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1

Football / Re: 2024 First Citizens Cup Thread

« on: Yesterday at 09:58:36 PM »

Leacock’s ‘amazing’ night...Scores hat-trick as Defence Force defeats AC Port of Spain to win the First Citizens Cup
T&T Express

“Don’t give up for one more day.”

That is what Defence Force player Isaiah Leacock was thinking ahead of Wednesday night’s First Citizens Cup Knockout final against his former team, Athletic Club of Port of Spain at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

At the end of it, he was celebrating his second hat-trick in as many matches as the Army/Coast Guard combination whipped the recently crowned league champions AC PoS 3-1 to successfully defend their KO title.

Leacock opened the scoring for Defence Force in the 22nd minute after AC PoS skipper Duane Muckette gave the ball away in midfield.

Muckette, trying to clear the ball, struck it straight to Shaquille Bertrand who dribbled down the left flank before finding Matthew Woo Ling who sent in a cross to the middle of the 18-yard box where Leacock directed the ball past AC PoS keeper Marvin Phillip to put his team 1-0 up.

Defence Force were on the attack again early in the second half, with Jelani Felix taking a free-kick from just outside the penalty area which Phillip held on to with ease.

But the AC PoS custodian later lost his composure when he brought down Woo Ling by the neck, after the player ran in front of him as he tried to advance the ball down the field.

The referee had no hesitation in showing Phillip a red card, forcing AC PoS to make a few changes, with Che Benny being subbed out to bring on substitute keeper Jacques Poon-Lewis.

But Poon-Lewis couldn’t save the resulting penalty, which Leacock struck straight down the middle and into the roof of the net in the 52 minute to double the lead.

Leacock finished off the scoring for his team in the 62nd, when he struck a left-footed bullet from outside the penalty box for which Poon-Lewis had no response.

AC PoS pulled a goal back in the 72nd minute after Jamal Charles was brought down by Jamali Garcia in the penalty box with captain Duane Muckette stepping up to make it 3-1.

But the league champions couldn’t get closer as Defence Force ended the local campaign on a high, having won all three of their encounters against their rivals this season.

“The feeling is amazing and against my former team, it really feels good,” Player-of-the-Match Leacock said after the win.

“The team that put me on the market is AC Port of Spain and I just transferred over to Army to get better playing time and stuff like that,” he added.

Meanwhile, Defence Force head coach Lloyd Andrews praised the performance of his team but said the season isn’t over just yet.

“Firstly, I want to thank the Lord for keeping us healthy and giving us this victory. I want to thank the men and the Chief of Defence Staff and his team and all the staff members,” Andrews stated.

He continued: “The gameplan was to crowd them out in the middle of the park and reduce their possession to play with the ball.”

Asked what the win meant to the team after they had failed in their quest to retain the league crown, Andrews said: “We wanted to be the first to do the double”.

Asked to reflect on the season, he added: “We are still in the season because we have to play in Curacao shortly, so we want continue our preparation so when we go out there we can give a good account of ourselves for Trinidad and Tobago.”

“We just want to prepare with what we have now and go and bring glory back to Trinidad and Tobago,” he said.

For AC PoS, it was a disappointing end to the local season but technical secretary at the club, Gilbert Bateau said they will keep working.

“(It was) disappointing yes,” he said after the loss.

“We didn’t stick to the plan but credit to Defence Force because they came out and showed the hunger and that was probably the difference. We started to do it maybe too late in the game,” Bateau continued.

“That was uncharacteristic because the atmosphere in the camp during the week was good enough to prepare properly for the game but sometimes it doesn’t always go your way.

“I will say AC Port of Spain is a young team and it is not always you get to be at this level consecutively. We’ll just keep working,” he added.

2

Football / Re: Caribbean Queen's Football Tournament Thread

« on: Yesterday at 09:39:20 PM »

Women Warriors edge Aruba 2-1 in Queen's Friendly
By Walter Alibery (T&T Guardian)

T&T's Women Warriors got their campaign in the Caribbean Queen's Friendly Football Tournament off to a perfect start, pulling off a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Aruba at the Rignaal Jean Stadium in Curacao Wednesday night.

It was exactly what coach Richard Hood had been hoping for, as he expressed concerns about his players' fitness levels, coupled with a turf surface to which his charges were unaccustomed. Still, with a team stacked with youth and experienced players, the Richard Hood-coached team was competitive at the start, though the Arubans enjoyed the better of the possession earlier on.

But it was the Arubans who drew the first blood in the third minute. Aisse Gombs stormed down the left flank and found captain Soraya Verhoeve to the left of the T&T area. But though being pressured by a couple of defenders, Verhoeve still found room to unleash a thumping shot that sailed over T&T goalkeeper Mikaela Yearwood and into the back post for the 1-0 advantage.

The goal plunged the Arubans into wild celebrations which did not last too long.

A minute later Aruba custodian Bestzile Stampo committed the ultimate sin when she tried to find her defender with a feeble pass across her own goal area, but it was intercepted by striker Tori Paul who only had the privilege of firing the ball into an empty Aruba net for a 1-1 scoreline.

The teams went to the halftime interval with the scores leveled at one apiece and when they returned, Hood's charges looked more purposeful, despite uncomfortable underfoot conditions.

However, they got the winning goal in the 67th minute. Victoria Swift delivered from a right-side corner and overlapping defender Shauna Lee Govia bundled the ball inside, despite feverish attempts by the Aruba defenders to clear it.

The Women Warriors will today face Curacao in their second match of the tournament tonight at 7 pm at the same venue.


Trinidad and Tobago (4-1-4-1): 21.Mikaela Yearwood (GK); 15.Kanika Rodriguez (5.Anastasia O’Brien 78), 8.Victoria Swift (captain), 2.Shaunalee Govia, 4.Kaitlyn Darwent (3.Ariana Borneo 68); 6.Chrissy Mitchell; 7.Alexcia Ali (12.Cherina Steele 78), 10.Asha James, 14.Orielle Martin (19.Talia Martin 59), 20.Ke’die Johnson; 9.Tori Paul.

Unused substitutes: 1.Maya Figgener (GK), 11.Rasheda Archer, 13.Sonia Lamarre, 16.Hackeemar Goodridge, 17.Mariah Williams, 18.Tayeann Wylie.

Coach: Richard Hood

3

Football / Re: Denzil Smith Thread

« on: Yesterday at 09:13:14 PM »

Soca Warriors Garcia, Smith visit alma mater Shiva Boys Hindu College
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday)

SOCA Warriors players Isaiah Garcia and goalkeeper Denzil Smith were filled with nostalgia when they visited their alma mater Shiva Boys Hindu College on May 29.

The former Shiva Boys players rubbed shoulders with the students and shared their insights in an impromptu ceremony, in what the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) hopes will be the first of many school tours and initiatives as they try to raise awareness for the Fifa 2026 World Cup qualification campaign.

Grouped with Bahamas, Costa Rica, Grenada and St Kitts and Nevis for the first phase of World Cup qualifying, coach Angus Eve's team will begin their World Cup quest in earnest when they host Grenada at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo from 7.30 pm on June 5.

Not only did the Shiva Boys students get inspirational words from Garcia and Smith, but school principal Dexter Sakal was also presented with 25 tickets for students to attend next week's key encounter.

The 24-year-old Smith, who emerged as T&T's number one goalkeeping choice during their 2023/24 Concacaf Nations League A campaign, was a hero for Shiva Boys during his days in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL). In 2016, Smith's reflexes and fine shot-stopping helped Shiva to their maiden premier division title. The following year, Shiva copped another title when they lifted the national intercol crown.

Known as "Peng" to his teammates, Smith said it felt special to give back to his old school.

"A lot of memories here. Earlier on, when you heard me speak, I was a little emotional," Smith told TTFA media. "After so many years coming back here, to give back something to my old school that gave me everything basically. It's always a pleasure coming back to give to the school and the students in the school. Hopefully, we can see them where I'm at today."

Smith urged the students to trust the guidance of their teachers and remain focused.

"When you do good things, good will follow you. They have a good staff around them so it's just about guidance and it will take them a long way."

Garcia, a feisty right back who plays for T&T Premier Football League club Defence Force, said it was great to be back home.

"Today was definitely a nostalgic day for me after coming back after five-plus years," Garcia said. "It definitely brought back a lot of memories. It's a surreal feeling.

"This is more than just a school for me. It's always been a home. A lot of the staff have been like family to me."

Sakal said the students were proud and honoured to meet the Soca Warriors pair.

Both Garcia and Smith are included in Eve's 39-man provisional squad for T&T's first two World Cup qualifiers against Grenada and Bahamas.

4

Football / Re: 2026 World Cup Thread

« on: May 28, 2024, 07:23:07 PM »

Eve hopes Soca Warriors stay fit for World Cup qualifiers
By Jelani Beckles (T&T Newsday)

HEAD coach of the Trinidad and Tobago men's senior football team Angus Eve is keeping his fingers crossed that his players will remain fit ahead of the first Fifa World Cup qualifier against Grenada with players lining up for their clubs just days before the qualifier.

T&T will play Grenada at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo on June 5 at 7.30 pm. On June 8, T&T will then play The Bahamas away from home.

A 39-member provisional squad was named on Friday.

Speaking to the T&T Football Association media, Eve said, "These 39 (players) are the ones we think...can give us the best chance to start off on a positive head and try to win these two matches and start off with six points in the qualifiers, one game at a time."

