Sunderland midfielder Carlos Edwards says that this country’s National Senior footballers will not let their guards down but will have to be firing on all cylinders on March 28 as they go in search of full points in the 2010 World Cup qualifier against Honduras.
Edwards and teammate Kenwyne Jones will arrive in Port of Spain on Monday due to Sunderland’s Premiership fixture with Manchester City today (Sunday). The rest of the overseas contingent will begin arriving on Sunday for the live in training camp this week leading into Saturday’s encounter at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Head coach Francisco Maturana remained hopeful of commencing training at the venue on Monday but up to Saturday only one half of the playing surface was fit for activity even though officials were optimistic that there would be further progress within the next 48 hours to allow training. The surface is however on stream to being fully ready for the match on Saturday.
Edwards, having netted in T&T’s 2-2 draw with El Salvador, is hoping to help push the “Soca Warriors to maximum points on the weekend.
“This is a very important fixture for us. We allowed two points to slip away in El Salvador and now we have no other option but to rebound. We must regroup and focus on taking everything from this game on Saturday, ” Edwards told TTFF Media on Saturday.
“As a team we have to remain positive. We know it’s a difficult task when we travel to face the US but we have to believe that we can achieve the best possible results in these two matches. We’ve got to take it one match at a time and we need to take up our responsibilities seriously pull it off.”
Edwards said that the four-match suspension served to Dwight Yorke was not well received by the T&T Captain who even in light of trying to hide any emotion in light of the banter being thrown around at Sunderland when the news was received, was deeply disappointed by the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.
“Dwight missing the Honduras game is a big blow but the four-game ban is massive. We couldn’t understand it. There’s been some banter being thrown around and we could have the odd laugh about it but there’s no doubt that he will be missed.
“He’s been very disappointed over the whole thing but he’s keeping positive over the whole thing. The main thing for him is the team’s chances of going all the way and that’s our biggest concern right now. I think we all believe that we have what it takes and even if he’s not there on the pitch with us we must step up and bring home the results that will get us there,” Edwards continued.
“We are all hopeful that the appeal can go in our favour for Dwight’s sake and for the team in general. All fingers are crossed at the moment.”