Men's U-20 Football Team Thread.

[Tallman]

U-20 Reggae Boyz get revenge against Trinidad and Tobago in 3-1 win
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday)

Trinidad and Tobago's under-20 men's football team were dealt a 3-1 loss by Jamaica's under-20 team in their second friendly encounter which was played at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar on Thursday.

Jamaica exacted revenge over T&T, as the previous friendly between the Caribbean nations ended with a 3-2 result in T&T's favour last week. As both teams continue their preparations for this month's Concacaf under-20 championship qualifiers, the Jamaican team came away with a morale boost.

T&T coach Brian Haynes said his team's loss stemmed from "ten minutes of madness" in the first half, which saw the Jamaicans scoring three goals to put the contest beyond the hosts. The T&T team started the game in shaky fashion at the back, and lively Jamaican midfielder Denzel McKenzie made them pay a hefty price — scoring a pair of delicious goals inside the first 20 minutes of the game.

With panicked and clumsy defending being the order of the day for T&T, Jamaica ran up a 3-0 lead when McKenzie got his second goal and they threatened to blow the young Soca Warriors away in Malabar.

Jamaica's first goal came in just the ninth minute. Remarkably, they could have been down 2-0 at the time as custodian Tor Fletcher saved a penalty from Christopher Ainsworth just seconds before. Soon after Fletcher dived to his right to keep out Ainsworth's left-footed penalty, McKenzie put the visitors ahead with a curling right-footer from the ensuing corner as Jamaica caught T&T off guard with a swift set-piece routine.

Fletcher picked the ball out of his net just four minutes later when his central defender Russell Francois inadvertently poked a low cross into the roof of the TT goal. There was little Fletcher or Francois could have done about Jamaica's third goal, as McKenzie arrowed a free kick into the top corner from the edge of the area after a handball infringement by a T&T player.

Haynes made an adjustment as soon as the 22nd minute, as Naparima College midfielder Kanye Francis replaced St Benedict’s College striker Malachi Webb. Francis nearly brought T&T level in the 33rd minute with a thunderous long-range blast which crashed off the bar.

With the hosts increasingly growing into the game, they pulled a goal back in the 41st minute when their talisman Lindell Sween slid home from close range following a bad turnover by Nickoy Gayle in the Jamaica half.

Following their horrid showing at the back in the early stages, T&T threatened to cut loose just before the break, with both Levi Jones and J'Lon Matthews coming close to bulging the net with fierce hits from outside the area.

Jamaica's control of the game diminished in the second half and they opted to play the counter-attacking game. T&T fashioned decent chances in the second half, particularly through substitute Michael Chaves. However, the Fatima College student could not find his golden touch and the hosts were unable to make any further inroads.

T&T's blushes were also spared in the dying stages of the game when Dunsting Cohen was brilliantly denied from point-blank range.

With T&T expected to go into a Carnival camp next week ahead of their campaign which starts on February 23, Haynes said a friendly encounter with a locally based T&T men's team outfit could be on the cards soon.

T&T are grouped with Canada, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines for the championship qualifiers and will play all their matches at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo. Only the group winner will advance to the Concacaf men's under-20 championship.

TEAMS

Trinidad and Tobago (4-2-3-1): 1.Tor Fletcher (GK) (22.Bryan Gafiuk [GK] 65); 2.Lyshaun Morris (14.Akil Henry 73), 4.Cody Cooper (captain), 5.Russel Francois (19.Jabari Forbes 81), 3.Duhrell Young (23.Nathan Quashie 73); 8.Abayomi George (16.Tau Lamsee 78), 6.Levi Jones (20.Addae Paponette 78); 7.Jlon Matthews (15.Joshua Figaro 78), 10.Lindell Sween (18.Michael Chaves 49), 11.Malachi Webb (12.Kanye Francis 21 [15.Aidan De Gannes 65]); 9.Tyrell Moore (17.Andell Fraser 57).

Unused substitute: 21.Makaya Taylor (GK).

Coach: Brian Haynes

Jamaica (4-2-3-1): 1.Joshua Grant (GK); 2.Malachi Molina, 3.Kyron Horsley McKay, 4.Michael Forbes, 5.Rolando Barrett; 15.Adrian Reid, 18.Romarion Thomas; 10.Brian Burkett, 6.Denzel McKenzie, 12.Christopher Ainsworth; 19.Tyrese Gowe.