Eve is hoping to start a camp between Saturday and June 3. He said it is difficult to start before as players will be unavailable because of club football.

The head coach is hoping none of his players get injured. Many of the foreign-based players are active, while many of the locally-based players will play in the First Citizens Cup Knockout final between AC Port of Spain and Defence Force on Wednesday at Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo at 8 pm.

Eve said, "Players' safety (is a concern) and all these kinds of things. It is terrible that the window starts on the 3rd (of June) and we have to play on the 5th, so players have to travel on the 3rd, most of the players. On the 1st and 2nd we still have players playing matches outside. We have the locally-based players playing in a final this coming week, a couple days before the game. We still have to look and see who will come through those games unscathed."

A few players have received first-time call-ups including Tyrese Spicer, Dantaye Gilbert and Steffen Yeates.

"Young Spicer has been doing tremendously well for Toronto FC," Eve said. He wanted Spicer and another upcoming player Wayne Fredericks II, who was not named on the squad, to play earlier this year. "We did try to get him and Fredericks for the two Jamaica friendlies (in early March)...but he (Spicer) had an injury at that point in time and also Fredericks had an injury in that time, so we never got them. It is a delight for us to actually have the opportunity to call him (Spicer) up. He has been doing very well for his club."

Speaking about Canadian-based Yeates, Eve said, "We have been behind Steffen Yeates since last October. There were some administrative issues...but we think we are very close (to sorting out his documents), so we wanted to put him in the training squad, so just in case that his documents come through he will be already in the squad. We have really been having good conversations with him."

Eve did not want to call up Netherlands-based Gilbert right away. "We have been following Dantaye...the tricky thing about these things is that when a young player goes to Europe you want him to settle in at his club first before you drag him out of his club. If he stays over there for three, four months and get in the system and get in the training that they have out there...if they could do that quality training in that high-intensity environment then he is going to be better for us when he comes back to the national team."

5

Football / Re: Chris Birchall Thread

« on: May 28, 2024, 12:03:59 PM »

Chris Birchall took on England's Golden Generation at the 2006 World Cup ... now he's paid £40-a-game as a referee but is determined to reach the top
By Liam McMillen (The Daily Mail)

When Howard Webb became the head of the PGMOL in 2022, he urged ex-players to become 'trailblazers' and turn to refereeing after retirement.

Just sixteen months later, that trailblazer seems to be 2006 World Cup star Chris Birchall, who is picking up the whistle as he aims to become one of only a select few to manoeuvre from playing to officiating.

Birchall has recently completed a refereeing course at the Staffordshire FA, where he was the only ex-player, and he made his debut as the man-in-the-middle for an in-house Port Vale academy game recently.

'I have a lot more respect now for decision-making and how hard it is. It's positioning and knowing where to go so you don't interrupt the play', the 39-year-old tells Mail Sport.

For an entire generation of football-crazy Trinidadians, Birchall is the hero that helped to fire the Caribbean Island nation to its first-ever FIFA World Cup Finals.

The Staffordshire-born midfielder, who was nicknamed 'Me Mum' by the Trinidadian faithful because of his typically Northern response as to why he qualified to play for the nation, rocketed home from 35 yards to equalise for the Caribbean side in their 2006 qualifying play-off first-leg against Bahrain.

The goal helped the Soca Warriors to qualify for the 2006 tournament and play in a group with Sweden and Paraguay, as well as England's golden generation.

Lining up against Gerrard, Lampard and Owen wasn't Birchall's only brush with footballing royalty, as three years later he went on to play alongside, rather than against, David Beckham at LA Galaxy for three years.

On home turf, he would also play in all three football league divisions for his hometown club Port Vale, as well as Coventry City and Brighton.

During his diverse career, thoughts of officiating were bubbling under the surface as he was calling time on his playing career.

'The refereeing was always in the background. I had a lot of respect for refs, and it was something that I thought I could possibly do,' he says.

If the former midfielder climbs the ranks as an official, he'll join just one former notable Football League player to have gone from player to ref.

Only former Huddersfield Town, Bradford City and Chesterfield defender Steve Baines has made the leap from playing to EFL refereeing, and that was thirty years ago.

After a unique career, and one of the more baffling CVs in the game, Birchall looks set to continue down the road less taken, but he understands why footballers don't tend to turn to officiating.

'There's just no financial reward for it at the beginning.' says Birchall, who is currently getting paid £40 a game for his officiating in the Staffordshire area.

'When you're starting out on your journey you would need to have enough money from your playing career, or you'd need a job to go with it.

'For me it's a challenge and if I can be a catalyst for ex-players then that's a step forward.'

Birchall believes that his illustrious playing career, and the dark arts he picked up along the way, can lead to a successful career as the man in charge.

'I know if players are trying to kid the referee. I know what players are doing because I used to do them myself.' laughs Birchall.

'It's just trying to use my experience. I think it's about building that rapport with the players. That's what I want to do. Be humble, have a smile on your face and be a referee that you can relate to, really.'

Officiating wasn't Birchall's first post-retirement goal. He got a degree in Professional Sports Writing & Broadcasting from Staffordshire University in 2016 but has since found that the punditry work has dried up.

'I found it very difficult for opportunities. I was getting bits and bobs here and there for TalkSPORT and Sky Sports News, but it was sparse.

'To make that your living, you need to have an income enough for a full-time job, which it wasn't for me.'

Birchall is, once again, working his way up in the profession and it's a climb he compares to starting out as a footballer.

'It's like being in non-league football. You earn your stripes to then progress.

'For me, it's doing my games, enjoying it, and trying to bring a player knowledge to refereeing.'

After the comedown of retirement, and the difficulties of his punditry career, Birchall has a new lease on life with his movement into refereeing.

'It's come at a good time. I'm hoping the opportunity arises, where if I'm good enough I can progress. It all comes down to ability. I can want it all I want but I must be good enough to do it.'

If he comes anywhere close to emulating his star-studded football career, then he will surely join the exclusive list of people to both play and officiate in the professional game.

6

Gols Galore Trinbago Style / Re: Molik Khan

« on: May 27, 2024, 09:58:18 AM »

Colorado Rapids 2 vs Minnesota United 2 (May 26, 2024)

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/WCAh9DhSenA?start=827" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/WCAh9DhSenA?start=827</a>

7

Football / Re: Molik Khan Thread

« on: May 27, 2024, 09:57:38 AM »

Molik Khan scores just seven minutes after entering the game, to cap off Minnesota United 2's 2-0 win over Colorado Rapids 2.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/WCAh9DhSenA?start=827" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/WCAh9DhSenA?start=827</a>

8

Football / Re: 2026 World Cup Thread

« on: May 26, 2024, 08:08:12 AM »

Woodley, Gilbert, Spicer in Eve's 39-man provisional squad
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian)

National coach Angus Eve has picked a 39-man provisional squad that sees call-ups for Dantaye Gilbert (Jong - PSV), Tyrese Spicer (Toronto FC), and Steffen Yeates (Pacific FC), as well as several players who created a stir at the last two international friendly encounters with Guyana at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo.

They include veteran marksman Kevon 'Showtime' Woodley and Ezekiel Kasar of Point Fortin Civic. The squad will be used to prepare for the coming matches against Grenada on June 5 and the Bahamas on June 8 in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

Eve only a day ago received news of Honduras being his opponent in the Concacaf Nations League on September 6 away, with French Guiana also being a counterpart four days later on September 10. Eve's charges will then face Cuba in two matches away and at home on October 10 and 14 in Group B.

Eve, when asked for his thoughts on the group he described it as tricky.

"I wanted to play Jamaica actually because you know what happened to us in the Concacaf Gold Cup, so we're a bit sore with that, but we wanted to be back in the 'A' League so we wanted to play these types of games. You could imagine an opportunity to play them at home at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, the people really want to come out and see the Jamaicans and see how we match up against them because they think that we are a different team than the one in the Gold Cup," Eve said yesterday.

According to Eve- " Honduras, good unit, well coached and I think they're in transition, kind of like us. They're not a team to take lightly at all, these Central American teams are very competitive and you look at French Guiana. We played them at the Gold Cup and beat them on penalties and they had guys in the team who played with Paris St Germain and that kind of thing, so they're still going to have these types of players coming into the group, so it would be a tricky match for us."

"And then Cuba, you see what they did at the Gold Cup, they're an extremely competitive unit and we have to play them twice, so they're a very tricky team, but we want to be here, we want to be playing these games and these games are going to get us back to where we want to be," Eve noted.

The Soca Warriors will carry the burden of a World Cup qualifying spot which has been made easier by the World Cup being hosted in the Concacaf region by Canada, USA, and Mexico. Eve will have a busy schedule with his players having to contest the Nations League and the World Cup Qualifiers.

This he also described as tricky for his charges. " Based on how it is stretched out, it's going to be a tricky one because I keep saying that we don't get the time to expose players. Anytime we play, it's a tournament scenario, but if we can get the opportunity to expose players in the Nations League we will but we do not want to come out of the 'A' League so it's very tricky."

"If you continue to play the players, they're playing at their clubs, they're coming back to play, they're doing a lot of traveling to play for the national team, so we want to limit the amount of flying so the nations league team may be a little bit different, but still trying to maintain our position in the 'A' League while trying to qualify for the Gold Cup."

