Trinidad and Tobago coach Bertille St Clair has finalized an 20-man squad for next week’s training camp in Miami ahead of the March 26 2006 World Cup qualifying encounter against Guatemala at the Mateo Flores Stadium.
St Clair, just back from England where he met with some of the T&T pros, will have the services of 13 overseas-based professionals for the period and should have striker Scott Sealy in the team for the match against the Guatemalans. Sealy will not be available for the Miami camp as he leaves on the weekend to join Kansas City Wizards for a camp in Costa Rica.
Among the players in the team include Portsmouth goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, Crewe Alexandra goalie Clayton Ince, Glasgow Rangers defender Marvin Andrews, Dundee’s Brent Sancho, Wrexham duo Carlos Edwards and Hector Sam, Coventry City striker Stern John, Stoke City utility player Kenwyne Jones, Real Salt Lake defender Marlon Rojas and Birmingham City’s Dwight Yorke.
Also making a return to the side is Japanese-based midfielder Silvio Spann and Gillingham defender Ian Cox. The rest of the team includes W Connection defender Atiba Charles, just back from a trial with Oldham Athletic, CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh duo Kerry Baptiste and Angus Eve, Leslie Fitzpatrick, Defence Force’s Anton Pierre and defender Nigel Henry.
Meantime, T&T is expected to play a training match against a team to be named shortly in Miami as the previously arranged encounter against Honduras for March 22 has been cancelled as both teams are in the same group for the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The match date had been originally carded before the recent Gold Cup draw.
St Clair, who will have sessions at the Hasely Crawford Stadium from 4pm on Thursday and Friday prior to the team’s departure on Sunday, was optimistic going into the Guatemala clash.
“I think the squad of players we have put together is a well rounded one and we expect that the guys will really rise to the call in what is our first away game of the round, “ St Clair told TTFF Media. “We will be gathering in Miami before the match and this is an important phase because as you know, the majority of our players are from outside and this gives us a chance to get together before the match itself and I expect that the period before the game will be well spent getting ready for the big one.”
Injury concerns to Ince (broken finger) and Glen (ankle) have surfaced over the past couple weeks but both men should be ready in time for the match.
“Fitness is a key component in any team and we will monitor the players very closely but we expect that they will be ready in time. Aside from that, the rest of the team is in good shape and we are remaining positive about our chances in Guatemala,” added St Clair.
His opposite number, Ramon Maradiaga, also called a squad of 21 for the match and conducted a training session on Thursday at the FIFA Goal Project facility, Guatemala City. Los Angeles Galaxy’s Carlos Ruiz and Guillermo Ramirez will spearhead their attack.
Maradiaga said he expects crowd support to work in his team’s favour.
"We need to win the game, its important to us get the three points at home, beat Trinidad and get prepared for the hard game on March 30 against the US team,” Maradiaga said on Wednesday.
"We hope to be supported by our fans on Mateo Flores stadium and be able to give them a great soccer play. "I don’t know if I or someone else will be at Miami for watch Trinidad but we surely want to see what they have to offer."
Trinidad & Tobago Team:
Goalkeepers:
Shaka Hislop (Portsmouth), Clayton Ince (Crewe Alexandra).
Defenders:
Marvin Andrews (Rangers), David Atiba Charles (W Connection), Anton Pierre (Defence Force), Brent Sancho (Dundee), Ian Cox (Gillingham), Marlon Rojas (Real Salt Lake), Nigel Henry (Charleston Battery).
Midfielders:
Silvio Spann (Yokohama FC), Kerry Baptiste (San Juan Jabloteh), Angus Eve (San Juan Jabloteh), Leslie Fitzpatrick (Alanta Silverbacks), Kenwyne Jones (Stoke City), Carlos Edwards (Wrexham).
Forwards:
Stern John (Coventry City), Dwight Yorke (Birmingham City), Cornell Glen (FC Dallas), Scott Sealy (Kansas City Wizards), Hector Sam (Wrexham).
Guatemala Team:
Goalkeepers:
Miguel Klee (Coban), Paulo Motta (Municipal), Ricardo Trigueño, Suchitepequez).
Defenders:
Angel Sanabria (Coban), Nelson Morales (Coban), Denis Chen (Coban), Gustavo Cabrera (Comunicaciones), Nestor Martinez (Comunicaciones), Carlos Quiñonez (Comunicaciones), Pablo Melgar (Municipal).
Midfielders:
Mynor Davila (Aurora), Fredy Thompson (Comunicaciones), Gonzalo Romero (Municipal), Carlos Figueroa (Municipal), Carlos Castillo (Xelaju), Guillermo Ramirez, LA Galaxy).
Forwards:
Dwight Pezzarossi (Comunicaciones), Hernan Sandoval (Comunicaciones) Juan Carlos Plata (Municipal), Carlos Ruiz (LA Galaxy).