The Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team will resume training on November 1 with a live-in training camp as preparations for a four-nation Digicel Caribbean Championship preliminary phase at the Marvin Lee Stadium.
The eight-team finals will be played in Jamaica from December 3-14. The champions will earn a first prize of US$120,000. The runners-up pocket US$70,000 while US$50 000 goes to the third place team and US$30,000 for fourth position. The top four countries will also advance to next year’s Concacaf Gold Cup in the United States.
Once through to the finals of the Digicel Championship, T&T will fall into a Group with hosts Jamaica and Grenada as well as Preliminary Group G runners up (either Cuba, Barbados, Suriname, Netherland Antilles).
Recalled to the team is Joe Public defender Seon Power who missed the recent part of the World Cup qualification campaign due to injury while Maturana has invited first time call ups Karlon Murray of Clico San Juan Jabloteh, United Petrotrin’s Lyndon Diaz, Defence Force’s Devon Jorsling and Jabloteh striker Lester Peltier.
W Connection midfielder Aurtis Whitley, now recovered from injury is also in the squad along with current World Cup team members Makan Hislop, Cyd Gray, Marvin Phillip, Aklie Edwards, Khaleem Hyland, Clyde Leon, Anthony Wolfe, Keon Daniel, Andre Toussaint and Chris Birchall.
“We will use this four nation competition to have a look at some different players from the Pro League but also we will use some of the those players who have been in the squad for the recent qualification matches for the World Cup,” Maturana told TTFF Media.
“We still have the final match in this round against Cuba to play so it is important for us to keep our program in place and use this Digicel Championship to help us prepare for the next game and hopefully the next round of the qualification,” the Colombian added.
T&T squad for Digicel prelims
GOALKEEPERS
Marvin Phillip (W Connection), Glenroy Samuel (United Petrotrin).
DEFENDERS
Sean Power (Joe Public), Cyd Gray (San Juan Jabloteh), Makan Hislop (United Petrotrin), Julius James (Toronto FC), Karlon Murray (San Juan Jabloteh), Lyndon Diaz (United Petrotrin), Aklie Edwards (Defence Force).
MIDFIELDERS
Khaleem Hyland (SV Zulte Waregem), Aurtis Whitley (W Connection), Clyde Leon (W Connection), Anthony Wolfe (North East Stars), Christopher Birchall (Coventry City), Keon Daniel (United Petrotrin), Daneil Cyrus (TT U-20).
FORWARDS
Lester Peltier (San Juan Jabloteh), Cornell Glen (San Juan Jabloteh), Andre Toussaint (W Connection), Devon Jorsling (Defence Force), Jamal Gay (Joe Public).
Schedule for T&T preliminary leg
5.11.2008, Guyana - St. Kitts & Nevis, 17:00, Macoya, TRI
5.11.2008, Trinidad & Tobago - Antigua & Barbuda, 19:00, Macoya, TRI
7.11.2008, Antigua & Barbuda - Guyana, 19:00, Macoya, TRI
7.11.2008, Trinidad & Tobago - St. Kitts & Nevis (T&T plays first game of double header), 17:00, Macoya, TRI
9.11.2008, St. Kitts & Nevis - Antigua & Barbuda, 16:00, Macoya, TRI
9.11.2008, Trinidad & Tobago - Guyana, 18:00, Macoya, TRI