino and Joevin Jones, both of who have opted out.
Last week coach Fenwick had told the media the two players are home on vacation and he respect that since they had a very tough season in the Major Soccer League (MLS).
Realistically, it will be a battle of David versus Goliath, the all familiar song that Fenwick, at a press briefing at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Balmain Couva admitted to yesterday, saying: "We know we will be up against it, but at some stage, T&T has got to get back on the map. We've got to be playing against the best in the region, and that's my intention so let's get us back to where we should be."
The USA has already named a 25-man roster for the match, which came from a list of 12 senior team players and 26 Under-23s who began training on January 9 at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Their team will be led by US international striker Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC) and Chris Mueller (Orlando City).
However, Fenwick is yet to name his final travelling team but, like the US, his will be a young one also, and will comprise players whose only form of football action, has been the national team training which started rated. The English-born coach has also identified some 25 players from the UK and the USA, who he told the media yesterday, he is dying to see to determine what quality they may have to add to his squad, ahead of the World Cup qualifiers that starts with a clash against Guyana on March 25.
Despite T&T's young squad, Fenwick has side-stepped the likes of Anguilla for a warm-up, choosing instead the USA as he wants to be taken seriously. He reminded the media that the American players are playing for some of the biggest clubs in the world presently.
Fenwick will pin his hopes on some two or three senior players
The T&T team will leave on Thursday, and yesterday they were set to undergo a COVID-19 test to be followed by a period of quarantine at the Home of Football. The team will travel to Guyana where they will catch an adjoining flight to take them to Miami, USA. And there, they will be taken by bus to the hotel where they will be joined by the overseas-based players.
Dr Mario John, a former QRC goalkeeper will meet the T&T team in the US and will take them through all safety procedures.
Trinidad and Tobago Training Squad
Goalkeepers (3): Marvin Phillip, Adrian Foncette, Denzil Smith;
Defenders (9): Alvin Jones, Shannon Gomez, Justin Garcia, Jamal Jack, Daniel Cyrus, Jesse Williams, Josiah Trimmingham, Jelani Peters, Triston Hodge;
Midfielders (5): Michel Poon-Angeron, Matthew Woo Ling, Duane Muckette, Justin Sadoo, Jabari Mitchell;
Attackers (6): Hashim Arcia, Gary Griffith III, Sean Bonval, Shackiel Henry, Brent Sam, Marcus Joseph.
United States Training Squad (Club, Caps/Goals)
Goalkeepers (3): Matt Freese (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), JT Marcinkowski (San Jose Earthquakes; 0/0), Matt Turner (New England Revolution; 0/0);
Defenders (9): Julian Araujo (LA Galaxy; 1/0), George Bello (Atlanta United FC; 0/0), Kyle Duncan (New York Red Bulls; 1/0), Aaron Herrera (Real Salt Lake; 0/0), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls; 18/3), Mauricio Pineda (Chicago Fire FC; 0/0), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United FC; 2/0), Sam Vines (Colorado Rapids; 2/0), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 13/2);
Midfielders (7): Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids; 24/2), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 17/4), Benji Michel (Orlando City SC; 0/0), Andrés Perea (Orlando City SC; 0/0), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 19/0), Tanner Tessmann (FC Dallas; 0/0), Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes; 8/0);
Attackers (6): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/CAN; 115/42), Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 34/6), Daryl Dike (Orlando City SC; 0/0), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; 1/0), Jonathan Lewis (Colorado Rapids; 6/0), Chris Mueller (Orlando City SC; 1/2).