Maturana not comfortable
By: Nigel Simon (Trinidad Guardian)
Soca Warriors coach, Colombian Francisco Maturana says he is not comfortable with his team’s situation going into its crucial away 2010 Concacaf Second Round World Cup qualifier to Guatemala tomorrow from 10 pm T&T time.
When both teams faced off in Port-of-Spain last month, the Guatemalans got an equaliser three minutes from time to earn a 1-1 draw and its first point.
Guatemala then whipped Cuba 4-1 at home, while T&T went under to the USA 3-0 away.
Speaking after T&T’s 9-0 warm-up win over Dominican Republic Maturana was very cautious looking towards the match.
“I’m not comfortable with our position because I have learnt what is football and the day I don’t have that pressure or worry or pre-occupation about a match is the day I will be back home in Colombia seeing about my horses,” said Maturana.
He dismissed any notion that he was now in a quandry over his team selection, and more importantly his choice of striker/s for the qualifier.
“Its always very important that you have forwards who want to score. That is football but in this sport, two plus two does not always makes four.”
The 23-man T&T team left yesterday for Guatemala, with only one injury concern, striker Stern John of Southampton, who sat out the Dominican Republic friendly.
T&T squad for Guatemala:
Dwight Yorke, Russell Latapy, Carlos Edwards, Christopher Birchall, Darryl Roberts, Clayton Ince, Avery John, Khaleem Hyland, Dennis Lawrence, Osei Telesford, Jason Scotland, Marvin Phillip, Cyd Gray, Makan Hislop, Aklie Edwards, Clyde Leon, Keon Daniel, Anthony Wolfe, Andre Toussaint, Cornell Glen, Keyeno Thomas, Stern John and Gyasi Joyce.