National Senior Team head coach Francisco Maturana has finalized a 22-man squad for this country’s upcoming two World Cup Qualifying matches against Guatemala on October 11 in Guatemala City and United States at the Hasely Crawford Stadium four days later.
The upcoming encounters, which will be preceded by a friendly international against Dominican Republic at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on October 8, will also see the duo of Russell Latapy and Dwight Yorke in the team. Latapy was this week appointed as player/coach and has been named in the 22-man roster. ‘Latas’ along with all the other overseas-based players will join the home-based players in a live-in camp at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on October 6 prior to the match against the Dominican Republic.
The rest of the squad for the two includes Sunderland winger Carlos Edwards, Cornell Glen, Khaleem Hyland, Julius James, Avery John, Andre Toussaint and Darryl Roberts among others. Midfielder Aurtis Whitley and Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones have not been included as both players are still somewhat off full recoveries from their respective injuries.
The T&T team will depart for Guatemala City on October 9, spend one day there before the match on October 11. The players and coaching staff will return to Port of Spain immediately following the match on a charter flight.
TTFF Special Advisor Jack Warner announced that His Excellency President George Maxwell Richards has accepted an invitation to travel to Guatemala City on the charter along with 120 fans to witness the encounter. That flight arrives there on the eve of the match.
“We can confirm that the selected players will be in the team for the upcoming matches. As a matter of fact the entire squad will be here from October 6 to settle together, play the game against Dominican Republic and then head off to Guatemala City. It was felt that the best option was to remain here and have the team prepare for the game and then go to Guatemala no more than a day or two before the match itself,” Warner told TTFF Media on Tuesday.
“We have also arranged for the charter which will carry the President of the Republic as well as the TTFF President Oliver Camps and a group of fans to witness the game and then return with the team that same night,” added Warner who will arrive in Guatemala from Nigeria where he is scheduled to head a FIFA inspection visit in relation to the 2009 FIFA Under 17 World Championship.
The match officials for T&T vs Guatemala are as follows: Referee – Mauricio Navarro (Canada), Assistant 1 - Hector Vergara (Canada) and Assistant 2 – Darren Clark (Canada). The match commissioner is Dave Fredericks from the Cayman Islands and Jamaican Peter Prenderast is the referee assessor. For the T&T/USA match, Costa Rican Walter Quesada is the match referee with Honduras’ Roberto Giron and Costa Rica’s Oswaldo Luna to serve as the assistants.
The T&T/Guatemala encounter will also be aired live on CNMG Channel 6 as well as on Radio 105 FM and I95.5FM
In related news, in their latest attempt to secure the full time services of Hyland, Portsmouth are sending him to Belgian 'partner club' S.V. Zulte Waregem while he waits for a work permit.
The 19-year-old will travel to Belgium on Wednesday and is expected to play there until he obtains the proper documentation to allow him to play professionally in England. The highly-rated youngster needs to be playing and Pompey hope he can settle in Belgium and have his case reviewed at the end of the season, one report stated on Sunday.
T&T 22-man Squad
Goalkeepers
Clayton Ince (Walsall, Eng), Marvin Phillip (W Connection, Tri)
Defenders
Dennis Lawrence (Swansea City, Eng), Avery John (Miami FC, USA), Keyeno Thomas (Joe Public, Tri), Cyd Gray (Clico San Juan Jabloteh, Tri), Makan Hislop (United Petrotrin, Tri), Aklie Edwards (Defence Force, Tri), Julius James (Toronto FC, Canada).
Midfielders
Dwight Yorke (Sunderland, Eng) Clyde Leon (W Connection, Tri), Russell Latapy (Falkirk, Scotland), Keon Daniel (United Petrotrin, Tri), Christpher Birchall (Coventry City, Eng), Khaleem Hyland (S.V. Zulte Waregem, Belgium), Carlos Edwards (Sunderland, Eng) Anthony Wolfe (North East Stars, Tri), Collin Samuel (St Johnstone, Scotland).
Forwards
Andre Toussaint (W Connection, Tri), Cornell Glen (Clico San Juan Jabloteh, Tri), Stern John (Southampton, Eng), Darryl Roberts (Denizlispor Kulubu, Turkey).
Limited seats are available for the charter to Guatemala and details for the charter are as follows:
Departure from T&T: Saturday 11th October 8:00am; Departure from Guatemala : Sunday 12th October 4:00pm; Cost: TT$9,400 per person, which includes: Chartered Direct Flight (4 Hrs); Accommodation (Single Occupancy); Lunch, Dinner & Breakfast ;Taxes; Hotel & Match transfers and Match ticket.