"We've got the players that can make this possible."
In making this statement, Trinidad and Tobago assistant coach Anton Corneal revealed his confidence in the senior national footballers under coach Otto Pfister, to rebound for their woeful form in recent years in preparation for World Cup Brazil 2014 qualifying.
On T&T's side is their mix of youth and experience, Corneal said, and an abundance of young players on the fringe of the squad.
"We've got a new person heading up the programme," Corneal told the Express this week. "We've got some players in Europe, some from in the USA in the MLS, some young players coming into the team unlike before when we did not have a lot of (youth) players coming in. Hopefully this mix will be the right mix. Only time will tell."
Coach Pfister has quickly stamped his authority and philosophy on the team, and the players, according to Corneal, have responded well.
"They are very enthusiastic in practice," Corneal revealed. "(Coach Pfister) has of course from the get-go made it very clear his demands of the players, and I think they have bought into it and realise there must be some type of discipline and commitment (in order to keep their place in the squad)."
While some regional teams—such as Jamaican and Grenada—are preparing for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, T&T have been unable to secure opposition during the official FIFA international window early next month. Instead, Pfister and company have opted for a training camp, which they hope to fully exploit. It is an opportunity, Corneal said, to get the players engaged in activity, and to get a "feel for each other".
But T&T are not completely starting over, the former T&T Under-17 coach pointed out. Former Defence Force strike Devorn Jorsling and ex-Ma Pau midfielder Kevin Molino ply their trade in the MLS, as does Keon Daniel.
T&T also have a number of UK-based players—including Sunderland's Kenwyne Jones and Carlos Edwards of Championship Division club Ipswich Town—as well as Belgium-based Khaleem Highland to provide the unit with international experience.
Corneal is also "very encouraged" at T&T's prospects, with Pfister in charge of the national team. Players, Corneal hopes, will seize the chances on offer under the veteran German coach.
"This group needs to realise that every World Cup campaign is an opportunity," Corneal said. "It's an opportunity for the country, it's an opportunity for them (and) they need to make the most of it by (putting) themselves on the world stage, and that comes with qualifying for the World Cup."
The T&T assistant coach was also happy to see local coaches—including W Connection's Stuart Charles Fevrier and Joe Public's Rajesh Latchoo— turning up to witness the 73-year-old German at work. Corneal hopes more coaches will come to national sessions in the near future.
Said Corneal: "The ability (for local coaches) to just come out and see (how), and see why (Pfister does what he does)…people travel miles away to get that type of experience."