PROVISIONAL SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Denzil Smith (Club Sando), Aaron Enill (Prison FC), Christopher Biggette (Defence Force), Adrian Foncette (Miscellaneous Police FC);

Defenders: Aubrey David (CS Cartagines—Costa Rica), Alvin Jones, Robert Primus (both Miscellaneous Police FC), Isaiah Garcia, Justin Garcia (both Defence Force), Josiah Trimmingham (Montego Bay Utd—Jamaica), Shannon Gomez (San Antonio FC—USA), Andre Raymond (unattached), Jesse Williams (Chattanooga FC—USA), Sheldon Bateau (SK Beveren—Belgium), Leland Archer (Charleston Battery—USA), Triston Hodge (Hartford Athletic—USA), Ross Russell (Terminix La Horquetta Rangers);

Midfielders: Duane Muckette, Michel Poon-Angeron (both AC Port of Spain), Kevon Goddard (Defence Force), Andre Rampersad (HFX Wanderers—Canada), Kristian Lee Him (Eskilstuna—Sweden), Matthew Woo Ling (Defence Force), Noah Powder (Northern Colorado Hailstorm—USA), Dantaye Gilbert (Jong PSV—Netherlands), Steffen Yeates (Pacific FC—Canada), Molik Khan (Minnesota Utd II—USA), Daniel Phillips (St Johnstone FC—Scotland), Ajani Fortune (Atlanta United—USA);

Attackers: Kaile Auvray, Nathaniel James (both Mount Pleasant FC—Jamaica), Real Gill (Northern Colorado Hailstorm—USA), Reon Moore (Pacific FC—Canada), Malcolm Shaw (Cavalry FC—Canada), Levi Garcia (AEK Athens—Greece), Tyrese Spicer (Toronto FC—Canada), Ezekiel Kesar (Point Fortin Civic), Kevon Woodley (Morvant Caledonia Utd), Ryan Telfer (HFX Wanderers—Canada).

9

Football / Re: Caribbean Queen's Football Tournament Thread

« on: May 25, 2024, 07:22:04 AM »

Coach Richard Hood dissatisfied by women's club football
By Enrique Rupert (T&T Newsday)

The Trinidad and Tobago senior women’s football team will compete in the Caribbean Queen’s friendly tournament hosted by Curacao Football Federation from May 28-June 3.

The team left for Curacao on May 24 and will play Aruba on May 29 and June 2 and Curacao on May 30 and June 3.

At a press briefing on May 23 at the La Horquetta Recreation Ground, head coach Richard Hood said, “I’m really happy for the opportunity for the young ladies to participate in international competition, particularly in a year when there’s no (FIFA and Concacaf) tournaments for the senior team.”

Hood also named his 22-member squad for the tournament, which includes 14 teenagers.

Twenty-nine-year-old defender Victoria Swift and 24-year-old midfielder Asha James will be key figures in the team, as they have the most experience. Over a dozen players are poised to make their debuts during the tournament.

Hood looks at this tournament as a way to expose the team in a more “relaxed environment.”

“We’re giving them an opportunity to play in a more relaxed environment without the pressures of having to qualify, to play some of the better teams in Concacaf."

The Women Warriors last played on December 5 against Mexico in a Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup qualifier, losing 1-0.

Newsday asked how the team has improved since the December 5 loss, Hood replied, “I have to be honest; we have not done anything since December 5.

“We have just activated the girls for this tournament and it is my hope that after the tournament that we continue the programme, continue the training with a local group and keep engaging the foreign players as well, so when the international windows come around, we will be prepared.”

With the lack of professional women’s football in T&T, Hood wants to see vast improvements.

“I have my criticisms of the T&T Women's League Football (WOLF). I would like to see teams investing a little more in their clubs and their preparation to play football – they need to play at a higher level and at a faster tempo.

“We lack a professional league, unlike the men. It’s for us to try and create an environment to prepare the girls to play international football. We have to play and train at a higher level.”

Hood hopes that a league such as the 2016 Women's Premier League (WPL) returns, as it was a “fantastic endeavour.”

He wishes women’s football improves in the near future, starting with the developmental programmes for young girls across T&T.

“I think we need to get our girls involved in the game much earlier. We have to pay attention to what we’re doing with them at that level (grassroots).

“In T&T we depend on results and we want to win and not think about development, and it’s something we need to pay much more attention to.”

Last year, the team finished bottom of their three-team Concacaf Women's Gold Cup qualifying group with Mexico and Puerto Rico, with a solitary point from four matches.

In their last eight games, T&T have drawn two, lost six and have not won any matches.

The team’s last win came in 2022 on April 9, as they ran riot against the Turks and Caicos Islands, defeating them 13-0.

The T&T women are ranked 75th by Fifa. Curacao and Aruba are ranked 179th and 185th respectively.

After the press briefing, T&T played Club Sando women’s team and won 1-0 after going ahead within the first ten minutes of the match.


T&T senior women’s team:

Goalkeepers: Mikaela Yearwood, Maya Figgener

Defenders: Victoria Swift, Shaunalee Govia, Latifha Pascall, Kaitlyn Darwent, Anastasia O’Brien, Kanika Rodriguez, Ariana Borneo, Chrissy Mitchell, Hackeemar Goodridge

Midfielders: Kedie Johnson, Orielle Martin, Rasheda Archer, Tori Paul, Cherina Steele, Mariah Williams, Tayeann Wylie

Forwards: Alexcia Ali, Talia Martin, Sonia Lamarre, Asha James

10

Football / 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League Thread

« on: May 25, 2024, 07:16:03 AM »

Soca Warriors open Nations League campaign vs Honduras on September 6th
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday)

Trinidad and Tobago's men's football team will begin their 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League A campaign away to Honduras on September 6, while they will also tackle French Guiana and Cuba in a competitive group B lineup.

Due to the peculiar "Swiss style" group setup, coach Angus Eve's Soca Warriors team will not be required to play Nicaragua and Caribbean rivals Jamaica who are also in group B.

In the 2023/24 Concacaf Nations League A campaign, T&T advanced to the knockout stage of the competition for the first time after recording dramatic home wins against Curacao and Guatemala, to go along with a nail-biting 3-2 win away to El Salvador. With 2024 Copa America qualification on the line, T&T couldn't quite get over the quarterfinal hurdle, as they fell to a 4-2 aggregate loss to eventual champions US.

Meanwhile, in their Copa America play-in match against Canada in March, T&T succumbed to a 2-0 loss after conceding a pair of second-half goals.

The 82nd-ranked Honduras also experienced Copa America heartbreak, as they suffered a tough penalty shootout loss to Mexico in the quarterfinals, before going down by a 3-1 margin to Costa Rica in their play-in match.

After tackling Honduras, the Soca Warriors will play their first home game of the campaign when they entertain French Guiana four days later on September 10. In October, Eve's charges will put their Nations League fate on the line with a pair of matches against the 169th-ranked Cuba. T&T will journey to their Caribbean opponents on October 10, before the return fixture on October 14.

The top two teams in the group will advance to the quarterfinals, where they will join the four highest-ranked League A teams (Canada, Mexico, Panama and reigning champions USA.

The quarterfinals will be contested in November 2024 in a home-and-away format, with the victorious teams advancing to the Nations League A finals in March 2025.

T&T are currently preparing for their Fifa 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign which kicks off with a matchup against Grenada at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on June 5. Last week, with a largely locally based squad, T&T got a pair of friendly wins versus Guyana in Mucurapo.

Concacaf Nations League A groups:

Group A: Costa Rica, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Martinique, Suriname.

Group B: Cuba, French Guiana, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Trinidad and Tobago.

11

Football / Re: Caribbean Queen's Football Tournament Thread

« on: May 24, 2024, 10:02:30 PM »

Hood names women’s team to play in Curaçao tourney
T&T Express

HEAD COACH Richard Hood has named a 22-woman squad for the Trinidad and Tobago senior women’s football team that will compete in the May 28-June 3 Caribbean Queen’s Friendly Tournament 2024, hosted by the Curaçao Football Federation.

The tournament will see the Women Warriors play two matches each against Aruba and hosts Curaçao. The competition was created to provide the participating teams an opportunity to play this level of football since there will be no CONCACAF or FIFA women’s competitions this year. According to the TTFA web site, the T&T team will feature a developmental team with a mixture of TTFA High Performance Programme and senior players. Trinidad and Tobago National Under-20 and TTFA High Performance player Orielle Martin is a member of the team.

Hood will be assisted by TTFA Director of Youth Football and Women’s U-17 national team coach Rajesh Latchoo.

T&T SQUAD:

GOALKEEPERS- Mikaela Yearwood, Maya Figgener

MIDFIELDERS- Kedie Johnson, Orielle Martin, Rasheda Archer, Tori Paul, Cherina Steele, Mariah Williams, Tayeann Wylie

DEFENDERS- Victoria Swift, Shaunalee Govia, Latiha Pascall, Kaitlyn Darwent, Anastasia O’Brien, Kanika Rodriguez, Ariana Borneo, Chrissy Mitchell, Hackeemar Goodridge

FORWARDS- Alexcia Ali, Talia Martinm Sonia Lamarre, Asha James

HEAD COACH- Richard Hood

12

Football / Re: 2024 First Citizens Cup Thread

« on: May 24, 2024, 09:56:31 PM »

Defence Force, AC Port of Spain to meet again for FCB Cup title
T&T Express

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) and current TTPFL league champions Athletic Club of Port of Spain (AC PoS) will face off in a repeat of last year’s final when they renew their rivalry in the TTPFL First Citizens Cup Knockout Final.

