Hart aims for knock-out from Warriors (and explains team selection)
Wire868.com
New Trinidad and Tobago national coach Stephen Hart has set sights on a quarterfinal berth at the upcoming 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup as he officially announced his 23-man squad today at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.
“The attitude of the players has been impressive,” Hart told the TTFA Media. “The objective was to select a balanced squad and one that may allow for flexibility in the manner in which we approach games.
“Collectively we need to remain focused on the process that will allow us to play effective football and help the country advance beyond the group phase. We are well aware of the challenges, none of these teams will be less than difficult opponents, but we will continue to prepare with a committed desire.”
The Warriors leave on Sunday for a training camp in Fort Lauderdale, which runs from June 30 to July 6. Trinidad and Tobago plays its opening Gold Cup group stage match on July 8 against El Salvador in New Jersey.
The 53-year old Hart hopes that success helps an awkward transition for the national team since he was selected to replace former joint head coaches, Hutson “Barber” Charles and Jamaal Shabazz.
“Fans don’t really care about when you come in as coach, they care about results,” said Hart. “But I spoke to the players and I would like us to concentrate on producing very good performance and the results will follow.
“The objective is the get into the quarter-finals, when you are in the knockout stages of a competition anything can happen.”
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