Senior Warriors begin final leg of DCC preparations.
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).
Trinidad and Tobago’s senior team will begin its final leg of preparations at home on Monday before departing for Martinique on November 23 to contest the Finals of the Digicel Caribbean Cup.
And today (Sunday) head coach Russell Latapy will be monitoring closely the Group H encounter between Antigua/Barbuda and Cuba as the result is likely to determine T&T’s opponent in their opening match of the tournament on November 26. Both Cuba and Antigua/Barbuda are locked on four points each after their two games thus far.
With training set for 4pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Latapy’s team will not play a friendly international on Wednesday which is a FIFA date. Latapy has invited three additional players to the squad which includes the twenty players who were already involved in the recent Digicel Cup Group F phase during which T&T won all three matches at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium.
The three additional players include San Jose Earthquakes striker Cornell Glen and Joe Public’s Hayden Tinto as well as ex-English-based player Silvio Spann who is now attached to W Connection in the T&T Pro League. The likes of Joevin Jones, Lester Peltier and Clyde Leon who were carrying injuries in the latter part of Group F action, are on the road to full recovery in time for the upcoming slate of matches in Martinque.
T&T will open on November 26, they then face Martinique on November 28 and Grenada on November 30. The four finalists will qualify for the 2011 Concacaf Gold Cup while the two finalists will battle on December 5 for a first prize of USD120,000.
LA Galaxy midfielder Chris Birchall has not confirmed his availability, having been invited to join the squad for the Digicel Cup Finals. The same goes for European-based duo Khaleem Hyland and Darryl Roberts.
“It appears that Chris Birchall may not be available but we are not yet counting him out as of now and Khaleem and Darryl have indicated to us that they are definitely not available as their seasons are in full swing and the tournament does not fall within the FIFA calendar,” team manager David Muhammad told TTFF Media.
Birchall’s La Galaxy plays Dallas in the MLS Cup on Sunday for the right to contest the Final on November 21 in Toronto.
“But we are confident in the ability of the current squad of players. We saw for ourselves that they are capable of producing the goods and delivering results as was the case in the recent three matches. The final 20-man squad for the tournament will be announced next week prior to the team’s departure for Martinique,” Muhammad added.
In related news, Digicel currently have Sunderland academy coaches in Antigua and Barbuda conducting coaching clinics and taking in the Digicel Cup action. And Sunderland Academy assistant manager Kevin Ball coach lamented the fact that Caribbean players are finding it hard to become seasoned Premier League players and as such should T&T duo Dwight Yorke and Kenwyne Jones should be emulated by regional players.
"Any player in the region could always look up to the likes of Kenwyne (Jones), who I have worked with at the club, to say to themselves that if Kenwyne can do it I can do it. We had Dwight Yorke at the club as well and he is a fantastic ambassador for football in general,’ said Ball.
Ball pointed out. "One thing that we have noticed over the days is how much they (the youngsters and coaches) want to become good footballers and become good coaches. They are prepared to listen and to learn from other persons, which is vitally important."