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Fri, Mar

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TRINIDAD and Tobago head coach Leo Beenhakker is not going to change his tactics radically for Saturday's first-leg of their two-match World Cup qualifying play-off with Bahrain which comes off from 6.30 p.m. at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain.


Beenhakker said yesterday that instead his job was improving on the team's good showing in their last CONCACAF World Cup qualifier against Mexico.

"We're not going to change anything, of course. Why change anything? You saw what we did from the beginning of May until the last match with Mexico. The team was growing, was playing a little better and better and we had a great game against Mexico. But, of course, we start again this week where we ended up the game against Mexico."

Although crediting his Warriors with a great game in the 2-1 victory over highly-ranked Mexico, Beenhakker feels they can still play better.

"I think versus Mexico we played a very complete and good game. But this is not the end, the Mexico game, it's the beginning of something."

The coach had a light session in the afternoon which was open to the public. However, from today, the real action begins behind closed doors.

The T&T practice sessions leading up to Saturday's match will be closed to both the public and the media.

"From tomorrow we start the training session in regard with how we play Saturday," said the Dutchman.

Beenhakker had a full turnout except for West Ham goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, who was due in last night.

All the players, including previously-injured Brent Sancho and Kenwyne Jones, were declared fit. However, there was some concern when winger Carlos Edwards twisted his right ankle during the session and had a heavy ice pack placed on the leg.

T&T skipper Dwight Yorke, who flew in yesterday, also had a light stretch, but worked mainly with team trainer Wayne Lawson.

The rest of Beenhakker's bunch split into two groups under assistant coaches Whim Rijsbergen and Theo De Jonk, before coming together for an intense, but short, final session.

Througout, Beenhakker focussed on ball possession and movement. The coach credited increased ball possession and cohesion as the main things he has brought to the team during his six-month stint.

"When I arrived here, and I did my home work and I saw the three matches they played under the former coach, I saw 11 players who were doing their best, working very hard, but there wasn't no cohesion between the players. There was no team. I think we worked very hard on that and we didn't have much time."

He was also high in praise of the roles played by veterans Yorke and Russell Latapy, whom he described as "two extraordinary players who can help me throughout the game".