Trinidad and Tobago’s national footballers had their first training session under rainy conditions at the Toyota Park Training Pitch yesterday and spirits were on the rise again as they look ahead to tomorrow’s 2010 World Cup Qualifying match against United States at Toyota Park.
Yorke met with Maturana on Saturday night after the match and indicated that he wanted to avoid any conflict with his team manager at Sunderland Roy Keane, saying that it was best if injury be given as the reason.
However, while admitting he held a high amount of respect for Sunderland manager Keane, Yorke did inform the T&T management team that the Irish man had ordered his recall via a text message. It is understood that Keane wanted the player back in Sunderland before Thursday in order for selection for Saturdays Premiership clash away to Wigan Athletic.
Keane however made no request for Carlos Edwards’ early return. Edwards travels back to Sunderland on Thursday following the encounter with the USA a night earlier.
Defender Avery John is also out on a double yellow cards suspension. Making a return is Aklie Edwards from a four-match suspension to fill that void in the left back position.
“We will play our game as we intend to, that is to be positive and attempt to get the three points. No game is easy and circumstances change but you have to be ready and we will do our best to be ready for Wednesday,” Maturana said.
“Nothing is a guarantee in football but I believe that we can achieve anything once we go about it in the right way. This we will try to do especially after a disappointing end with Guatemala on Saturday,” he added.
T&T midfielder Keon Daniel, scorer of three goals in T&T’s past two qualifying matches, said the “Soca Warriors” are not counting out the possibility of leaving Chicago with something to show on the points table.
“I think we were disappointed with the way the game ended on Saturday but the spirit isn’t down in the camp. As a matter of fact the guys are all feeling good and I feel we can pull something off on Wednesday. It’s going to be hard but the gap is closing and Wednesday will be a nice way to show it” Daniel said.
“My performance so far has been down to hard work and belief and I think I can say the same for the rest of the team. I don’t usually take shots from the outside but the coach has had me doing it a lot in training and I’m starting to believe more in myself. I got the ball, looked up and saw the chance and I went for it,” he explained.
Tomorrow’s game will be televised live on ESPN and former T&T goalkeeper Shaka Hislop is part of the commentary team. The match will also be broadcasted live on Radio 105FM and I95.5FM.
T&T Squad in Chicago:
Marvin Phillip (W Connection), Jan Michael Williams (Ferencvaros), Keyeno Thomas (Joe Public), Julius James (Toronto FC), Dennis Lawrence (Swansea City), Carlos Edwards (Sunderland), Cyd Gray (Clico San Juan Jabloteh), Keon Daniel (United Petrotrin), Andre Toussaint (W Connection), Jason Scotland (Swansea), Cornell Glen (unattached), Anthony Wolfe (North East Stars), Densill Theobald (Caledonia AIA), Clyde Leon (W Connection), Osei Telesford (Puerto Rico Islanders), Kerry Baptiste (Joe Public), Akeil Guevera (North East Stars), Gyasi Joyce (Caledonia AIA), Makan Hislop (United Petrotrin), Aklie Edwards (Defence Force).