Child’s play for Colombian professor.
By: Lasana Liburd (Express)
Colombian coach Francisco Maturana is yet to give a full-length interview to the local media while his pronouncements are delivered in the third person, usually by assistant coach and stand-in translator Anton Corneal. No matter, because Trinidad and Tobago's new football boss is making himself understood where it matters most-language barrier be damned.
It is debatable where Wednesday's 1-0 friendly win over El Salvador at Macoya, decided by a superb Keon Daniel free kick, will stand in the wider scheme of Trinidad and Tobago's 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Corneal claimed Wednesday's squad could comprise the backbone-at least the local version-of T&T's upcoming campaign but that sounded more than a touch generous. It is unlikely that more than six of the midweek 17-man squad will be in red, white and black gear on June 1 when England visit.
Surely, the T&T Pro League presence within the "Soca Warriors" will grow once Maturana gets a first-hand look at the likes of apparently unfashionable yet talented players like North East Stars defender Glenton Wolfe, United Petrotrin ball winner Romauld Aguilera and Superstar Rangers full back Corneal Thomas.
Pro League club owners, who grumbled at the indifference of previous Dutch coaches Leo Beenhakker and Wim Rijsbergen, would not have been enthused by the composition of Maturana's squad that again seemed to ignore many of their employees. But the difference between Maturana and his predecessors could not be more pronounced.
Rijsbergen was loathe to play without cramming his team with Europe-based professionals and often spoke in disparaging terms of the Pro League. Last October, the former Holland World Cup defender held El Salvador goalless in San Salvador and was keen to stress on the difficulties he overcame to achieve such a result.
The Dutchman told his press officer that he was handicapped by leading a team comprising solely Pro League players who lacked the required (and unspecified) fitness level and diets. For good measure, Rijsbergen also pointed out that the grass was too high.
Yet, Maturana beat El Salvador with two schoolboys in his starting XI and two more on the substitutes' bench. El Dorado Secondary Comprehensive, whose striker Jamaal Gay played the full 90 minutes on Wednesday, must have a mean fitness programme and well-stocked health bar.
"We have to start helping the future of (football in) Trinidad and Tobago," said Maturana, via Corneal, in the post-game press conference. It is a lofty though curious goal for any coach, particularly a foreign one.
Maturana is experienced enough to know it is the Warriors' results in 2008 and 2009, not 2012 and 2013, that will decide his future job prospects. The benefit of the odd cap is debatable too.
Gay and left back Akeem Adams joined the likes of Dwight Yorke, Clint Marcelle and Brian Williams on a list of schoolboys who represented their country at senior international level. That inventory also includes, for the record, Marvin Gordon and Addae Rique.
In short, unless Gay is going to be a regular traveller with the seniors-as Stern John was, 12 years ago-then how much would he benefit from the occasional cap as opposed to putting his head down and trying to make his name with the under-20s ?
But then the maturity of Gay and others is a debate for the future. Defence Force striker Richard Roy and Superstar Rangers forward Josimar Belgrave, two of the hottest young Pro League properties, might not enjoy the snub but there was much to savour in the attitude and application of Maturana's charges.
There was a fear-unless I am alone here-that some kids out of their depth would be muscled off the turf against an El Salvadorian outfit who started their World Cup qualifying programme in February with a 12-0 win over Anguilla.
Four starters from the Anguilla rout were absent on Wednesday while the scorers of 11 from the dozen goals were not in the starting team, which might half explain El Salvador's toothless performance. But it does not negate the attempt at patient, thoughtful play from the hosts.
The Warriors' passing looked painfully slow at times-patience surely is not a byword for idling-while right back Kern Cupid succumbed more than his teammates to the desire to whack the ball towards the opposing central defender. Yet, it was heartening to see the local team attempt to keep possession and calculate attacks with collective play.
In defence, too, they defended in two blocks of five players rather than tiring themselves out chasing the Central American outfit. The new-found subtlety seemed lost on the packed and otherwise appreciative audience who were itching for adrenalin.
"Allyuh put pressure on the ball!" they shouted.
"Stop playing around and kick the ball up!"
Perhaps Maturana might next consider dropping the age of the supporters.