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Fri, Mar

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Trinidad and Tobago’s Senior Footballers will switch base to the Intercontinental Hotel, Miami from around midday on Monday as they close down preparations for Wednesday’s opening 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup fixture against Honduras from 9pm at the Orange Bowl Stadium.


The Hotel will allow Leo Beenhakker and his players closer access to the Orange Bowl and the Miami University Ground which the “Warriors” will use for training during the first week of the tournament which will also see them coming up against Panama on Saturday and Colombia on Monday at the same venue.

On the eve of T&T’s departure for their new base, the Honduras National Team checked in at the Hilton. Fort Lauderdale where Beenhakker oversaw a one-week training camp with his 23-man squad. The same 23-man squad will move into the second week of camp going into the tournament.

Honduras came into town following a 2-1 victory over Canada on Saturday as both teams used the encounter as a warm up for the Gold Cup. The Canadians are grouped with Cuba, United States and Costa Rica. Honduras got their goals from Francisco Ramirez in the 52nd minute and Wilmer Vasquez four minutes later. Kevin McKenna had pulled a goal back for the hosts in the 70th minute.

T&T worked out twice, morning and evening at the nearby training pitch with Beenhakker already using the time for scrimmages, switching players in between and ensuring that the fitness conditions of all were on par with the requirements for international football.

“Okay boys! It was my pleasure. Thank You. Enjoy your meal, get some rest and see you at 5:30,” Beenhakker said with affirmation following the intense morning work out which he finished off by making the calls on short sprints between the centre and 18-yard box lines with the players allowed a short walk to catch their breaths before making the same sprint a further three times.

“It’s important that we work out closely how the fitness of the team is because we have some guys who are currently in season and then others who last played against Mexico and maybe a couple who haven’t been playing since their seasons ended. So in a way, the first couple days here was a short preseason season and then we went about in putting things in place on the pitch because that’s where it all happens,” Beenhakker told TTFF Media. He will conduct one training session on Monday in the evening at the Orange Bowl.

Coventry City striker Stern John wasn’t frowning over the schedule so far.

“The camp has been a fruitful one I think. We have had some good days together, doing everything together and we have had a different weather conditions to work under on a really good surface here. With the time for lights out at 11 every night, we are getting rest as well to be ready enough for the tournament,” John said.

Meantime, Mexico has named eight players from its team which played in the recent Confederations Cup for the Gold Cup. Defenders Javier Rodriguez and Carlos Salcido, and forward Alberto Medina, all from Chivas of Guadalajara, midfielders Luis Perez of Monterrey and Antonio Naelson of Toluca, will remain on the Gold Cup team that will battle for the title in the seven US cities. Forward  Jared Borgetti of Pachuca was also confirmed for the team, which includes goalie Jesus Corona, the only player who did not participate in the Confederations Cup play, and Rafael Marquez Lugo of Morelia, who saw only a few minutes of playing time in Germany.