A Soca Warriors outfit, comprising of a decent mix of overseas and local-based professionals have settled here at the La Meridien Hotel, Marrakesh, following their journey from Piarco on Friday evening. The T&T contingent spent Saturday night at the Hyatt Hotel, Casablanca, before taking a connecting flight to Marrakesh yesterday morning with the full squad on board.
And despite the humid conditions, skipper Reynold Carrington and company are eagerly awaiting the chance for what undoubtedly is the teams biggest international since Stuart Charles Fevrier took up duties as head coach.
The last time these two teams met, a T&T side with the likes of Falkirk midfielder Russell Latapy, Portsmouth goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, David Nakhid and England-born newcomers, Ronnie Mauge and Ian Cox, narrowly lost 1-0 as they prepared for Gold Cup and World Cup campaigns. This time around, the circumstances are not much different as T&Ts journey towards Germany 2006 is on the verge of kicking into high gear.
Cox and Mauge were newcomers three years ago and on Wednesday, another T&T England-based player is expected to make his debut for Fevriers team. Promising Watford striker Jason Norville met his new teammates at Londons Heathrow Airport and is all pumped up over the opportunity to play on the senior international stage. Having lived in England since age six, Norville, who turns 20 tomorrow, revealed that despite Watford officials attempting to prevent him from playing for T&T, he could not have turned his back on the opportunity. After all, he turned down the chance to play for England at Under 21 level.
This is an opportunity I have thought long and hard about and I made up my mind that I wanted to play for Trinidad and Tobago, Norville told Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation media man Shuan Fuentes on Sunday. But back at the club, they werent too happy about me coming over for this game and Ive already been warned that when I return (to Watford), my place wont be there and Ill have to fight to get back into the team. But Im prepared to go all the way because this opportunity to play on the international stage is something I have my set my mind on doing, he added.
Norville graduated from the Watford Youth Academy before breaking into the first team during the 2001/2002 season. He had 15 appearances last season but has only appeared for the reserves this season after recovering from a hamstring injury. He also turned down an invitation from David Platt to train with the England Under-21 team.
That was an opportunity for me to try and see if I could get into the England youth team. They have expressed interest in me even since the Under-19 level, but that chance is no longer there and I intend to give this new opportunity with T&T my best shot, said Norville.
Coach Fevrier spoke of his intentions over the next couple of days:
I will be using the next couple days to formulate the starting team for this game against Morocco. Some of the players I am yet to really work with but I know each of them and its just for us to get things in place now. We know we have to be prepared to play well both on and off the ball. But the key to me will be ensuring that we do well when we are not in possession of the ball on Wednesday.
Morocco meantime have been preparing for the game in the capital, Rabat, with a squad inclusive of their European-based professionals and will arrive in Marrakesh tomorrow.
FIFA vice president Trinidadian Jack Warner also arrived here at the weekend for Wednesdays game which is expected to draw much attention from the local fans as their team prepare for World Cup qualifying action.
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