Densill, Ince & Avery in squad for Grenada warm ups.
By: Shaun Fuentes.[/size]
The President’s Eleven team which will face Grenada’s National Team in two friendly matches later this month will have the likes of overseas-based players Clayton Ince, Avery John and Densill Theobald in it. This was confirmed by team manager Bruce Aanensen on Tuesday after head coach Leo Beenhakker extended the invitation to these players to have a chance to run out for action prior to the upcoming friendly international against Peru on May 10.
All three players have been included in the 24-man squad selected for the Peru match and subsequently the World Cup and they will join the home-based players selected like Atiba Charles, Anthony Wolfe, Anthony Rougier, Cyd Gray and Aurtis Whitley among other invitees. The games will be played at Larry Gomes Stadium from 7pm on April 25 and on April 27 at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium same kick off time.
The chance to return home to play in the two matches was welcomed by the trio who have all seen limited action for their respective clubs. Ince has hardly featured this season for Coventry City while Theobald is yet to make a first debut at Falkirk while John has been on the bench since New England Revolution kicked off its MLS campaign earlier this month.
“The coach felt it was an ideal opportunity for the players to come back home and get some time in with the other players who have been included in the 24-man squad,” Aanensen said. “And they all agreed to come which is boost because it gives the coach a good opportunity to work with them before the slate of friendly matches coming up starting with the one against Peru.”
Theobald is keen to return home for action.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity because now I can get some of this excitement off my chest after getting the news of being listed in the 24-man squad by the coach. I am really anxious to play for the national team again,” Theobald told TTFF Media. “I have been working hard in training and playing regularly for the reserve team but there’s nothing like being able to play for the national team and the chance to come back and work with the coach is coming at the right time,” he added.
Veteran midfielder Russell Latapy commented on the selection of Theobald and others who can still be considered relatively young members of the team such as Carlos Edwards, Cornell Glen, Silvio Spann, Chris Birchall, Anthony Wolfe and Kenwyne Jones.
“It’s fantastic for them. I worked on getting Densill up here because once I saw him when I first rejoined the team I thought he was a fantastic talent. Unfortunately he has not had the chance up here for several reasons with the main being because of the fact that when he came here we were not getting the results and the coach changed the type of game we were playing which was to play a more going from back to front type of game,” Latapy said.
“I think these are all experiences that the older players like myself went through and this is why it is so good for them to be getting this type of opportunity now. They still have more than half their careers in front of them and knock on wood they will not have any major injuries, they should now grab this opportunity with both feet because they are the future of football in Trinidad and Tobago. Whoever is going to be in charge after the World Cup and especially if Leo stays on, he knows he can count on these guys because not all of us will be around after the Finals. This is a massive chance for these guys to stamp their authority,” Latapy added.
