Hyland expects 100 percent from Warriors.
T&T Guardian Reports.
Belgium-based Soca Warriors midfielder Khaleem Hyland says he is expecting nothing less than 100 percent from his team-mates tomorrow when the Soca Warriors entertain Panama in an international friendly at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.
Speaking yesterday, Hyland of Racing Genk said, “We’ve been working hard for the past couple days in training. Obviously the coach is looking at a few new faces because the big picture is the Gold Cup and the World Cup qualifiers. I for sure would like to make it to a Gold Cup Finals and even win it as well as to play in a World Cup.
“But this is all part of that journey. I hope we can get things right and pull off a decent performance on Friday. The public needs to support this team now because when you look at all our opponents in Concacaf, everybody is on board with the football team and supporting them from the early stages. Hopefully we can get the same kind of love and support from our people as well.”
Hyland’s fellow Carenage-born resident and Orlando City midfielder Kevin Molino also wants to see this country’s senior footballers step up to the call tomorrow.
The 24-year-old Molino, who has netted 11 goals in 29 internationals, trained with his team-mates, several of them for the first time, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo yesterday as coach Stephen Hard oversaw a lively session as the players pushed themselves for selection in the starting XI of the upcoming encounter.
Molino said the mood in the camp, which includes 11 players who will be aiming for their first senior appearance, has been upbeat but he knows that the newcomers will have some nerves to overcome as he recalled his early days with the senior team.
“It’s always good for new players to come in. You can always learn from a younger player or a senior player. You can encourage the younger ones and encourage them for the future. And I’ll do whatever I can do to guide them on the right path along with the other senior players and the coaches.
“I’ve always said it’s very important to get a cap early in your career so that when you go into international competition or games you will not be shell-shocked. You want to get games under your belt as soon as possible. I was lucky to get early caps under Russell Latapy at age 18 and it helped me along with my career now. I just hope the guys can live up to the challenge and expectations and listen to what the coach has to tell them and I think everything will be okay,” he said.
The Carenage-born player described the preparations as positive so far.
“I see a lot of positive things in training. We are still learning more about each other as it’s not like a club when you get to spend long periods together. We’ve just got to come together this week and work as best as we can and pick things up quickly. I think so far things have been shaping up quite well and it’s just about getting ready for the game on Friday and going out there to give a good performance and build on it for the Gold Cup and the World Cup qualifiers,” the former Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive player said.
T&T faces Guatemala in its opening Gold Cup fixture on July 9, Cuba (July 12) and Mexico three days later and Molino sees Panama as proper opponents in preparation for these clashes.
“Panama have been improving rapidly and they have a strong Central American influence and style that is similar to Guatemala and Mexico. This game will give us a good idea of what we need to do in our approach for the Gold Cup games and the qualifiers later this year.”
Today, both Hart and Panama's head coach Hernan Dario Gomez will be the feature speakers at a pre-match press conference at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, VIP Lounge from 2.30 pm.
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Hart to assess locals as T&T host Panama.
By Nigel Simon (Guardian).
Soca Warriors coach will be having a close eyes on his locally-based players when T&T tackles Panama in an international friendly at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, from 7pm tonight.
According to FIFA records, T&T leads the all-time series, holding a 7-3 advantage in wins from 13 previous encounters.
In their last meeting Panama, won 3-0 on September 7, 2010 in Panama City, but the last time both teams faces off in T&T, the Soca Warriors came away with a 1-0 at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella on March 18, 2009.
Speaking at a pre-match conference at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo VIP Lounge, yesterday, Hart said the match for his squad, which comprises only four overseas players is a unique chance for both himself as a coach.
A former Canada national coach Hart said, “It’s the first international match for us in 2015 and I am really excited with it being against Panama which is coming off a Concacaf Gold Cup finals appearance versus the USA, last year, as well as being some seconds away from qualifying to the playoffs for a spot at the last FIFA World Cup.”
“So it will surely be a good test for our young players as we look ahead to this year’s Concacaf Gold Cup and World Cup Qualifiers, and Panama being a team we could end up facing in either tournaments.”
Commenting on the team’s preparations for the match, Hart said it has been very different to the ones in the past because of the amount of new faces in the team.
“”I must say, its been very different and as much as I’m learning about them, they are also learning about what I expect of them.
“From the feed back I have gotten, the new guys are quite aware of the difference in speed of play from the local club level to what is required at the international stage as well as the intensity, and overall its been an eye opening experience for them.|
With regards to the opposition, Hart who led T&T to a quarterfinals appearance at last year’s Gold Cup before losing to Mexico, and a runner-up spot in the Caribbean Cup to host Jamaica said it will be a good challenge for his youthful team.
He added: “We have reviews some tapes of some of there (Panama) matches and they normally play a solid and rigid 4-4-2 format, they are very athletic and play more of a South American style, than what you expect from Central American teams.”
Asked what was his overall aim of the match and what he hopes to achieve by exposing more local talent to international matches, Hart said he was looking at increasing the competition for places on the team towards the major tournaments.
“The biggest test for the youngsters In think will be how they cope with concentrating for long periods in the game. I will be looking at how well the guys simulate the ideas given and how well they work together,” he added.
Panama coach Hernan Dario Gomez who missed the press conference as his team had a training session at the match venue during the same time knows that his team will be challenged.
Children under the age od 12-year-olds are free while coolers will be allowed in the un-covered stands.
Tickets for the T&T versus Panama encounter cost $100 and are available at Fan Club MovieTowne (PoS, Trincity Mall, Gulf City Mall), All Out Restaurant (QP Oval), Heritage Sports Tobago, Ramsingh's Sportsworld, Couva, Econo Supermart and Kenny's Sports Shops and also at the venue today. Gates open at 4 pm.
T&T Squad
Jan Michael Williams (Central FC), Marvin Phillip (Pt Fortin Civic Centre), Sheldon Bateau (KV Mechelen), Justin Hoyte (Millwall), Mekeil Williams (W Connection), Jamal Jack (Central FC), Akeen Benjamin (Central FC) Shannon Gomez (W Connection), Uriah Bentick (Central FC), Dwane James (North East Stars), Khaleem Hyland (Racing Genk), Jomal Williams (W Connection), Neveal Hackshaw (North East Stars), Marcus Joseph (Pt Fortin Civic Centre), Aikim Andrews (W Connection), Hashim Arcia (W Connection), Ataullah Guerra (Central FC), Kevin Molino (Orlando Cuty), Tyrone Charles (San Juan Jabloteh), Willis Plaza (Central FC), Akeem Garcia (W Connection), Johan Peltier (San Juan Jabloteh)