New Soca Warriors coach, German Otto Pfister will have to wait until the August 10 Fifa international date to see his new charges in action.
This after it was disclosed by T&T Football Federation technical director, Keith Look Loy the federation was finding it difficult to source a suitable opponent for the June 1, international Fifa date.
Look Loy, who was part of the technical committee which selected the 73-year-old for national coach made the disclosure yesterday, when contacted by telephone.
Prior to leaving for the United Kingdom last month to hold discussions with English-born players who are eligible to represent T&T, the German said he was eager to see the Soca Warriors come up respectable opponents on June 1 and August 10.
But contacted yesterday, Look Loy said the intended encounter has been shelved as the local federation is having difficulty to source quality opposition.
Look Loy explained, “The problem is that all the top teams in Concacaf will be involved in their final preparations for the Gold Cup which runs from June 5 - 25 in the USA.
“It is the same situation with the top South American countries. They are all preparing for the Copa America in Argentina which kicks off on July 1 and will be engaged in friendly matches which have been organised already, or in some instances training camps.
“Pfister said he wanted to play a team of quality and outside of the teams in the Concacaf Gold Cup and Copa America, we don’t think there are any major teams which are available.
As an alternative Look Loy said, the coach was looking at possibly a training camp to be held overseas where the locally-based players and the players he invites will come together.
Asked if any thought was put into arranging a friendly with a team from Africa, Europe or Asia, Look Loy said it would be costly to bring such teams to T&T shores.
He further explained that part of the reason T&T was finding it difficult to attract top quality opposition was due to its current Fifa world ranking.