In the first semi-final of a double-header at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Thursday night, Isaiah Leacock scored a hat-trick to lead the Army to a 5-0 shutout over the hapless Central FC.

His goals were complemented by a goal each from national players Justin Garcia and Brent Sam.

The result meant the Defence Force, who defeated AC PoS 5-3 to lift the crown last year, would be back to defend their title.

Once again, they will square off against the “Capital Boyz” who easily overcame Prison Services FC 4-1, thanks mainly to a Duane Muckette hat-trick.

On Thursday, national midfielder Muckette was ubiquitous in the game in which Prisons showed glimpses of resilience before collapsing in the second half.

Captain Muckette and his squad set the foundation in the first half when dominating play and attempts at goal (shots 12-3). It was a defensive error by Wesley John that allowed Muckette to get his name on the scorecard in the 16th minute.

Withstanding an opening 15-minute barrage, John could not get his hand out of the way when the ball was played into the box from the right flank from AC PoS’ winger Jean-Paul Rochford.

Muckette stepped up to the penalty mark and duly converted. Muckette’s other goals would come through good service from winger Che Benny.

After AC PoS had strung together a series of passes to advance from the midfield, Benny chipped perfectly for Muckette to head home in the 36th.

Prisons were still in the game when Seon Thomas benefited from an accurate left flank cross to tap in past AC PoS custodian Marvin Phillip in the 39th minute and make it a 2-1 half-time score. But the “Capital Boyz” would assert themselves in the second half, Muckette registering his hat-trick in the 58th minute.

Again Benny was the provider, this time from right side, employing an in-curling left foot cross that picked out Muckette perfectly, for a well struck header.

AC POS’ Sedale McLean would get an insurance item in the 63rd minute after he and Muckette played several one-twos from midfield into the Prisons penalty area before McLean slammed past Prisons goalkeeper Aaron Enill.

TTPFL First Citizens Knockout Cup results:

Defence Force 5 (Isaiah Leacock 20’, 70’, 74’, Justin Garcia 51’, Brent Sam 86’pen.) vs Central Sports 0

AC POS 4 (Duane Muckette 16’pen., 36’, 58’, Sedale McLean 63’) vs Prison Services 1 (Seon Thomas 39’)

13

Gols Galore Trinbago Style / Anthony Herbert

« on: May 23, 2024, 11:43:46 AM »

New York City FC II vs New Mexico United (May 21, 2024)

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/W-hEPb7oQ40?start=865" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/W-hEPb7oQ40?start=865</a>

14

Football / Re: Gavin Hoyte Thread

« on: May 21, 2024, 03:49:49 PM »

Gavin Hoyte: What’s it like to represent a country you didn’t grow up in and might barely know?
By Jay Harris (The Athletic)

Receiving a call-up to represent your country should be one of the biggest honours in sport, but for people with dual nationality, it can raise questions about cultural identity.

Jamal Musiala is one of hundreds of footballers eligible to represent more than one country. He scored for England Under-21s in a 5-0 victory over Albania in November 2020. Seven months later, he came off the bench for Germany’s senior side during their 2-0 loss to England in the last 16 of Euro 2020.

“I have a heart for Germany and a heart for England,” Musiala told The Athletic. “Both hearts will keep beating. In the end, I just listened to the feeling that over a long period kept telling me that it was the right decision to play for Germany, the land I was born in. Still, it wasn’t an easy decision.”

Tariq Lamptey is another player with dual eligibility. He watched from the bench when Musiala represented England Under-21s against Albania four years ago. Since then, he has represented Ghana at the 2022 World Cup.

Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise has been capped by France at under-18 and under-21 level, but could still represent the England, Nigeria or Algeria senior sides. FIFA rules were updated in 2020 to allow players who have no more than three senior appearances to switch if those appearances were under the age of 21 and not at a major tournament. Three years must also have passed since they played for the team from which they are switching.

Former Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool defender Steven Caulker switched to Sierra Leone (below) before the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. He had made one appearance for England in a friendly against Sweden and represented Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics, but his grandfather, William, came from the town of Bonthe in Sierra Leone. The defender told The Athletic that representing the African nation was “more than about just playing football”.

At this year’s tournament, which was held in Ivory Coast, around a third of the 629 players were born outside of Africa. Sebastien Haller, who scored the host nation’s winner in the final against Nigeria, grew up in France.

So how do players decide who they should represent? Should their first choice be the country they were born in or whoever calls them up first? What if they have a closer connection to the country their parents are from? And should a team’s competitiveness be a consideration?

The Athletic examined what it’s like to play for a country you didn’t grow up in.

Gavin Hoyte started his career in Arsenal’s academy, following in the footsteps of his older brother Justin. In 2007, when he was still 17, Arsene Wenger gave him his debut in an FA Cup fifth-round replay against Blackburn Rovers.

A few months later, he received a letter in the post saying he had been selected to represent England at the Under-17 European Championship in Belgium. He made two appearances at the tournament but was an unused substitute in the final, which they lost 1-0 to Spain.

England then qualified for the Under-17 World Cup in South Korea but, before it started, Hoyte was placed in a confusing position. His father, Les, was born in Trinidad & Tobago and they would be competing too.

“Liam Brady (Arsenal’s head of youth development and academy director at the time) called me into his office and said Trinidad wanted me to represent them,” Hoyte tells The Athletic.

“I was born in England and I had never been to Trinidad. They had already qualified and I didn’t feel I had the right to change and take somebody else’s place who maybe deserved it more than me for Trinidad.

“I was playing for Arsenal and doing quite well. A lot of boys dream of playing for England at Wembley and I just wanted to try to do that.”

Hoyte featured in all of England’s matches at the tournament, but they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Germany while Trinidad & Tobago finished bottom of their group.

The defender’s career progressed and in November 2008, he made his Premier League debut as a substitute in Arsenal’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City. He signed a long-term contract in December, joined Watford on loan for the rest of the season, and went on to represent England’s under-18s, under-19s and under-20s.

However, he never established himself at Arsenal. He had loans to Brighton & Hove Albion, Lincoln City and AFC Wimbledon, but was released in 2012. He joined League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge and his performances caught the attention of Trinidad & Tobago’s manager.

“I got a message from the manager Stephen Hart,” Gavin says. “He said, ‘We have some games coming up and I want you to join us because you would be a good addition’. He then gave me a call and he was so encouraging it made my decision very easy.”

Hoyte was called up for two friendlies in June 2014. The squad met up on the main island, which gave him the opportunity to explore where his father and grandfather had grown up.

“A few of the players used to take me out, show me around town and get street food,” he says. “They could have thought, ‘He is a foreigner, he is not actually one of us, I don’t really want to speak to him’. But they weren’t like that at all. They were very good to me.”

His debut was as a substitute in their 3-0 defeat to Argentina, a game that also featured his brother Justin, who similarly switched from England youth levels to Trinidad & Tobago. It was Argentina’s penultimate warm-up match before the World Cup in Brazil and it was played at the Estadio Monumental.

“I just tried my best to take it all in,“ Hoyte says. ”I was playing for Dagenham in League Two in front of not that many fans and then suddenly you’re playing in Buenos Aires. Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria and Javier Mascherano were all there.

“It was packed with Argentinians and there was this little section of Trinidad fans making as much noise. I know my dad was watching and would have been so proud. My grandad passed away, but he used to keep all the newspaper clippings about our careers so he would have been proud too.”

Hoyte also came off the bench in a friendly against Iran, yet had to wait over 12 months before making his next appearance in a 2-1 win over Panama. It turned out to be the final time he would play for Trinidad & Tobago. The 33-year-old spent the last five seasons with sixth-tier side Maidstone United.

“To represent a country at any level is a big thing,” Hoyte says. “It’s definitely one of my biggest achievements along with making my debut in the Premier League. I’ve got a picture up on my wall in my bedroom of me and my brother in our Trinidad tracksuits at (Argentina’s) stadium.

“I still look back and think representing England at youth level was a massive achievement too, if you think of how many players there are in England. I didn’t make it to the senior side, but that’s just football.”

15

Football / Re: 2023/24 TTPFL Thread

« on: May 21, 2024, 03:13:53 PM »

Duane Muckette: TTPFL champs AC PoS took nothing
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday)

NEWLY-MINTED Trinidad and Tobago Premier Football League (TTPFL) tier one champion captain Duane Muckette said Athletic Club of Port of Spain (AC PoS) took nothing for granted this season.

The attacking midfielder skippered his team to the coveted title on Sunday, scoring once in a 3-0 victory over Heritage Petroleum Point Fortin Civic on the league’s final match day.

AC went into the last round of matches atop the standings, but just two points ahead of tailing title contenders Miscellaneous Police FC. The win for the Capital Boys at Mahaica Sports Complex affirmed the 2024 crown and also eclipsed Police’s 1-0 win over Central FC, which confirmed their second-place finish.

Last season, AC PoS faced a similar scenario as they headed into the final game with a two-point advantage over Defence Force.

However, the PoS team stumbled at the last hurdle with a 2-1 loss and scuppered their chance of lifting the inaugural TTPFL tier one trophy.

This year would be no repeat.

“We’ve worked hard all season. We’ve prepared, we’ve slugged it out, we stuck together and very happy to bring home the title.

“The harder the battle the sweeter the victory. We took nothing for granted. We didn’t get complacent and game by game, we remained concentrated,” said an elated Muckette before the trophy presentation.

The AC captain opened the scoring in the 27th minute and so it remained until half time. Nathan Lewis sent them 2-0 up in the 67th before midfielder Michel Poon-Angeron successfully converted a penalty in the 77th to confirm the league crown.

Muckette said heading into the final day, with the title on the line, the team had one job to do.

“To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect (against Civic). I just came to put in the work, the whole team came with that intention, and we knew once we did that everything would fall into place.

“We had to score the chances. We created a lot of chances, and sometimes we don’t put it in, but today we hit the back of the net.”

Though elated, Muckette said they would celebrate after the match, have a rest day on May 20 and return to training on the next two days, ahead of their First Citizens Cup semi-final clash.

He added, “A lot of celebration but we still we’re going to go forward and buckle down for the knockout to come. There’s a chance for us to win two domestic titles and we want to give it our all.”

Rounding off this year’s league table was Police in second, last year’s winners Defence Force third, Club Sando fourth and Terminix La Horquetta Rangers fifth.

Tobago’s 1976 FC Phoenix placed sixth in their first season in the top flight, Caledonia held on to seventh, Civic eighth, Prisons FC ninth, Eagles FC tenth and Central FC in cellar position.

16

Football / Re: 2023/24 TTPFL Thread

« on: May 20, 2024, 07:26:19 PM »

Capital Joy: AC Port of Spain land first league title
By Garth Wattley (T&T Express)

Last year, the title got away from Athletic Club Port of Spain (AC PoS). Not this season.

Yesterday the “Capital Boyz” wiped away last season’s final day heartbreaking, title-losing defeat to Defence Force, by winning their last match this season and thus sealing a first national league title.

AC PoS left nothing to chance as they went to Mahaica in the deep south and shut out Heritage Petroleum Point Fortin Civic 3-0 to ensure they did not allow second-placed Miscellaneous Police the chance to snatch the coveted Trinidad and Tobago Professional Football League (TTPFL) crown away.

Police beat Central F C 1-0 at their Ken Cooke, St James Barracks ground. But neither the fact of the three points nor the slender size of the victory was sufficient to upset the AC apple cart yesterday.

“The feeling right now is a joyous feeling,” AC PoS coach Walt Noriega told the Express after the victory. “Last season we let it slip on the last day and this season we were determined not to let it happen again.”

Speaking ahead of the match, Noriega had warned: “I think the boys learned from last year. They know now it is not to take anything for granted and we have to do the business to execute to get over the line this year…The senior players, keeping them focused and letting them know we still need to do the business on the day of the game.”

Yesterday, AC PoS got the leadership they needed to complete the job. Captain Duane Muckette scored the opening goal in the 27th minute to give his side a 1-0 half-time lead and set up the second for Nathan Lewis in the 67th, while a Michel Poon-Angeron penalty completed the South job for the Capital Boyz 13 minutes from full time.

The new champions found the ruthlessness in front of goal that the Lawmen lacked against Central FC. While they dominated possession against the only team without a league win this season and had 24 shots on goal, only nine of those were on target, and just Joevin Jones’ 75th minute left-footed strike hit the back of the net for Police.

“Today wasn’t one of our better games,” admitted Police assistant coach Todd Ryan, who handled the side in place of the suspended Wendell Joseph. “We always knew coming into this one AC had their own fate in their hands but all in all, second is not a bad place.”

Muckette set the tone for his side at Mahaica, latching onto a cut-back from the left bye-line to beat the Civic goalkeeper with an uncontested shot. He also turned provider for Lewis in stylish fashion.

Intercepting a pass out of defence, Muckette advanced into the 18-yard box but had the presence of mind to backheel for his teammate who drove a low shot into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

Police still had not scored at that point. But the Capital Boyz did not relax. And when Poon Angeron was fouled in the penalty area, he got up and sealed the deal, hitting the ball to the keeper’s right as he dove left.

Civic didn’t get it right yesterday afternoon, but AC PoS just didn’t let them. This was not a day when a season’s hard work was going to be undone again. “It just shows that the work that we have been doing for the last two years, the rewards are there,” Noriega noted.

“The first half of the season we had nice momentum. In the second part of the season we had a little slip-up because of the breaks in the league but the boys were always in and about the title challenge. So it augurs well for the team, it augurs well for the organisation that the club is showing strides that they willing to compete at this level,” added Noriega.

Attention now turns to Thursday’s First Citizens Cup semi-finals, where new league champs AC PoS will take on Prison FC while Central FC will meet Defence Force.

Yesterday’s final round TTPFL Tier 1 scores:

Pt Fortin Civic 0 vs AC PoS 3 (Duane Mucktte 27th, Nathan Lewis 67th, Michel Poon-Angeron (pen) 77th)

Police FC 1 (Joevin Jones 75th) vs Central FC 0

Club Sando 4 (Shackiel Henry 25th, Jabarri Henry 57th, Marc Warfe 68th, Nathan Quashie 90th) vs La Horquetta Rangers 1 (Isaiah Lee 49th)

Defence Force 5 (Shaquille Betrand 18th, Mathew Woo Ling 45+4, Kevon Goddard 74th, Kaihim Thomas 82nd, Codell Bailey 90+1) vs Eagles FC 1 (Michel Huguens 44th)

1976 Phoenix 1 (Sherwin Lovell 76th) vs Morvant Caledonia FC 0

17

Gols Galore Trinbago Style / Re: Malcolm Shaw

« on: May 19, 2024, 11:28:41 AM »

Cavalry FC vs York United (May 18, 2024)

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/Nl3lO6Hi3_U?start=305" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/Nl3lO6Hi3_U?start=305</a>

18

Football / Re: Malcolm Shaw Thread

« on: May 19, 2024, 11:27:52 AM »

Malcolm Shaw's header off a corner earns Cavalry FC a 2-2 draw with York United.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/Nl3lO6Hi3_U?start=305" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/Nl3lO6Hi3_U?start=305</a>

19

Football / Re: 2023/24 TTPFL Thread

« on: May 19, 2024, 08:10:17 AM »

AC Port of Spain hunt TTPFL title: 'We're no fluke'
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday)

ON May 19, the Trinidad and Tobago Premier Football League (TTPFL) will crown a new champion in its second season, when table-toppers AC PoS (41 points) and the second-placed Miscellaneous Police FC (39 points) stake their respective claims for the 2023/24 title.

AC PoS, who finished an agonising second to Defence Force in last year's inaugural campaign, will play the eighth-placed Heritage Petroleum Point Fortin Civic at the Mahaica Oval in Point Fortin, while Police will host the cellar-placed Central FC at the St James Police Barracks. Five games will be played on Sunday to conclude the league season, with each match kicking off at 4 pm.

Last season, AC PoS were faced with a similar scenario as they headed into the final game of the season with a two-point advantage over Defence Force. However, the "Capital Boys" critically stumbled at the last hurdle when they succumbed to a 2-1 loss to the Army/Coast Guard combination in a thrilling season finale at the Arima Velodrome.

Speaking with Newsday, AC PoS manager Junior Maxwell says the team doesn't feel any pressure heading into the final game of the season, and they are looking for a more favourable outcome this time around.

"There are no jitters. We have just been working hard in training and trying to continue doing what we have been doing all season – and that's continue to play good football," Maxwell told Newsday.

"For us, it's just another game. Yes, we're two points clear, but it's just another game for us to go out there and play football.

"We continue to show people we're no fluke. We continue working hard and it's all about progression from last year."

AC PoS and Police, who added players such as Khaleem Hyland, Robert Primus, Mekeil Williams and Soca Warriors right back Alvin Jones to their lineup for the current season, have constantly changed hands at the TTPFL summit.

In recent weeks, both teams dropped crucial points on their quest to clinch the $250,000 TTPFL top prize. AC PoS drew 1-1 with Prisons FC on May 2, while Police were held to a 3-3 draw in an exciting thriller away to Tobago's 1976 FC Phoenix on May 5, with veteran striker Anthony Wolfe scoring an own goal deep into second-half stoppage-time.

In their last two games, though, AC PoS have found their stride with wins over the tricky Phoenix (3-2) and the fourth-placed Tiger Tanks Club Sando (32 points).

While Maxwell says AC PoS just need to stick to their regular game, Police coach Wendell Joseph is hoping the Capital Boys can have another slip-up right at the death to allow the lawmen to ascend to TTPFL supremacy.

"It's business as usual. We don't know what will happen Sunday in Point Fortin, but we're preparing as normal," Joseph said.

"We're going into the game positive. We think we will get a positive result against Central, and hopefully, Point Fortin can play some good football and upset AC PoS.

"Nobody wants any team to come and celebrate in their backyard. Hopefully, that will be motivation enough for them to put up a good fight."

Police finished fifth in the league last season, and Joseph credits the team's turnaround to their injection of experienced national players and the rise of promising youth players.

"Being a young staff, I think we got the chemistry right at times and that has been a part of our success this season," Joseph said.

With the third-placed Defence Force (37 points) hot on their heels, Joseph said it's a must-win situation for Police regardless as they want to secure a top-two spot to advance to the Concacaf Caribbean Cup. AC PoS have already sealed their Concacaf Caribbean Cup spot for a second straight season, while the third-placed team will qualify for the CFU Caribbean Shield.

