A 21-man squad is scheduled to arrive in San Pedro Sula tonight (Monday night) just around 7:45 pm and check into the Hilton Princess Hotel for a live-in camp ahead of Saturday’s 2010 World Cup qualifier against Honduras.
Head Coach Russell Latapy, his technical staff and eleven home-based professionals left Piarco International Airport for Honduras via Miami at 8am on Monday. The team will have its first training session on Tuesday at 3pm at the Francisco Morazan Stadium in San Pedro Sula.
The home-based players in the squad include Joe Public foursome Keyeno Thomas, Hayden Tinto Trent Noel and Kerry Baptiste, W Connection trio Marvin Phillip, Jan Michael Williams and Hughtun Hector, Defence Force’s Keston Williams, Caledonia AIA’s Densill Theobald and Keon Daniel and Mau Pau midfielder Lyndon Andrews.
The local contingent will be met in Miami by eleven-overseas based pros called up by Latapy. That list includes Sunderland duo Carlos Edwards and Kenwyne Jones, Walsall goalkeeper Clayton Ince, Hamilton defender Marvin Andrews, Bolton Wanderers defender Jlloyd Samuel, Wrexham’s Silvio Spann, LA Galaxy midfielder Chris Birchall, San Jose Earthquakes forward Cornell Glen, Wigan Athletic forward Jason Scotland and new Swansea City signing Radanfah Abu Bakr.
Fulham striker Bobby Zamora is in the squad to complete a 22-man squad as well but is expected to undergo observation on an injury before traveling.
Bakr meantime, on the heels of signing a new short-term deal with Swansea, said he was thrilled with his new move and is hoping to take his game to a higher level.
“I’m obviously delighted to be here,” Bakr told TTFF Media on Sunday. The Championship is highly competitive, with some massive clubs, so it's a challenge I’m anxious to undertake. Swansea are an ambitious club, with an impressive new stadium, great fans and I feel really welcomed here,” he added.
“The experience with the national team has been a tremendous one so far and I’m hoping to grow with every outing. Getting out here in England should help me take my game to the next level and I’m hoping to use this opportunity to make myself a more complete player for the international stage as well. We have a good squad and these two games coming up are obviously crucial to our qualifying chances. Hopefully we can dig deep and achieve the desired results,” Bakr added.
His contract is until January with the option to extend thereafter.
Meantime, Honduras forward David Suazo, who has been sidelined from Honduras, Trinidad and Tobago and Mexico.
Suazo, who plays for Inter Milan, was injured in the spring playing for Portugal's Benfica with a knee injury, is back in the national squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against.
"Fortunately, Suazo feels good," Honduras coach Reinaldo Rueda said on Thursday. "According to what he shows, we'll decide if he plays or not."
US names Findley in roster to face T&T
United States midfielder Robbie Rogers and forward Robbie Findley, who is eligible of playing for Trinidad and Tobago were selected for their first World Cup qualifiers versus El Salvador on Sept. 5 and at Trinidad and Tobago four days later at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
US coach Bob Bradley chose a mostly unchanged roster following the 2-1 loss in Mexico City.
Landon Donovan was named on Thursday despite coming down with swine flu ahead of the Mexico game, while Jozy Altidore will return from England, where the teenager posted his first goal for Hull this week.
Star defender Oguchi Onyewu, who failed to get into AC Milan's season opener last weekend, was suspended for the El Salvador match after getting his second yellow card. against. Findley was part of a previous T&T training camp in the United States.
Trinidad & Tobago Roster:
Goalkeepers
Clayton Ince (Walsall/ENG), Marvin Phillip (W Connection), Jan Michael Williams (W Connection).
Defenders
Keyeno Thomas (Joe Public), Radanfah Abu Bakr (Swansea City/ENG), Marvin Andrews (Hamilton Academical/SCO), Jlloyd Samuel (Bolton Wanderers/ENG), Silvio Spann (Wrexham/ENG), Keston Williams (Defence Force).
Midfielders
Lyndon Andrews (Ma Pau), Hughtun Hector (W Connection), Densill Theobald (Caledonia AIA), Carlos Edwards (Sunderland/ENG), Trent Noel (Joe Public), Christopher Birchall (Los Angeles Galaxy/USA), Keon Daniel (Caledonia AIA), Hayden Tinto (Joe Public).
Forwards
Kerry Baptiste (Joe Public), Kenwyne Jones (Sunderland/ENG), Jason Scotland (Wigan Athletic/ENG), Bobby Zamora (Fulham/ENG), Cornell Glen (San Jose Earthquakes/USA).
Honduras Roster:
Goalkeepers
Noel Valladares (CD Olimpia), Donis Escober (CD Olimpia), Ricardo Canales (Motagua).
Defence
Edgar Álvarez (Bari/ITA), Osman Chávez (C.D. Platense), Víctor Bernárdez (Anderlecht/BEL), Mauricio Sabillón (Marathón), Maynor Figueroa (Wigan Athletic/ENG), Emilio Izaguirre (Motagua), Erick Norales (Marathón), Carlos Palacios (Real España), Bonieck García (C.D. Olimpia).
Midfielders
Amado Guevara (Toronto FC/CAN), Wilson Palacios (Tottenham Hotspur/ENG), Julio César de León (Torino/ITA), Hendry Thomas (Wigan Athletic/ENG), Ramón Núñez (Cruz Azul/MEX), Danilo Turcios (CD Olimpia), Melvin Valladares (Real España).
Forwards
Walter Martinez (Marathón), Carlos Costly (Wigan Athletic/ENG), Carlos Pavón (Real España), Jerry Palacios (Marathón), David Suazo (Benfica/POR).
United States Roster:
Goalkeepers
Brad Guzan (Aston Villa/ENG), Tim Howard (Everton/ENG).
Defenders
Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes/FRA), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96/GER), Jay DeMerit (Watford/ENG), Clarence Goodson (IK Start/OR), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan/ITA), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United/ENG).
Midfielders
Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach/GER), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Clint Dempsey (Fulham/ENG), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus/DEN), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), Jose Francisco Torres (Pachuca/MEX).
Forwards
Jozy Altidore (Hull City/ENG), Conor Casey (Colorado Raphids), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Charlie Davies (Sochaux/FRA), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake).