Doubt over Andrews as ‘Warriors’ check into Sunrise Hilton.
By: Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Press Officer in Ft Lauderdale.[/color]
English-based striker Dwight Yorke was among the list of the Trinidad and Tobago footballers checking in at the Sunrise Boulevard Hilton Hotel in Ft Lauderdale, Miami on Sunday afternoon for the start of a four-day training camp ahead of Saturday’s 2006 World Cup qualifier against Guatemala.
The contingent of locally-based pros along with head coach Bertille St Clair and other members of the staff arrived in Miami at midday and the UK-based pros arrived a couple hours later with Yorke, Stern John, Brent Sancho, Shaka Hislop and Kenwyne Jones settling in. Scheduled to arrive later that evening were Clayton Ince and Carlos Edwards as well as Silvio Spann. Nigel Henry and Marlon Rojas will join the team on Monday along with Cornell Glen. The home-based pros in Miami at the moment are Angus Eve, Keyeno Thomas, Nigel Pierre, Leslie Fitzpatrick, Anton Pierre and Atiba Charles.
But there was some worrying news as defender Marvin Andrews failed a late fitness test before Glasgow Rangers win over Motherwell on Sunday and is now doubtful for the Guatemala match while Gillingham defender Ian Cox has suffered a hamstring injury which may force St Clair to make two other calls.
The luxurious hotel is also equipped with top of the line fitness facilities with the T&T players having all access to a fully equipped fitness centre and there are two playing fields within the hotel area.
“Things are in place for a good build up before we leave for Guatemala because the facilities here are very impressive. I expect that the guys will settle in and get down to business this week because come Saturday we have everything to play for against the Guatemalans,” St Clair told TTFF Media.
Following the cancellation of the friendly against Honduras, The “Warriors” have opted to play American A-League side Atlanta Silverbacks in a closed door training match on Tuesday at the Hotel Ground.
News from the 19th of March 2005.
MetroStars pip W Connection 1-0.
By: Nigel Simon.
Striker Sergio Galvan Rey got the goal as visiting New York/New Jersey MetroStars ended their two-match tour of Trinidad with a 1-0 win over VIBE CT 105 W Connection at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella on Friday night. Each team finished the match with 10 players as referee Ted Gordon dismissed W Connection defender Atiba Charles in the 46th minute for a professional foul while nine minutes from time guest player Devon Mitchell was shown his second yellow card for diving, when it seemed he was clearly fouled. Mitchell was one of three CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh players used that night by the MetroStars, together with with Nicholas Addlery and Kevaughn Connell.
But the Metro Stars must thank W Connection goalkeeper, Colombian goalkeeper Alejandro Figueroa for handing them the lead in the 23rd minute.
Figueroa chased down a through ball on the end-line, ten yards away from his net, while MetroStars John Wolyniec, scorer of a double in their 3-2 win over CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh on Tuesday also give chase.
Wolyniec persistent seemed to throw-off Figueroa, who rushed to clear the ball, but his errant pass was intercepted by Galvan Rey, who fired into the vacant net before the goalkeeper managed to get back into position.
The goal seemed to spark life into the W Connection players who surged forward for the equaliser mainly through the play of Brazilian midfielder Gefferson Goulart, but all their efforts thwarted by goalkeeper Zach Wells.
Wells made an outstanding save in the 14th minute when he dove to his right to stop a shot Ronaldo Viana.
Seven minutes later Wells met another Connection challenge when forward William Da Silva Olivera unleashed a blast from 25 yards out, but Wells was able to corral it.
One minute into the second-half the MetroStars were forced into a change when W Connection defender Atiba Charles caught MetroStars invitee Nicholas Addlery with a vicious elbow to the side of the head.
Addlery, who scored for Jabloteh against the MLS club on Tuesday was knocked unconscious and had to be helped off the field on a stretcher while Charles was dismissed with a red card by referee Gordon. Addlery was taken to hospital where he was kept overnight and released at 6pm yesterday.
With the substitution of Oliveira, Gilberto and Earl Jean, who had a quiet night by his standards, W Connection struggled to penetrate the MetroStars defence as youngsters Clyde Leon, Lyndon Diaz, Bevon Lewis and Hughton Hector found the going tough.
With nine minutes left, Mitchell seemed to be tripped over at the edge of the penalty area by a W Connection defender, but instead of getting the call in his favour, he was shown his second card of the match reducing his team to 10 players. Chances were then few and far between as the match withered away.
In the night’s first encounter, W Connection’s Under-16 players blanked then national women’s team 4-0.
After a lacklustre performance by both teams, coach Bob Bradley of MetroStars said he thought the W Connection players matched them in every department but they just could not get through their very tight defence.
He also had high praise for the three players from San Juan Jabloteh who were drafted into his team for their final match-up-Devon Mitchell, Kevaughn Connell and the unlucky Adderly.
Bradley and his squad left Trinidad yesterday morning for New York where they will be going all out to better their 2004 MLS position where they finished in mid-division. The 2005 MLS season begins on Saturday April 2.
Scoring Summary:
MET- Galvan Rey 23'
Discipline Summary:
MET- Mendes (Caution; Professional Foul) 32'
WC- Charles (Sent Off; Professional Foul) 46'
MET- Mitchell (Caution; Professional Foul) 51'
MET- Agoos (Caution; Dissent) 58'
MET- Mitchell (Second caution, Sent off; Dive) 81'
MetroStars: Zach Wells, Jeff Agoos (Tim Regan 71'), Carlos Mendes, Jeff Parke (Pierre Baizie 75'), Chris Leitch (Ademir Dos Santos 75'), Amado Guevara (capt), Gilberto (Ramon Bailey 61), Kevaughn Connell (Osni Neto 45'), Michael Bradley, John Wolyniec (Nicholas Adderly 45', Devon Mitchell 49'), Sergio Galvan Rey.
Substitutes Not Used: Jason Hernandez, Seth Stammler, T.J Tomasson, Mark Lisi, Jonny Walker.
W Connection: Alejandro Figueroa (Jan Michael Williams 45'), Elijah Joseph, Gefferson Goulart (Clyde Leon 78'), David Atiba Charles, Nicholson Thomas, Kevon Clement (Lyndon Diaz 78'), Andre Pacheco, Andre Touissant (Hugton Hector 63'), Earl Jean (Bevon Lewis 78'), Ronaldo Viana (Dwight Scott 64'), William Da Silva Oliveira (Brenton De Leon 78').
Substitutes Not Used: Jason Cudjoe.
Attendance: 2,124.
Weather: 75 degrees and humid.