"We just hope we can build on this and hopefully we can qualify for the Concacaf Club Championship automatically and we extend our season a little more and represent the country."

Defence Force will play Eagles FC at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar. In the other TTPFL matches on the final day of the season, Club Sando will host Terminix La Horquetta Rangers at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, while Phoenix will host Caledonia at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, Tobago.

When the last ball is kicked in anger at approximately 6 pm, a new TTPFL king will be crowned.

TTFPL tier one standings:

Team*GP*W*D*L*GF*GA*GD*Pts

1.AC PoS*19*12*5*2*46*21*25*41

2.Police FC*19*11*6*2*42*20*22*39

3.Defence Force FC*19*11*4*4*35*19*16*37

4.Club Sando*19*9*5*5*30*24*6*32

5.La Horquetta Rangers*19*8*4*7*38*34*4*28

6.Caledonia*19*6*6*7*32*26*6*24

7.1976 FC Phoenix*19*7*3*9*32*37*-5*24

8.Point Fortin Civic*19*6*5*8*26*27*-1*23

9.Prisons FC*20*7*1*12*25*37*-12*22

10.Eagles FC*19*5*5*9*23*30*-7*20

11.Central FC*19*0*2*17*13*67*-54*2

20

Football / Re: Caribbean Queen's Football Tournament Thread

« on: May 19, 2024, 07:57:12 AM »

T&T women set for Caribbean Queen's football tournament with Aruba and Curaçao
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday)

Trinidad and Tobago senior women's football team will get the opportunity to engage in friendly competition when they participate in the three-team Caribbean Queen's tournament in Curaçao from May 28-June 3.

The invitation to the tournament was extended to T&T by the Curaçao Football Federation, with all matches being hosted at the Stadion Rignaal 'Jean' Francisca in Willemstad. Aruba will be the other team involved in the week-long tournament.

Each team will play each other twice, in what will be the senior team's first action since their 2024 Concacaf women's Gold Cup qualifying campaign ended at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo last December.

"The respective member associations have been working together to facilitate the tournament to provide competitive matches for our respective women's teams as there are no Concacaf or Fifa women's competitions this year," a T&T Football Association (TTFA) release said on Friday.

The team will once again be led by former Police FC coach Richard Hood, who will be assisted by TTFA Director of Youth Football and T&T women's Under-17 coach Rajesh Latchoo.

The release said Hood's squad will be a "development team" featuring senior players, members of TTFA's ongoing High Performance programme and standout performers from the 2024 Republic Bank National Youth Football League campaign.

"This tournament is viewed as an ideal opportunity to continue to expose our younger players to a competitive environment," the release said.

The women Soca Warriors will play their first game of the tournament on May 29 against Aruba, before playing hosts Curaçao a day later. After a two-day rest, Hood's team will wrap up the friendly competition with matches on June 2 and 3 respectively.

Last year, the women Soca Warriors finished bottom of their three-team Concacaf women's Gold Cup qualifying group with Mexico and Puerto Rico with a solitary point from four matches.

The T&T women are ranked 75th by Fifa, while Curaçao and Aruba are ranked 179th and 185th respectively.

21

Football / Re: Tyrese Spicer Thread

« on: May 17, 2024, 06:53:46 AM »

‘I was a step ahead’: Toronto FC’s Tyrese Spicer on going head-to-head with Nashville’s Jacob Shaffelburg
By Andrew Hockridge (Waking the Red)

On Wednesday night in Nashville, a showdown between two of the fastest players on the pitch saw Tyrese Spicer tasked with keeping Jacob Shaffelburg at bay.

That was part of the game plan that acting Toronto FC head coach Jason de Vos and his team aimed to execute to secure at least a point in Nashville. That part of the plan was effectively accomplished and TFC were on the verge of departing Nashville with a point before slipping to a late 2-0 defeat.

Making his seventh start for the club, the Reds’ No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft Spicer was matched with CanMNT winger Shaffelburg the familiar face to TFC fans. And Spicer was confident that he stood up well to the task.

“I mean, he had a lot of experiences and he’s a very good dynamic player,” Spicer told reporters post-game of his effort to contain the pacey winger.

“I would say I was up to the task. I didn’t doubt myself at all. I was believing myself. It was self-belief. You could do anything with that. John [Herdman] was like, you have [the] quality of the speed to match his speed.”

With determination on his side, Spicer faced the challenge head-on. And assistant coach De Vos, stepping up in John Herdman’s absence, was proud of how his team matched up against a side who weren’t able to find their stride until the dying minutes of the game.

“I thought the players that stepped in today did an excellent job and executed the game plan,” De Vos told reporters in the post-game press conference.

“Just to be a tight team, to be very difficult to play through, to beat, to deal with their front two. And the pace that they have and the pace of Shaffelburg, who we know very well from our time with the national team.

“For large parts of the game, we did that. There’s a lot to be proud of, a lot to be pleased with.”

Despite facing unfortunate circumstances with a long list of injuries and suspensions, TFC’s makeshift lineup performed well, setting the stage for former Lipscomb University man Spicer to impress with a strong individual performance.

He did his job on Shaffelburg; by the time the Reds succumbed to late goals from two of Nashville’s second-half substitutes, Shaq Moore in the 81st minute and Teal Bunbury in stoppage time, Shaffelburg had been off the field for more than 20 minutes as he was substituted on the hour mark.

“I think I was just focused. I was always a step ahead of [Shaffelburg]. And I think that I did well. My teammates were like ‘really good job’ [at] half-time. Again, go back out there second half and do the same job. And I think I did a good job. I think John should be [happy]. I’m happy with that.”

Looking ahead, TFC must maintain their focus for their upcoming home games as they host Canadian rivals CF Montréal at BMO Field on Saturday for the 42nd installment of the 401 Derby.

“I just think that we look forward to that Montréal game,” Spicer added. “It’s going to be a derby game. It’s going to be my first derby game. I think it’s going to be very aggressive, very intense, very high-tempo game.

“Playing at home, BMO Field, we play for the fans, we play to entertain the fans. So I think we have a good mindset. We go back to the training ground and practice and come out there strong and get that three points on Saturday.”

Unless TFC’s absentee list improves dramatically over the next 48 hours, Spicer could be in line for a big role again.

22

Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs Guyana Games (13 & 15 of May-2024)

« on: May 15, 2024, 05:43:20 PM »

WATCH LIVE: Trinidad and Tobago vs Guyana

23

Football / Re: The Legends are coming.

« on: May 15, 2024, 04:41:05 PM »

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/-nLbmLRKRHA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/-nLbmLRKRHA</a>

24

Gols Galore Trinbago Style / Re: Neveal Hackshaw

« on: May 15, 2024, 11:03:15 AM »

New Mexico united vs Oakland Roots (May 11, 2024)

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/AIRGWzNVDQc?start=184" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/AIRGWzNVDQc?start=184</a>

25

Football / Re: Neveal Hackshaw Thread

« on: May 15, 2024, 11:02:21 AM »

Oakland Roots captain Neveal Hackshaw's deflected shot trickles into the New Mexico goal to level the game at 1-1 against New Mexico United.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/AIRGWzNVDQc?start=184" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/AIRGWzNVDQc?start=184</a>

26

Football / Re: The Legends are coming.

« on: May 15, 2024, 06:58:07 AM »

Inspiration for Generation Now
By Garth Wattley (T&T Express)

IT had been a long time since the Hasely Crawford Stadium had been turned into a red sea. On Friday it came close to that.

It took Kaka, Rivaldo, Cafu, Edmilson, Dwight Yorke, Russell Latapy and their colleagues from the Legends and T&T All-Stars teams to bring the people out to watch football.

By all accounts, a good time was had by all. The fans got ten goals to watch and saw Kaka and Anthony Wolfe score share six of those ten between them.

It was striking to me that so many people would still be interested in paying good money to see players well into retirement and past their athletic best kick the football around.

Jamaal Shabazz, currently the national coach of Guyana had a reasonable theory about the turnout.

“It easy to say that people came out to see the Brazilians,” he said but added, “I think it (also) shows how much the people of Trinidad and Tobago appreciate the likes of Russell Latapy and Dwight Yorke, and those guys of that era.”

Most definitely, there would have been an element of nostalgia surrounding the charity match. People still remember the football the 1989 “Strike Squad” played. And 2006 was less than 20 years ago, when Strike Squad graduates Latapy and Yorke went to Germany as part of the first T&T team to have qualified for a World Cup Finals. Since then, there has not been a national side that has achieved anything as significant as that squad fashioned by Dutchman Leo Beenhakker, so Friday’s affair was a chance for the public to relive their most recent best memories, so to speak. That, in itself, says something.

Why, in the 18 years since Yorke led a team that also included Carlos Edwards, Kenwyne Jones, Shaka Hislop, Densill Theobald and Aurtis Whitley to a World Cup, have T&T not produced a crop of players of similar calibre?

That is a question the new Trinidad and Tobago Football Association president Kieron Edwards and his executive must get a definitive answer to, and find solutions for.

Youngsters, like my nephew, who were seeing those stars of yesteryear for the first time, need to form attachments to players of their era. The pre-teens who play the game now, need more than “oldies” like Yorke and Latapy to inspire them. They need to see “live” examples of how a professional footballer today should play the game and carry his or her self.

As Shabazz said: “New stars much emerge. I will like to see that support transferred to the Trinidad and Tobago national team presently, at all different levels, whether it be women, youth or senior men. I will like to see a culture of support every time a Trinidad and Tobago team takes the field.”

