{moszoomimage: galleryid=1 filename=vsGuyana_03022004.jpg} “We are beginning to believe in ourselves and I think from February 9 onwards we will be ready to prove ourselves.” Those were the words of Defence Force defender Anton Pierre as he spoke of the yearning desire he and his fellow locally-based players have for putting on the National shirt and attaining success.
Pierre has appeared in the last five Digicel Caribbean Cup matches for the T&T team in the Digicel Caribbean Cup, and has performed creditably. Like his teammates, he is beginning to appreciate the call for stronger commitment and hard work from coach Bertille St Clair. The likes of midfielder Denzil Theobald, Silvio Spann, Marlon Rojas, Atiba Charles, Nigel Pierre, Stephen Cruickshank, Kerwyn Jemmott, Derek King, Cyd Gray, Michael Celestine, Keyeno Thomas, Jose Seabra, Leslie Fitzpatrick, Scott Sealy, Daurance Williams, Jan Michael Williams, Avery John, Anthony Rougier, Gary Glasgow and Cornell Glen are just some of the names who have been hard at work under the eyes of Bertille St Clair in recent weeks.
“I think confidence is always a main factor and most of us are beginning to believe more in ourselves. We have been working very closely as a team and it’s like a family among us. We know it’s going to be competitive when it comes to making the team for February 9 but we believe the best team will be out there on the day,” Pierre said.
For the past few weeks, St Clair has been putting his players through the paces and recently all day camps with two sessions per day have been ongoing. The team trained twice at the Marvin Lee Stadium on Monday and spent the off hours relaxing with meals being provided at the nearby Le Sportel Inn.
“Everything is settling into place and all the boys are really working hard,” striker Sealy added.
“The local pros are showing now that they are ready to step up and face any challenge that comes their way. There is talk in the air that there will be more local players in the squad. The complain is always that we don’t get enough time to train together as a team but now we are getting this chance and things are looking much better. It’s now a situation where we have to take that picture from practice and try and paint it on the field when match day comes around,” added the 2004 All American.
CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh midfielder Kerry Baptiste who has been a member of the squad for much of 2004, believes that his team can upset the Americans.
“When you think about it, America are the favourites to win this match but I believe that once we can keep up this sort of preparations then we stand a chance of beating them on Ash Wednesday. It’s all about hunger in the camp right now and we are becoming more determined to not just let any team come and feel they can get three points from us at home,” the former Murucapo Senior Comprehensive standout added.
The players are well aware of reports that the Americans have put off the start of their training camp because of unsettled wage agreements. But that could be just talk at the moment.
“We are not concerned with what’s happening in America,” Theobald said. “Our focus is getting as fit and ready as can be to ensure that we can stand a chance of winning that first game. All I am thinking about these days is what’s going to happen on Ash Wednesday. Whether I play or not, myself and the other guys are eager to do whatever we can to see us through to a win and then go on to qualify for Germany.”
Theobald and company will have yet another chance to prove their worth on Sunday when T&T tackles St Vincent and the Grenadines at the Queen’s Park Oval from 3:30pm in the Digicel Caribbean Cup third round encounter.