Trinidad and Tobago’s senior team will be away to British Virgin Islands on December 12 in their second round Caribbean Football Union Digicel Cup encounter.
Following Sunday’s 1-0 win over Surinam at the Larry Gomes Stadium, the “Soca Warriors” will resume training on Wednesday morning at the Hasely Crawford Stadium and should be joined by recently appointed assistant coach David Nakhid who was scheduled to arrive from Lebanon on Monday evening.
Head coach Bertille St Clair expressed some satisfaction with the showing of some of the locally-based players in the past three matches which saw T&T play unbeaten and he also spoke of the possibility of Brazilian-born midfielder Jose Luis Seabra joining the set up once he acquires Trinidad and Tobago citizenship.
“Seabra is a very good player..good touch with good vision. He is also a lefty which is always an asset on any team. It would be great if he could play for T&T. This kind of thing happens all over the world, even in the big countries. The US gave citizenship to Freddy Adu of Ghana so he could play for them.
Seabra spoke to me some weeks ago and he really wants to play for Trinidad and Tobago. I hope things work out so that he will be eligible for us," St Clair told TTFF Media.
Looking ahead to the following weeks, St Clair said emphasis will be placed on preparing the locally-based pros.
“We are now going into a very important phase of the program and the next few weeks will be a lot of hard work. Everybody has had a chance to show themselves over the past few months, overseas and local players. When I started off I said we would open up the team and see as many players as possible and I am satisfied that we did the right thing. Now it is time to put the pieces together and build a cohesive team for the final World Cup qualifying round,” he said.
“I am really pleased that the local players will be available from now on and there is no excuse for players not to train with the national team. Overall, I was pleased with some of the performances in the Digicel Cup and it shows that the players are growing. We have to increase the pace and get into top shape for the final round next year,” St Clair added.
Players To Resume Training:
Goalkeepers:
Daurance Williams (San Juan Jabloteh), Jan Michael Williams (W Connection), Kevin Graham (Joe Public).
Defenders:
Anton Pierre (Defence Force), Avery John (New England Revolution), Atiba Charles (W Connection), Cyd Gray (San Juan Jabloteh), Derek King (Joe Public), Derek Phillips (Chesapeake Athletic), Ian Gray (San Juan Jabloteh), Keyeno Thomas (San Juan Jabloteh), Marlon Rojas (Joe Public), Nigel Daniel (San Juan Jabloteh), Uz Taylor (Arima Morvant Fire).
Midfielders:
Aurtis Whitley (San Juan Jabloteh), Denzil Theobald (Arima Morvant Fire), Josh Johnson (San Juan Jabloteh), Kerry Baptiste (San Juan Jabloteh), Kerwyn Jemmott (Un-Attached), Leslie Fitzpatrick (Alanta Silverbacks), Lyndon Andrews (Starworld Strikers), Michael Celestine (San Juan Jabloteh), Marvin Oliver (L-Sporto Connection), Silvio Spann (W Connection), Stephen Cruikshank (Un-Attached).
Forwards:
Cornell Glen (MetroStars), Conrad Smith (Arima Morvant Fire), Errol McFarlane (Al Nejmeh), Jerren Nixon (North East Stars), Kendall Davis (W Connection), Nigel Pierre (San Juan Jabloteh), Odelle Armstrong (Defence Force).