What events like Friday can do, is fire the imagination of Generation Now. But the football fraternity must find creative ways to use the rich history of T&T football to encourage greater awareness among the current generation of what went before and what they should be aspiring to.

The TTFA now has a Home of Football. In this age of advanced technology, could not video footage be acquired from the period 1989 to 2006, just to be conservative, and used as a kind of museum exhibit that people can visit? Could arrangements not be made so that something similar can happen at the Ato Boldon, Hasely Crawford, Manny Ramjohn, Larry Gomes and Dwight Yorke Stadiums? And why stop at football? Is it not possible for some of the feats of Ato Boldon, Richard Thompson, Jereem Richards and the medal-winning 4x100 and 4x400 relay squads of the last 18 years to be displayed at these venues also?

Such an innovation will not guarantee future stars, but it will at least ensure that the past is not forgotten and that those playing in the present have targets to aim at, set by ones like themselves.

27

Football / Re: Republic Bank National Youth Football League Thread.

« on: May 15, 2024, 06:53:42 AM »

Pro Series stake claim for two Republic Cup titles
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday)

ON May 25, Pro Series will go in search of two titles in the Trinidad leg of the 2024 Republic Cup competition when they contest the boys’ under-16 final and the girls’ under-20 final respectively.

Last year, Pro Series copped the boys’ under-15 and under-17 crowns in the Trinidad leg of the competition. On Saturday, Pro Series got a right battle from Trendsetter Hawks in their under-16 semifinal at the Hasely Crawford Stadium training field, Mucurapo, but a goal in first-half stoppage-time by Daquan Johnson gave them a pivotal 1-0 win and secured their spot in the final.

The other under-16 semi was also decided by the solitary goal, as Chad Nicholas scored in the 26th minute to secure Beatnix’s victory against FC Ginga at Frederick Settlement, Caroni. In the second game of a semifinal doubleheader at the University of TT, O’Meara campus, Pro Series’ under-20 girls team booked their spot in the final when they came from a goal down to beat the high-scoring Pleasantville FC team by a 3-1 margin.

Pleasantville took the lead in the 18th minute through TT youth star Nikita Gosine, but her national youth teammate Rasheda Archer stole the show as she scored a double to help Pro Series to the precious comeback victory.

In the other girls’ semi, MIC Matura ReUnited did their damage early as they got first-half goals from Eva Nicholas and Jessica Harrigan as they blanked Trincity Nationals by a 2-0 margin.

Also in O’Meara, Central outfit Evolution FC kept rampant national under-20 attacker Malachi Webb in check as they got a 2-0 win over Premier SC to advance to the boys’ under-20 final in style.

In the quarterfinals, the bustling Webb scored a beaver-trick as he fired Premier SC past Pro Series by a 4-3 margin. However, Webb’s threat was kept in check by the centre back pairing of Miqel Samuel and St Benedict’s College captain Joshua Demas. At the other end, Evolution critically did their business in the second half, and they took the lead in the 69th minute when Kermannuel Christopher banged in from close range after a well-worked free kick.

In stoppage time, Evolution got the knockout blow when Kirziah Mayers scored directly from a right-side corner after the goalkeeper made a meal of his left-footed delivery.

In the other boys’ under-20 semifinal in Mucurapo, Athletic International Academy (AIA) conceded a late first-half goal to City FC, but Dalon Sankar scored a second-half double to grant his team a 2-1 comeback victory.

In the boys’ under-14 semis, Samuel Balfour went on a rampage for Union Hall United as he scored three of his four goals in the second half to steer his team to a thrilling 6-3 victory against their South rivals Cox Coaching School.

In the other under-14 semi, Jeremai Nanton scored a brace in the second half as City FC cruised to a 3-0 victory against Cardinals FA. After the Trinidad finals are decided on May 25, the national champions will be crowned on June 1 when the varying Trinidad winners tackle the Tobago champions.

28

Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs Guyana Games (13 & 15 of May-2024)

« on: May 14, 2024, 08:18:02 PM »

'Disappointed' Eve calls on young Soca Warriors to step up
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday)

SOCA Warriors head coach Angus Eve has called on his younger players to step up to the plate following Trinidad and Tobago's 2-1 friendly win over Guyana at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on May 13.

In the first of two friendly matches between the two teams in the build-up to Fifa 2026 World Cup qualifying next month, the hosts stormed out to a 2-0 lead at the halfway mark after a pair of well-taken goals by debutants Ezekiel Kesar and Kevon "Showtime" Woodley, the 2023/24 T&T Premier Football League's (TTPFL) leading goal scorer.

The home team's intensity and control diminished in the second half, though, and the Guyanese came on strong in the second period after grabbing a 47th-minute goal from their tricky winger Kelsey Benjamin. The 25-year-old Benjamin was highlighted as one of the standout players by coach Jamaal Shabazz, who felt the visitors gave a good account of themselves in the "useful exercise."

Eve was pleased with his team's execution of their game plan in the first half, and he said T&T should have capitalised on their positive spells to put the game beyond the "Golden Jaguars" in the first 45. In the second half, though, with the Soca Warriors coach making a handful of substitutions and granting debuts to the midfield quartet of Simeon Bailey, Adriel George, Josiah Wilson and San Juan North Secondary star Lindell Sween, Eve noted a drop in his team's standard.

"I was disappointed. To be fair, I thought it was a game of two halves," Eve told the media after the match. "I thought in the first half we really did what we wanted to do and what we practised. Basically, the ball (retention) was really good in the first half. We moved the ball around and we changed sides. We penetrated and we created opportunities.

"In the second half, that just went to pieces. I know we made some changes and we did play some younger kids but I was disappointed with their quality on the ball."

Kesar and the Caledonia forward Woodley, who has netted 16 goals in the TTPFL this season, were both taken off in the 67th minute as Wilson and the 17-year-old Sween entered the fray. Meanwhile, the central midfield pair of Bailey and George came on in the 76th minute as Matthew Woo-Ling and Daniel David, another debutant, made way.

Operating on the left and right wings respectively, Wilson and Sween looked anxious and hurried in possession, while the latter spurned T&T's best second-half chance after being played through on goal in stoppage time. Known for his sturdy midfield play and tough tackling, the lanky Bailey also wasted a presentable chance when he shot wildly over bar in the 82nd minute after the opposition failed to deal with a Wilson corner.

"I know it's a lot of young kids that we put on, but I expect bigger things from them. Josiah Wilson and young (Lindell) Sween have been playing at national level for a while and they have been playing at senior (club) level for a while, so I expected a little bit more from them today."

Eve said he was initially surprised by Guyana's 5-3-2 shape, which saw their centre-backs and central midfielders getting ample time to stroke the ball around as they looked for gaps in the T&T defence.

Eve felt his team read Guyana's intentions well enough, though, as he said the Warriors limited the clear-cut chances created by the visitors. Eve was pleased with the output of the midfield trio of David, Woo-Ling and Defence Force ball-winner Kevon Goddard, and he said his plan to play two "number tens" alongside the workmanlike Goddard proved effective.

He said there is still room for improvement, particularly as it relates to the fitness of the players.

"I think making the jump up is always going to be difficult," he said. "We have to play more games of this intensity for the guys to really hit their full potential."

Eve also commended the play of flankers Isaiah Lee and Kesar, who gave the T&T attack variety with their contrasting styles. The speedy Lee worked well in tandem with Ross Russell Jr down the left flank to get in behind the defence, while Kesar often drifted inside and found pockets of space outside the area – leading to his goal and a subsequent assist for Woodley.

On the 37-year-old Woodley, Eve said the striker's performance was "fantastic" as he played the number nine role to a T.

"He was a little bit leggy after 55 or 60 minutes, but what he did in the first 45 to 55 minutes is exactly what we expected of him," Eve said.

"He held up the ball, he linked the play well and he got his goal. And his runs off the ball probably deserved a little bit more."

From 7 pm on May 15, Showtime, Kesar and the new band of Soca Warriors players will have another chance to stake their claim for a spot in next month's World Cup qualifying squad.

29

Football / Re: Sheldon Bateau Thread

« on: May 13, 2024, 11:19:32 AM »

Bateau’s World Cup Dream inspires Warriors return
By Gyasi Merrique (T&T Guardian)

T&T footballer Sheldon Bateau is set to end a 10-month absence with the T&T men’s senior football team when the Soca Warriors meet Guyana in two friendly internationals this week at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, Port-of-Spain.

The Belgium-based defender who has been capped 54 times with the T&T senior men’s team says that after “a positive discussion” with head coach Angus Eve he has agreed to play at least one of the two meetings between the Warriors and Golden Jaguars on May 13 and 15, respectively.

He aims to reposition himself as a mainstay in Eve’s plans with FIFA World Cup qualification and CONCACAF Nations League (CNL) campaigns on the horizon.

Back in T&T on holiday from another season with SK Beveren in Belgium’s Challenger Pro League, the second-highest division in that country’s professional league system, Bateau spoke exclusively to Guardian Media Sports on Thursday at his home in East Trinidad.

“It was always a goal of mine and of my generation, to get to a senior World Cup. We’ve been to two youth World Cups before and the bigger picture is getting to the next World Cup and we can only do that with the best players being available,” he said.

“I think we still have enough quality to get to that World Cup and with my level of exposure and experience I would love to be a part of it and help lead the team.”