Substitutes: 13.Taywane Lynch (GK), 23.D’Jone Davis (GK), 7.Jahmani Bell, 8.Kobi Thomas, 9.Tarik Scott, 11.Malachi Grant, 14.Keyanni Jackson, 17.Omario Henry, 20.Nickoy Gayle, 21.Dunsting Cohen, 22.Demarion Harris.

Coach: John Wall

Referee: Kwinsi Williams

[Tallman]

Haynes looking for more consistency from U-20s
T&T Express

HEAD COACH Brian Haynes said he is seeking consistency after his Men’s Under-19 national team lost 1-3 to Jamaica in their friendly at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar on Thursday.

In a ten-minute span Jamaica scored three goals in the first half.

“I take the blame for (that) because I need to prepare them enough to be ready for any game that they are playing,” Haynes told TTFA Media.

He added the Jamaicans took care of their chances while his charges did not.

“Those things mount up and teams get momentum when you miss chances...it becomes harder on us,” Haynes said, adding the overall performance was “choppy,

“At times we controlled the game, at times we were out of control...they were too sporadic up and down, up and down and in games like these, at this time of the year when we are getting ready to go into a tournament, we need to have some consistency.”

Haynes said his charges performed better in the second half after he made a tactical change to the formation from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-4-2 to deny the Jamaicans space.

Describing his charges as a good cohesive group, Haynes said the goal going forward was to ensure the squad does not give away easy chances while fighting to regain possession.

“All we have to do is keep working hard no matter what happens. We concentrated for the most part...I am thankful it is happening now and not in the tournament,” Haynes reasoned. “While we didn’t win the game, the experience they got here is something you cannot get in practice.”

Foreign-based players are expected to try out for the squad, starting from the Carnival Camp which starts Carnival Friday and runs through to Ash Wednesday.

But Haynes said they would only be welcome if they make the team better.

“This group here has made me proud and I am saying I love it. We have good players coming from overseas...but we have good soccer players here in Trinidad...and if the guys that are coming in are not challenging these guys, this is what I am going with.”

[Flex]

Coach Brian Haynes to U20 Soca Warriors: Take your chances.
By Jonathan Ramnanansingh (T&T Newsday).

Trinidad and Tobago’s men’s U20 football team coach Brian Haynes wants his charges to capitalise on their chances in front of goal.

Haynes made these remarks following T&T’s 3-1 friendly loss to Jamaica U-20s at Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar on Thursday. This was the second friendly between both nations in one week, with T&T having won the first tie 3-2.

Haynes described Jamaica’s three first-half goals as “ten minutes of madness” for his team but believes there is still ample time to correct their mistakes ahead of this month’s Concacaf U-20 Championship qualifiers.

“It’s something I take the blame for, not the players. I need to prepare them enough to be ready for any game they play. When you play a game one week ago and you win 3-2, you think ‘this is an easy game’ and here comes the three chances and they (Jamaica) put away theirs.

“We missed the first chance of the game when one of our players slipped and didn’t get the chance on goal, and those things mount up, and teams get momentum when you miss chances.

“And I already told them more than once, when you miss your chances you give the team another chance to go forward, and it becomes harder on us,” he said.

Haynes said their first-half performances, at times, were “choppy” and “sporadic” and he wanted to see more consistency. He praised a renewed effort in the second period and used this game as a learning experience for his troops.

“But life goes on, things happen and we have to learn from that. They’re a good cohesive group, even though the result didn’t go their way, no one pointed fingers at each other and I like that bout them,” he added.

Moving forward, U20 team members will play no part in the festivities over Carnival next weekend as they begin a six-day training camp on Friday.

During this camp, Haynes has organised a friendly match with some of the locally-based senior players to test the team’s mettle ahead of the Concacaf qualifiers.

T&T begin their quest through the qualifiers on February 23 and are grouped with Canada, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines. T&T play all their matches at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo. Only the group winner advances to the Concacaf Men's U20 Championship.

Looking ahead, Haynes said, “We must take care of making sure that we don’t give up easy chances and making sure that we fight for our chances to get it back. I know it’s in the guys, it’s just in a place where they are going to have to understand chances are not going to come all the time but when they come, we have to keep working hard.

“I talk to all these players because they’re good young men. While we didn’t win the (second) game, the experience they got is something that we cannot do in practice.”

Watch 𝘽𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙃𝙖𝙮𝙣𝙚𝙨' 𝙋𝙤𝙨𝙩-𝙂𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙏&𝙏 𝙐-20𝙨 3-1 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙒𝙖𝙧𝙢 𝙐𝙥 𝙩𝙤 𝙅𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙘𝙖

[Tallman]

T&T U-20 coach happy despite loss to senior men, close to picking squad
By Jelani Beckles (T&T Newsday)

T&T UNDER-20 men's football coach Brian Haynes is close to selecting his final squad for the 2024 Concacaf Under-20 Championship qualifiers.

T&T will host Group D of the qualifiers from February 23–March 2. T&T will play Canada, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominica at Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. The winner of the group will advance to the 2024 Concacaf Men’s Under-20 Championships.

On Thursday, the T&T Under-20s lost a practice match to the men's senior team 2-1 at Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar, Arima.

In a T&T Football Association release, Haynes said, "With the staff, we have already narrowed down what we are looking at and what we are looking for, and the gaps we are able to fill and the gaps we are able to strengthen...It is starting to come together now and it feels more like a team. It's not 40 players any more, now we just have 25 in the camp and it is awesome."

Haynes said the practice match was beneficial. "Very, very good for me. I am so thankful for (Soca Warriors coach) Angus (Eve) for doing this because it does nothing but to help the young players. To play against experienced players, to play against composed players, to play against players who know how to play the game properly – it's always good to get those type of games."

Getting the opportunity to play against senior players taught his players what is required to be competitive, said Haynes. "It might be a humbling experience, but at the same time it is a very good experience going into what we have ahead of us...I don't care who we play against, we probably won't get (to play against) players who are that skilful and that experienced, but we can learn from it and understand how much more we have to work to get to that level."

Giving more details about the match, Haynes said. "It showed our defensive frailties, it showed when teams who are good on the ball, teams who know how to use space and teams that know how to switch the point of attack at will, it shows that we need to get more prepared for it.

"We have to work on being much more effective on offence. I think we do a good job getting the ball from the back to the midfield and to the top of the 18-yard (box), but the final product has to become better ."

[Tallman]

Haynes pleased with CONCACAF U-20 Championship schedule
T&T Express

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO’S Under-20 men’s football team head coach Brian Haynes is excited at the schedule released Saturday ahead of T&T’s opening CONCACAF U-20 Championship match against St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) on February 23, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium (HCS), from 6 pm.

That match is the second of a double-header and will be preceded by the encounter involving Canada and Dominica at 3 p.m. In the round-robin formatted tournament, T&T will then next take on Dominica on February 25 from 6 p.m., following on from the first match on that day between Canada and SVG at 3 p.m.

However, T&T’s most difficult match is poised to be the final one on February 27 against Canada, from 6 p.m. St Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominic clash from 3 p.m. that day. All tournament matches will be played at the HCS.

Haynes is extremely upbeat about the timeline of matches. “So excited we are going to be getting ready to play this tournament,” said Haynes.

“And looking at the schedule—me and the staff have been looking at it and getting excited at the fact that we will be the team who will be playing the last game (every match day), so we will get an opportunity to see the teams and how to play them.”

Haynes stressed that his team would be looking to secure victories in their first two games against SVG and Dominica, respectively.

“It is the same thing that we are looking at in trying to win these games and then looking forward to play against Canada who we think—we are the dark horse and they are big team in the group, and we are very excited to see that we get to see them play first and we get to play them last and we get to play at home.”

Haynes added it would be exciting for his charges to be playing the last game each match day because “we are going to make sure we entertain the crowds, so we bring them back for the next game and then for the last game as well.

“It is a plus in that we get to see the teams we are going to play before we play them and we are going to try our best to use our home field advantage with the (overseas) guys coming in,” Haynes concluded.

[chelsealife]

Canada's U20 Squad named

GK – Grégoire Świderski | FRA / Girondins Bordeaux 
​GK – Ivan Pavela | CRO / NK Lokomotiva Zagreb
​GK – Nathaniel Abraham | CAN / Toronto FC
​D – Theo Rigopoulos | CAN / Toronto FC 
​D – Christian Greco-Taylor | ​ Unattached
​D – Sergei Kozlovskiy | CAN / CF Montréal
​D – Lazar Stefanovic | CAN / Toronto FC
​D – James Cameron | CAN / Vancouver FC 
​D – Ethan Schilte-Brown | SCO / Kilmarnock FC 
​D – Adam Pearlman | CAN / Toronto FC Academy 
​M – Alessandro Biello | CAN / CF Montréal 
​M – Tiago Codinha | NED / Twente Enschede 
​M – Jeevan Badwal | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
​M – Jesse Costa | GER / VFL Wolfsburg 
​M – Matteo Schiavoni | CAN / CF Montréal 
​M – Myles Morgan | Unattached
​F – Oumar Diallo | ITA / Inter Milan 
​F – Kimani Stewart-Baynes | USA / Colorado Rapids 
​F – Kevaughn Tavernier | CAN / Forge FC 
​F – Tavio Ciccarelli | ENG / Sheffield United 
​F – Santiago Lopez | MEX / Pumas Unam

[madness]

 :banginghead:hmmm I hope they can perform will in this tournament .

[Trini _2026]

The squad is picked did haynes actually recruit ? You see this last minute thing they have to cut it out

[Trini _2026]

What ever happened to Seth powder ? He Not interested in trinidad .

[Flex]

Haynes picks 21-man Soca Warrior squad for Concacaf U-20 qualifiers.
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday).

THE overseas-based trio of Rio Cardines, Derrel Garcia and Larry Noel were among seven overseas players called up to Trinidad and Tobago’s 21-man under-20 squad by coach Brian Haynes for this month’s Concacaf under-20 championship qualifiers.

TT, who start their campaign on February 23, are placed alongside Canada, Dominica and St Vincent and Grenadines (SVG) in group D which will be contested at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. TT play their first game against SVG, before playing Dominica and group favourites Canada on February 25 and 27 respectively.

Only the winners of the six respective groups will advance to the Concacaf under-20 championship to join Concacaf’s highest-ranked under-20 teams: US, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.

Haynes’ squad includes as many as 11 players who were members of coach Shawn Cooper’s TT team at last year’s Concacaf under-17 championship. TT managed a third-place finish in the group stage behind Canada and the US, before falling to an exciting 3-2 loss to El Salvador in the round of 16 stage of the tournament.

Cardines and Garcia both scored in last year’s under-17 tournament, with the attacking pair of Lindell Sween and Malachi Webb among TT’s standout performers with two goals apiece. Sween and Webb have both been included in Haynes’ team for this month’s qualifiers, and they will be expected to provide firepower in the attacking third for the young Soca Warriors alongside Tyrell Moore, Crystal Palace’s Cardines and the Spanish-based Garcia.

The 16-year-old Garcia copped the 2022 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) premier division title with St Benedict’s College and featured at the beginning of the 2023 school season before making a move to Europe.

Haynes’ team is made up of a number of SSFL standouts and includes former TT under-17 skipper and St Benedict’s midfielder Josiah Ochoa, 2023 SSFL premier division winners Michael Chaves and Jaden Williams, as well as Presentation College San Fernando’s 2023 national intercol winning quartet of Cody Cooper, Abayomi George, Levi Jones and Duhrell Young.

Meanwhile, St Anthony’s College winger Andell Fraser was named as a standby for the tournament.

In friendly action leading up to the qualifiers, TT beat Jamaica’s under-20s 3-2 on January 25, before falling to consecutive defeats against their Jamaican counterparts and a locally based TT senior team.

Despite the losses which showed up his team’s “defensive frailties,” Haynes said he was pleased with the progress his team has made in their preparations for the Concacaf qualifiers.

Canada coach Andrew Olivieri is mindful of TT’s potential threat in group D.

“(TT) are right around the same ranking as us at the under-20 level,” Olivieri told the Canadian Press. “We’re playing at their home, in their country, under their environment so that is an additional challenge.”

