Trinidad and Tobago’s National Senior Footballers will meet with this country’s National Under 20 team in a training match at the Larry Gomes Stadium on Thursday from 9:30am.
The game was arranged to assist in the ongoing preparations of both teams for upcoming competitions. In the case of the Seniors, prior to their next World Cup qualifier, they travel to St Kitts on Friday to meet that country’s National Senior Team in a friendly international on Sunday while the Under 20s are getting ready for the 2009 FIFA Under 20 World Championship in Egypt in October.
National team head coach Russell Latapy will have a squad of local players at his disposal with Puerto Rico Islanders’ striker Kendall Jagdeosingh being the lone overseas-based player. He arrived back in the country last week.
Vranes meantime will be looking to see how some of the partly new faces in his squad perform after rejoining the set up after a lengthy lay off. They include US College-based trio Stephen Knox, Chike Sullivan and Jesse Fullerton. National Under 17 player Shahdon Winchester has also been added to the squad while defender Sheldon Bateau has returned from injury after missing out on the recent far east tour.
“It’s important for us to see how well these guys fit in and every match will help us,” Vranes told TTFF Media.
“There are some players coming back in and of course we want to see how well all of them are progressing. We also have some interest from the boys in England and we are looking forward to see how this develops to help us become better and ready for the first game against Egypt.”
Belgium-based midfielder Khaleem Hyland also confirmed his interest in joining the Under 20s for the World Championship, adding that it was just a matter of the request coming to his club from the TTFF.
“I’m willing to play and once the TTFF and the management of the team request my release then I will be there for the team,” Hyland said.
“For the time being I’m just happy to have signed this new contract and I’m looking forward to playing more games and getting myself in better condition which will help me for international football as well,” he added.
The National Senior Team will depart Port of Spain on Friday for St Kitts for Sunday’s encounter which will be played at the Warner Fax Stadium. The next 2010 World Cup for the “Soca Warriors” is at home to El Salvador on August 12.
Videos
View Under 20s training session
View Vranes Interview
Clayton Ince interview