He added that it was also hard to ignore that the 2026 World Cup to be hosted in CONCACAF by Mexico, USA and Canada will also be expanded to 48 teams from 32.

It means that with the three co-hosts already guaranteed automatic spots at the showpiece event, this confederation will be afforded another three spots from the qualification process and a possible two more via the inter-confederation play-off.

“It is actually one of the best chances that we would have and for me, I like to live my life without regrets. At the end of the day, the coach would pick his squad and that’s up to him but I want to put myself into a position where I have no regrets, I would have given my all like always for my country, and at the end of the day I could live with that.”

Bateau, 33, has not featured in national colours since T&T’s embarrassing exit from the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup in the USA last July, which included being hammered 6-0 by the hosts on July 2 to mark the end of a forgettable campaign. T&T had started the competition on June 25 with an encouraging 3-0 win over St Kitts and Nevis but three days later were blown away 4-1 by Jamaica who at one point led 3-0 after just 30 minutes.

Although Bateau played every minute of each of the three matches, T&T’s final group match against the USA was the last time he represented the senior team. During that stretch of nine matches out of the team T&T beat Curacao 1-0 and lost 5-3 to the same opponents and recorded identical 3-2 wins against El Salvador and Guatemala in the CNL League A group stage. The performances were rewarded with a quarterfinal showdown in the competition against the USA where T&T was again beaten 3-0 in the first leg in Austin Texas before achieving a stirring 2-1 win in front of a home crowd at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

Subsequently, however, the Warriors would also come out on the wrong end of a 2-0 result in CONMEBOL’s Copa America CONCACAF Play-off against Canada for a spot in this summer’s competition.

Finally willing to lift the lid on his absence from the senior team picture during the period Bateau said, “For me, it's all about giving a hundred percent and after speaking with the coach I felt like I wouldn’t be able to do that. I shared that with him and we had a mutual agreement more or less.”

He added, “There would have been other personal issues I would think on both ends probably but, in the end, I would say there was a mutual agreement.

“It is no secret, when you play at a certain level some things as a professional you don’t agree with. Not only myself, other players would have shared their sentiments but for me, the main thing was just the mental factor. Especially after the Gold Cup it was really difficult functioning under the circumstances at a high standard.”

The failed 2023 Gold Cup campaign did not take its toll on Bateau alone. Months later, team captain Kevin Molino suddenly peeled back the veil on the national team and more so the management of head coach Angus Eve.

Days after Eve named Molino in a provisional 40-man squad for the September 2023 international window for CONCACAF Nations League matches, the then Minnesota United playmaker launched a tirade as reported by Wired868.com.

“I don’t want to be a part of this mess,” Molino reportedly told Wired868. “I don’t want to be part of a set-up where the national coach is using the national team for his own benefit. I don’t want to be part of that. For me, he lost the locker room. One hundred percent, he lost the locker room.”

Speaking on Thursday, Bateau, a close friend of Molino dating back to their time with several youth national and club teams, rubbished any idea that his own time away from the national team was a result of being blacklisted.

“It definitely wasn’t connected to the stance that Molino took. That was a personal choice that he made. Of course, we spoke about it and there are things that I agreed with (that he said). It's no secret to anybody who would have been watching T&T for the past few years.”

During his time away, Bateau has thrived at the club level. Initially signed to SK Beveren on loan from Turkish club Samsunspor, Bateau penned a two-year permanent deal at the start of the just-concluded 2023-24 season and was also named club captain.

Following a solid 32 appearances last season, the former Fatima College defender made 28 appearances this season, scoring three goals and providing one assist. This coupled with the fact that another FIFA World Cup campaign is about to begin, Bateau says is the ideal time to resume his international career.

He said, “I feel quite good. To me, age is just a number and to be honest with my experience I think with all those factors I can be an asset to the national team.”

Hopeful for new energy from new executive

Bateau has been capped at Under-17, U-20, and U-23 level for T&T and made his senior team debut in 2013. During his 10-year stint as a senior Soca Warrior, he has played under five different managers.

He has also seen his fair share of TTFA presidents come and go. In April’s TTFA election, Kieron Edwards came into the helm replacing the Normalisation Committee headed by Robert Hadad.

T&T also has continuous top-flight, competitive football being played via the T&T Premier Football League.

All encouraging signs for the country's footballing future, said Bateau.

“Trinidad football has always had potential, it's just for us sometimes to put ego aside and work together at all levels.

“With the league being down for a while, it's really good to have a league up and running, being able to have access to it online is really a good feeling to be able to see some of my peers, some of the youths because I am also looking at younger players to help them to get outside as well, is really positive.

“I think we can work together a bit more at all levels because with these things going on and with the new federation taking over hopefully things can continue to go in a positive direction.”

30

Football / Re: Thread for T&T vs Guyana Games (13 & 15 of May-2024)

« on: May 13, 2024, 11:09:57 AM »

Soca Warriors, Jaguars renew rivalry...first of two-match series tonight at Hasely Crawford Stadium
By Ian Prescott (T&T Express)

LOCALLY-based footballers will get an opportunity to vie for selection ahead of the start of the World Cup qualifying campaign in just over two weeks, when the Trinidad and Tobago men’s national team plays the first of a pair of friendly internationals against Guyana today at the Hasely Crawford Stadium from 7 p.m.

The Soca Warriors and Guyana Jaguars will renew their rivalry, having not met since a 1-1 draw in Port of Spain in March 2022. Three of the last five meetings have ended in 1-1 draws, with T&T winning the other two by 3-0 margins.

T&T head coach Angus Eve thinks the two-match Guyana series gives him a rare chance to develop young players, and also allows deserving ones a chance to vie for selection to his World Cup squad.

“It’s extremely important,” declared Eve. “Every time we play in a (FIFA match) window, it is always a competition match,” he lamented. “So we don’t have opportunities to expose people inside of a window.”

He continued: “So when we get these opportunities, (it is) valuable for us to continue to widen the pool and give young players the opportunity (for selection), which we are doing in this match.”

Likewise, Jamaal Shabazz, the Guyana coach, also cherishes the chance to see his local players in a competitive environment.

“We (now) get to see the locally-based players that actually play in Guyana, “ Shabazz said. “Part of the development process is widening the pool by exposing more players to international football. So this match provides a tremendous opportunity for these guys to get some international minutes,” he added.

Eve will be having a first look at players such as Tobago’s Adriel George, Under-20 player Lindell Sween and rolific Point Fortin Civic goal-scorer Ezekiel Kesar at international level, along with some regulars and other experienced players.

“We have Ezekiel Kesar. Young (Lindell) Sween has been doing well. We exposed Michael Chaves the last time, so we want to continue to give some of these Under-20 players an opportunity to play with the senior team.”

Eve has also recalled Belgium-based defender Sheldon Bateau, whose season recently ended, and also gave a late call-up to veteran striker Kevon “Showtime” Woodley, the top-scorer in the Trinidad and Tobago Premier League at age 38. “We also have some senior guys that (we) haven’t had around for a bit, so we want to give them the opportunity to address us again, seeing that they are available. Ezekiel Kesar has been scoring a lot of goals in the League (TTPFL) and Woodley also has an opportunity. He has been scoring a lot of goals in the League and I think that he deserves an opportunity with the locally-based players.”

Like Eve, Trinidadian Shabazz is using the pair of matches against T&T to have a look at players ahead of the second round of CONCACAF Zone qualifying for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup. T&T host Grenada on June 5, and Bahamas on June 8, while Guyana begin with a tough away match to Panama on June 7, before hosting Belize on June 12.

“The full squad supposed to get together next week, and from this process in Trinidad, we will select who are the local-based players that are going to be in that squad.”

Meanwhile, players screened this week might take note of the area where Eve hopes to have most improvement for the World Cup team. He said that he is happy at the goalkeeping positions, wide backs, and also believes he has goal-scorers.

“Defence has always been an area that we want to strengthen, especially in the centre-back position, and (in the) midfield we want to be a little more faster; we want to be a little bit more expansive. Those two areas, the spine of the team, are places we really want to strengthen,” said Eve.

UPCOMING MATCHES:

Today

7 p.m. - T&T vs Guyana, Hasely Crawford Stadium

Wednesday

7 p.m. - T& T vs Guyana, Hasely Crawford Stadium

Tickets $50 (Covered Section); only available at venue on match day

T&T SQUAD:

Denzil Smith (Club Sando FC), Christopher Biggette (D/Force), Adrian Foncette (Police FC), Aaron Enill (Prison FC). Ross RussellJr (LaHorquettaRangers), AdrielGeorge (1976 Phoenix FC), Robert Primus (Police FC), Andre Raymond, Brent Sam (D/Force), Daniel David (La Horquetta Rangers), Duane Muckette (AC PoS), Ezekiel Kezar (Point Fortin Civic Centre), Isaiah Lee (La Horquetta Rangers), Shervhonez Hamilton (Club Sando), Simeon Bailey (Police FC), Kevon Goddard (D/Force), Jamal Jack (Club Sando), Josiah Trimmingham (Montego Bay Utd), Josiah Wilson (Police FC), Alvin Jones (Police FC), Justin Garcia (D/Force), Liam Burns (AC PoS), Lindell Sween (Caledonia AIA), Matthew Woo Ling (D/Force), Michel Poon Angeron (AC PoS), Sheldon Bateau (SK Bever), Kevon Woodley (Morvant Caledonia).