Pfister off to Gold Cup
...European players join workout
T&T Guardian Reports.
T&T head coach Otto Pfister made his first trip to Tobago last Tuesday at the Dwight Yorke Stadium to take a first-hand look at some of the talent available on the island.
Pfister was accompanied by assistant coaches Anton Corneal and Hutson Charles and observed a match between two teams comprising players from the Tobago Leagues. Some 28 players were seen.
Corneal mentioned that the process would be an ongoing one as Pfister carries out some of his functions as head coach of the T&T Men’s Senior Team.
“It was a good opportunity for the coach to have a look at the players available on the island and it widens his options in terms of the talent pool that is available,” Corneal said.
“We would like the players to know that this is an opportunity for them and even if they are not afforded the opportunity to train immediately with the national team that it does not mean the door is closed.
“We will continue to monitor on an ongoing process and the same goes for players in Trinidad and other areas outside of the country.”
Pfister meantime left yesterday to take in some of the action at the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup in the US. He will attend specific matches in relation to his programme for the national team for the 2014 World Cup qualification.
Pfister, who has conducted three sessions per week for the past month, has left a program for his coaching staff to continue until he returns from the overseas trip.
Pfister also met up and held discussions with some of T&T’s overseas-based players currently home on their off season break.
Kenwyne Jones was among them while Carlos Edwards, Khaleem Hyland, Collin Samuel, Lester Peltier and Jason Scotland were part of Friday’s training session at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
“I always look forward to the opportunity of training and playing with the national team. This is always an honour even though we are coming off a long season.
But it’s good to be back in the mix and it also helps us to keep fit even though we are not playing competitively at the moment,” Edwards said.
