Over the past few months, many fans, including myself have questioned, the government stance, team selection and make up and the governance of the TTFA. Not all are without just cause. however today I was reading an article from TSN webpage regarding the Canadian Men's national team- I found some very interesting comparisons to what is happening with our team as well. SEE BOLD below:
Canada Soccer announced the roster Tuesday, delaying the announcement until all the players could arrive in camp and meet COVID-19 protocols. The games, both to be held in Florida because of pandemic-related travel restrictions, mark the oft-delayed start of World Cup qualifying in the CONCACAF region.
Assembling the roster from around the globe given the current conditions has not been easy.
"What a mission to get that roster in, what a mission," coach John Herdman said with a sigh. "It's been crazy."
The Canadians, ranked 73rd in the world, open Thursday against No. 169 Bermuda in Orlando before facing the No. 193 Cayman Islands on Sunday in Bradenton in first-round Group B play. They will have to play at least 18 more games if they are to make it to Qatar 2022.
Ten of the 24-man roster are 24 or younger, including the 20-year-old Davies. There are two teenagers in Theo Corbeanu and Jayden Nelson, both 18.
The roster has a combined 343 caps with Atiba Hutchinson (84), Milan Borjan (49), Samuel Piette (49), Cyle Larin (31) and Junior Hoilett (27) accounting for 240 of them. Davies has 17 caps.
Seven players — Corbeanu (Woverhampton Wanderers), Ricardo Ferreira (unattached), Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United, Frank Sturing (FC Den Bosch), Joel Waterman (CF Montreal), Alistair Johnston (Nashville SC) and Cristian Gutierrez (Vancouver Whitecaps) — are uncapped.
Another seven have single-digit caps.
"The goal is always to select the best players — players playing at the highest level, players in form, and then to also look at some of the prospects," Herdman said when asked about the youthful roster.
"It is a young team and it is where we're at … There is a lack of experience in here," he added in an interview. "I mean that's normal and there's some things that we're going to have to learn together. But at the same time we've got some really experienced guys in Atiba Hutchinson and Junior Hoilett and Milan Borjan. Those guys, that sprinkling of veterans gives us that wise head and, I think, a real strong leadership core."
So having read this, I will personally take some chill pills and hope for the best and encourage our TnT players to do the best they can in representing TnT during this global pandemic. You are brave and dedicated Warriors.