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Fri, Mar

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Trinidad and Tobago had a seven o'clock training session last night at the match venue at the Barbados National Stadium, prior to meeting arch-rivals Jamaica at 6 p.m. today in the opening game of the Digicel Caribbean Cup Finals.


The teams clash in the first match of a double-header that also sees Cuba and hosts Barbados in a key match-up two hours later.

There was a lot of anticipation in downtown Bridgetown yesterday when the big double-header was the talk of the town. Sponsors Digicel have had a media blitz with radio announcements and full-page ads in the Barbados newspapers. The sponsors also staged a Caribbean Cup Finals family day yesterday to further add to the media promotion.

Yesterday morning, the Trinidad and Tobago "Soca Warriors" had an hour and a half session on a dry ground at the Police Sports Club near Bridgetown, before tackling a lush-looking National Stadium field later on.

Assistant coach David Nakhid, the most experienced player in the T&T squad, was expected to figure heavily in coach Bertille St Clair's plans throughout the tournament.

Yesterday, Nakhid said he was unconcerned about having to play the tough Jamaicans first and regards them as just another opponent. He stated that T&T would go all out to win the tournament, because CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification was a must. Nakhid also found it important that Trinidad and Tobago use the Caribbean Cup to build for the World Cup qualifying campaign.

"I am not concerned about who we play," he said. "What I am more concerned about is how we play. I think we should do well."

Nakhid also praised the efforts of the players in the team.

"This team is still in transitional state, but improving, and hopefully we will do well. I still maintain that it is not as talented as teams of the past, but this is a beautiful team in that there is a lot more committment by the players. Hopefully, we can build on that and get some results throughout this whole World Cup campaign," he added.

But St Clair has taken umbrage to recent reports about his team's performances and said he would not be answering any questions concerning the Warriors.

His opposite number, Jamaican coach Wendell Downswell, was confident he had the talent to start the tournament with a victory.

Downswell told the Express they will be looking to take the ascendancy in the tournament by beating Trinidad and Tobago today.

Like T&T, Jamaica are without their UK-based professionals, but have most of their United States-based MLS players, with the exception of Chicago Fire striker Damanie Ralph. Downswell expects a good game.

"Traditionally, it will always be a classic match-up because it is a clash between the two elite teams in the Caribbean," he said.

The Jamaican coach hinted that a lot depended on them winning the tournament and also qualifying for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. He said their early exit from the World Cup has been disastrous for Jamaican football and a lot depends on them doing well in the Caribbean Cup and getting to the Gold Cup.

"We will be disappointed, yes, if we don't win the tournament," Downswell said, "but it will be a total disaster if we don't qualify for the Gold Cup. Our major goal is to qualify for the Gold Cup."