(Trinidad and Tobago National Under-20 Team)

Goalkeepers:

Ailan Panton (Darlington Soccer Academy—USA), Makaya Taylor (Presentation College, San F’do/ Brother Ry Academy), Bryan Gafiuk (Victoria Highlanders—Canada);

Defenders:

Akil Henry (Arima North Secondary/ Pro Series), Cody Cooper (Presentation College, San F’do/ Dunstan Williams Academy), Russel Francois (St Anthony’s College/ Trendsetter Hawks), Jaden Williams (Fatima College), Lyshaun Morris (St Benedict’s College/ Pt Fortin Civic), Duhrell Young (Presentation College, San F’do/ W Connection);

Midfielders:

Levi Jones (Presentation College, San F’do), Abayomi George (Presentation College, San F’do), Josiah Ochoa (St Benedict’s College/ Point Fortin Youth), Rio Cardines (Crystal Palace—England), Lindell Sween (San Juan North/ Morvant Caledonia), J’lon Matthews (Malick Secondary), Malachi Webb (St Benedict’s College/ Premier SC), Jeremiah Cateau (Southern Soccer Academy), Derrel Garcia (Intercity International Football Academy—Spain);

Forwards:

Michael Chaves (Fatima College/ QPCC), Larry Noel (Salt Lake Community College—USA), Tyrell Moore (unattached).

Standby:

Andell Fraser (St Anthony’s College).

Technical Staff:

Brian Haynes (head coach), Marvin Gordon (assistant coach), Gilbert Bateau (assistant coach), Jefferson George (goalkeeper coach), Natalie Charles (medic), John Jerry (equipment manager).

(Canada National Under-20 Team)

Goalkeepers:

Nathaniel Abraham (Toronto FC II, MLS Next Pro), Ivan Pavela (NK Lokomotiva Zagreb—Croatia), Gregoire Swiderski (Girondins Bordeaux—France);

Defenders:

James Cameron (Vancouver FC, CPL), Christian Greco-Taylor (unattached), Sergei Kozlovskiy (CF Montreal Academy), Adam Pearlman (Toronto FC II, MLS Next Pro), Theo Rigopoulos (Toronto FC Academy), Ethan Schilte-Brown (Kilmarnock—Scotland), Lazar Stefanovic (Toronto FC II, MLS Next Pro);

Midfielders:

Jeevan Badwal (Whitecaps FC2, MLS Next Pro), Alessandro Biello (CF Montreal Academy), Tiago Codinha (Twente Enschede—Netherlands), Jesse Costa (VFL Wolfsburg—Germany); Myles Morgan (unattached), Matteo Schiavoni (CF Montreal Academy);

Forwards:

Oumar Diallo (Inter Milan—Italy), Kimani Stewart-Baynes  (Colorado Rapids—MLS), Kevaughn Tavernier (Forge FC, CPL), Tavio Ciccarelli (Sheffield United—England), Santiago Lopez (Pumas UNAM—Mexico).

Concacaf U-20 Championship qualifiers

(Group D - Friday 23 February)

Canada vs Dominica, 3pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;

Trinidad and Tobago vs St Vincent and the Grenadines, 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;

St Vincent and the Grenadines vs Canada, 3pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;

Dominica vs Trinidad and Tobago, 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;

Dominica vs St Vincent and the Grenadines, 3pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;

Trinidad and Tobago vs Canada, 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium.

[Marcus868]

Haynes picks 21-man Soca Warrior squad for Concacaf U-20 qualifiers.
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday).

THE overseas-based trio of Rio Cardines, Derrel Garcia and Larry Noel were among seven overseas players called up to Trinidad and Tobago’s 21-man under-20 squad by coach Brian Haynes for this month’s Concacaf under-20 championship qualifiers.

TT, who start their campaign on February 23, are placed alongside Canada, Dominica and St Vincent and Grenadines (SVG) in group D which will be contested at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. TT play their first game against SVG, before playing Dominica and group favourites Canada on February 25 and 27 respectively.

Only the winners of the six respective groups will advance to the Concacaf under-20 championship to join Concacaf’s highest-ranked under-20 teams: US, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.

Haynes’ squad includes as many as 11 players who were members of coach Shawn Cooper’s TT team at last year’s Concacaf under-17 championship. TT managed a third-place finish in the group stage behind Canada and the US, before falling to an exciting 3-2 loss to El Salvador in the round of 16 stage of the tournament.

Cardines and Garcia both scored in last year’s under-17 tournament, with the attacking pair of Lindell Sween and Malachi Webb among TT’s standout performers with two goals apiece. Sween and Webb have both been included in Haynes’ team for this month’s qualifiers, and they will be expected to provide firepower in the attacking third for the young Soca Warriors alongside Tyrell Moore, Crystal Palace’s Cardines and the Spanish-based Garcia.

The 16-year-old Garcia copped the 2022 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) premier division title with St Benedict’s College and featured at the beginning of the 2023 school season before making a move to Europe.

