National Team head coach Otto Pfister was back on the training pitch on Friday with a group of players currently home as the “Soca Warriors” look ahead to the crucial 2014 World Cup qualifier against Guyana on November 11.
Pfister put his players through their paces for roughly 90 minutes at the Ato Boldon Stadium and will resume sessions next Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at the Couva venue.
Stand-in captain Stern John as well as Philadelphia Union midfielder Keon Daniel were among the players involved but missing was midfielder Clyde Leon who has left for a trial in Vietnam.
The coaching staff also received word that Devorn Jorsling is also off on trial while midfielder Hughtun Hector is expected to depart for trial in Vietnam on Wednesday also.
Leon issued a statement via his facebook page on Friday, saying “I am currently on my way to a Trial in Vietnam. I am happy with the owner of W Connection for getting me this opportunity.
I am personally seeking to play at a higher level every year, and my experiences in Colombia, and the experience in Vietnam will make me a better person and player.
I believe I have reached my peak in T&T and playing in other leagues will give me valuable experience both on and off the field!”
Club football in Vietnam is run by the Vietnam Football Federation. The federation administers the Vietnam national football team, as well as the V-League, Vietnam First Division, and Vietnam Second Division.
One of the leading clubs in the Eximbank V-League is Hà Nội T&T. Back in March 2007, local midfielder Aurtis Whitley spent two weeks on trial at Hoang Anh Gia Lai football club but did not receive a contract offer.
On September 30, The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and the country's 14 V-League clubs agreed to set up a Vietnam Professional Football Company to operate the nation's premier league, starting next year, instead of the federation that has run it for 11 years.
The historic change came after the owners of six topflight V-League clubs Wednesday submitted their petition to VFF calling for the establishment of a share holding company to run the league, while the football governing body was hoping to retain its own organizing panel.
During the meeting between VFF and the bosses of the 14 V-League clubs and 14 first-division clubs in Hanoi, the body agreed upon a league operating company before the new season starts in January.