Despite the 1-0 victory over El Salvador on Wednesday night, football critics are predicting a tough task ahead for T&T in their remaining World Cup matches in the bid to qualify for South Africa 2010.
Alvin Corneal, who toured England in 1959 with the West Indies football team, thought it was a good result but he was not sure if it has left the country with the promise of victories in the other matches. Corneal, who coached the national team on three different occasions, said T&T will be targeted by two other teams in their bid for qualification. “The present situation will see T&T as possible ‘whipping boys’ for Honduras and the USA, especially as they need points desperately to retain their positions in the first three.
“It is a tough task and only an increase in competence by our defence will help keep us in the race,” said Corneal. Former T&T and West Indies wicketkeeper Deryck Murray said he enjoyed the game mainly because of the result and the good football. “The win will do us a lot of good. I hope they will continue in that same vein in the remaining games,” said Murray, who represented Queen’s Royal College in Inter-Collegiate soccer in the sixties. Sports commentator, Colin Murray, said the important thing was that T&T got the three points. “The team played with a lot of heart and courage but we can’t fool ourselves and think that we are unbeatable as El Salvador certainly exposed some of our defiencies in the second half.”
Murray said Clayton Ince was outstanding. “But we must look at our structure and work on these defiencies before we oppose the tougher Hondurans and Americans,” said Murray. Former national striker, Dexter Skeene, said the local players showed they can compete at international level. “I am happy with the win, it will surely assist us with our push for qualification. Some of the local players—Trent Noel, Clyde Leon and Keon Daniel showed that they can compete at this level, which augurs well for the future. I hope with this victory the team will grow from strength to strength,” Skeene said.