Haynes’ team is made up of a number of SSFL standouts and includes former TT under-17 skipper and St Benedict’s midfielder Josiah Ochoa, 2023 SSFL premier division winners Michael Chaves and Jaden Williams, as well as Presentation College San Fernando’s 2023 national intercol winning quartet of Cody Cooper, Abayomi George, Levi Jones and Duhrell Young.

Meanwhile, St Anthony’s College winger Andell Fraser was named as a standby for the tournament.

In friendly action leading up to the qualifiers, TT beat Jamaica’s under-20s 3-2 on January 25, before falling to consecutive defeats against their Jamaican counterparts and a locally based TT senior team.

Despite the losses which showed up his team’s “defensive frailties,” Haynes said he was pleased with the progress his team has made in their preparations for the Concacaf qualifiers.

Canada coach Andrew Olivieri is mindful of TT’s potential threat in group D.

“(TT) are right around the same ranking as us at the under-20 level,” Olivieri told the Canadian Press. “We’re playing at their home, in their country, under their environment so that is an additional challenge.”

(Trinidad and Tobago National Under-20 Team)

Goalkeepers:

Ailan Panton (Darlington Soccer Academy—USA), Makaya Taylor (Presentation College, San F’do/ Brother Ry Academy), Bryan Gafiuk (Victoria Highlanders—Canada);

Defenders:

Akil Henry (Arima North Secondary/ Pro Series), Cody Cooper (Presentation College, San F’do/ Dunstan Williams Academy), Russel Francois (St Anthony’s College/ Trendsetter Hawks), Jaden Williams (Fatima College), Lyshaun Morris (St Benedict’s College/ Pt Fortin Civic), Duhrell Young (Presentation College, San F’do/ W Connection);

Midfielders:

Levi Jones (Presentation College, San F’do), Abayomi George (Presentation College, San F’do), Josiah Ochoa (St Benedict’s College/ Point Fortin Youth), Rio Cardines (Crystal Palace—England), Lindell Sween (San Juan North/ Morvant Caledonia), J’lon Matthews (Malick Secondary), Malachi Webb (St Benedict’s College/ Premier SC), Jeremiah Cateau (Southern Soccer Academy), Derrel Garcia (Intercity International Football Academy—Spain);

Forwards:

Michael Chaves (Fatima College/ QPCC), Larry Noel (Salt Lake Community College—USA), Tyrell Moore (unattached).

Standby:

Andell Fraser (St Anthony’s College).

Technical Staff:

Brian Haynes (head coach), Marvin Gordon (assistant coach), Gilbert Bateau (assistant coach), Jefferson George (goalkeeper coach), Natalie Charles (medic), John Jerry (equipment manager).

(Canada National Under-20 Team)

Goalkeepers:

Nathaniel Abraham (Toronto FC II, MLS Next Pro), Ivan Pavela (NK Lokomotiva Zagreb—Croatia), Gregoire Swiderski (Girondins Bordeaux—France);

Defenders:

James Cameron (Vancouver FC, CPL), Christian Greco-Taylor (unattached), Sergei Kozlovskiy (CF Montreal Academy), Adam Pearlman (Toronto FC II, MLS Next Pro), Theo Rigopoulos (Toronto FC Academy), Ethan Schilte-Brown (Kilmarnock—Scotland), Lazar Stefanovic (Toronto FC II, MLS Next Pro);

Midfielders:

Jeevan Badwal (Whitecaps FC2, MLS Next Pro), Alessandro Biello (CF Montreal Academy), Tiago Codinha (Twente Enschede—Netherlands), Jesse Costa (VFL Wolfsburg—Germany); Myles Morgan (unattached), Matteo Schiavoni (CF Montreal Academy);

Forwards:

Oumar Diallo (Inter Milan—Italy), Kimani Stewart-Baynes  (Colorado Rapids—MLS), Kevaughn Tavernier (Forge FC, CPL), Tavio Ciccarelli (Sheffield United—England), Santiago Lopez (Pumas UNAM—Mexico).

Concacaf U-20 Championship qualifiers

(Group D - Friday 23 February)

Canada vs Dominica, 3pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;

Trinidad and Tobago vs St Vincent and the Grenadines, 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;

St Vincent and the Grenadines vs Canada, 3pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;

Dominica vs Trinidad and Tobago, 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;

Dominica vs St Vincent and the Grenadines, 3pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;

Trinidad and Tobago vs Canada, 6pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium.

