Midfielder Keon Daniel has rejoined the Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team for Wednesday’s warm up international against Panama following a 12-day trial with English club Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The team’s topscorer in the 2010 qualifiers trained with the first team for four days before a reoccurring hip flexor problem forced him to the sidelines. He remained at the club for treatment and light training before making the trip back home and has been invited to return to the club in three months. Wolves are currently top of the Championship Division table and eyeing promotion to the Premiership.
Daniel worked out in the two sessions with the team leading up to Wednesday’s match, one at Ato Boldon Stadium on Sunday and then the other at Larry Gomes Stadium on Monday morning. Also joining the team was San Juan Jabloteh midfielder Ataulla Guerra while T&T U-20 trio Sean De Silva, Robert Primus and Leston Paul were involved in Monday’s session.
Left side defender Aklie Edwards also returned from a trial with American MLS side New York Red Bulls to join the T&T team for Wednesday’s encounter. Edwards confirmed that he turned down an offer from the club following its preseason tour of Argentina.
“The deal just was not worth it. They told me that I was good enough to be offered a contract and they made the offer but it wasn’t good enough to keep me. Honestly it was nothing better than what I am making in the Pro League here and that wasn’t making much sense to me,” Edwards told TTFF Media after training.
Daniel meantime says Wolves were keen to have him involved at the club. He’s also excited over rejoining the national team for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Honduras at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on March 28.
“The trial went well even though I had to it cut short because of the injury. I worked out with the team for four days but then I had to take it light for the rest of it. They have asked me to return in a couple months time which is a promising sign,” Daniel said.
“All in all though I think it worked out well with me being able to return to Trinidad because it allows me to prepare with the team for the two matches coming up. Panama are one of the good teams from Central America and I think they will give us a good enough test on Wednesday. We have to take everything seriously because we need to get three points at home to Honduras and then go to the U.S. and pull off something.”
Commenting on his first training session with the Senior team, Sean De Silva was in a relaxed state.
“It was basically about getting a feel of the training at this level. The intensity is obviously higher and everything is done at a quicker rate but that wasn’t unexpected because it’s senior players involved. Overall it was good being out there with them and hopefully all three of us will keep on getting accustomed to it and it will help is improve our game as well,” De Silva said.
Paul felt a similar way, saying “As a youngster you always think about getting called to the national senior team so it was more about getting in there and settling in as quickly as possible. Coach Vranes rested us yesterday against Honduras because he knew the opportunity to be with the Senior Team was a big one and he wanted to make sure we could be out here training this morning. Generally I think it went well and hopefully we can take everything forward from this experience.”
Meantime the TTFF will allow free entry to fans 18 years and younger to the uncovered stands of the Manny Ramjohn Stadium on Wednesday as a form of appreciation for the support given to the National Under 20 team during its successful qualification bid for Egypt 2009. General admission for covered stands is $100 and $50 for uncovered.