Trinidad and Tobago’s senior footballers engaged in a light indoor session at the Crowne Plaza on Tuesday as Hurricane Ivan warning forced closure of the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
The Mexico team, which arrived on a charter flight on Monday night, were also unable to train at their scheduled 4pm time at the Stadium but did get in a session on the outside training pitch.
CONCACAF President Jack Warner said that the game remained on scheduled for a 6pm kick off on Wednesday and FIFA has been advised as such. However, Mexico's request to train on the playing pitch had to be turned down.
T&T skipper Angus Eve and his teammates were able to get some light stretching at the Hotel and it is possible that they could take a light run out on Wednesday depending on the outdoor conditions.
“It’s been a sort of a frustrating day for us because we’ve been restricted to being in the hotel and obviously all the guys want to get out there and get a feel of the pitch before the game. But we’ve not allowed it to get the better of us and the focus remains the same,” Eve told TTFF Media. “I think it will be equally frustrating for the Mexicans but we are at home and we must be thankful too that we didn’t feel the brunt of the hurricane and hopefully now we can make it even more frustrating for the Mexicans out on the pitch come game time.”
Utility player Anthony Rougier, did not arrive home as expected on Monday and is unavailable for the match and Stokely Mason makes room for Eve who missed the last encounter due to suspension.
“We want to keep the momentum going and this is our first game of the round at home so obviously we don’t want to give up any advantage. Mexico are a top rated team but we have beaten them already in this stage of the competition and so there is no reason why we can’t do it again,” St Clair said. “Our guys have been working hard to get better at their game and all we are asking is that the nation comes out and give them that support on the day of the game.”
Scottish-based goalkeeper Kelvin Jack, who held his own against St Kitts was confident ahead of the match saying “We are up for the challenge because not only are we playing at home but we are also on the back of two victories which does a lot for your confidence. We know that Mexico’s quality is a level above the rest but we won’t back down easily,” Jack said.
Honourable President of Trinidad and Tobago George Maxwell Richards pledged his support to the team’s cause at a dinner hosted by Warner at thee CONCACAF Centre of Excellence on Monday night in the presence of members of the team and several local and foreign dignitaries including Danny Joordan, CEO of South Africa’s 2010 World Cup committee as well as corporate bodies. Maxwell and others will no doubt be hoping for another positive result against the Mexicans. Canadian Mauricio Navarro will carry the whistle in this encounter.