This isn't a bad team for us  and honestly they should get through this round of the competition  , but coach Haynes would be expected to do more as he promised a lot at the start of his campaign, he promised major scouting and bringing players, so because he now started this is good for now, but let's pray he continues pushing it for us. 

[Tallman]

T&T U-20 football coach: We must beat St Vincent – No disrespect
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday)

Trinidad and Tobago under-20 men's football coach Brian Haynes says his team's main focus ahead of this month's Concacaf under-20 championship qualifiers is their opening game against St Vincent and Grenadines (SVG), at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on February 23.

T&T are placed with Dominica, SVG and group favourites Canada in group D. Only the group winner will advance to this year's Concacaf under-20 championship, to join the five other group winners from the qualifiers and the region's six highest-ranked under-20 teams: US, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.

Haynes said his team will have no room for mistakes once the qualifying campaign begins.

"We are preparing for the first game. That is it. Nothing means anything unless we play that first game and do what we have to do to win that game," Haynes told T&T Football Association (TTFA) media at a training session on Thursday.

"No disrespect to St Vincent or whoever we are going to play, but that is our focus – winning that first game."

After their opening game against SVG, the young Soca Warriors play Dominica on February 25, before ending the group with a meeting against Canada on February 27. All group D games will be played at the Mucurapo venue.

Haynes admitted to knowing little about T&T's opponents.

"(We have not been able to get much information on other teams), which is fine. It is really quiet out there.

"It makes me more determined to prepare my team the way we have to play."

On Wednesday, Haynes' 21-man squad for the qualifiers was announced, with seven foreign-based players being included. The team also features 11 members from coach Shawn Cooper's T&T team which competed at last year's Concacaf under-17 championship. The foreign-based players include goalkeeper Ailan Panton, striker Larry Noel, attacking midfielder Derrel Garcia and English-born flanker Rio Cardines, a Crystal Palace youth player.

Haynes said the inclusion of the foreign-based talent has raised the intensity of the squad.

"The level of professionalism is one thing, and the level of play is another thing. The body of work these guys bring to the group is awesome," Haynes said.

"They are not here to be casual. They are here working hard and giving their best. What it has done is lift the level of all the players."

Haynes said the process of trimming his squad was a difficult one and he likened the feeling to "getting rid of kids you own."

He said the players were gutted to be released from the final squad, but he assured them of their significance in getting the team to their current level.

Haynes promised "possession-oriented" football with a purpose and he said it was imperative for his team to keep clean sheets in the qualifiers as they have a competent defensive group.

"(The fans) are going to meet a bunch of players who are very hard-working. Second of all, they are going to meet a bunch of players who play for each other.

"Thirdly and most importantly, (the fans will see) a team that wants to win and entertain T&T."

The under-20s have had mixed fortunes in friendlies against Jamaica's under-20 team and a locally based T&T men's team in the last few weeks, recording one win and two losses. From 4 pm on Saturday at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, Haynes' team will take on another friendly outing when they meet T&T Premier Football League (TTPFL) tier two team QPCC.

[Flex]

Jeremiah Cateau: U-20s Soca Warriors have unfinished business.
By Jelani Beckles (T&T Newsday).

JEREMIAH Cateau said the Trinidad and Tobago Under-20 footballers have unfinished business as they prepare to play in the Under-20 Concacaf Championship qualifiers, which kicks off on Friday.

T&T will play alongside St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica and Canada at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo in Group D of the qualifying tournament. The group winner will advance to the Concacaf Championships.

Cateau, who is based in Atlanta, Georgia said he is excited to be a part of the national team again. Speaking to TTFA media, the midfielder said, “For me, it is nothing short of a blessing to be here again after being with the Under-17s. It’s just another dream come true.

I am hoping I can help this country, help this team as much as I can, do our badge proud, do this country proud.”

Many of the Under-20 players were part of the 2023 Concacaf Men’s U-17 Championship held one year ago in Guatemala.

Cateau said the Under-20s feel like a family as many players know each other.

“It’s almost like we had a trial run with the Under-17s. It’s good to get the experience to meet the guys. These guys have become like my brothers. We speak every day, every week, so to be here again obviously it is a blessing, but it feels like we want revenge from last time. We feel like we fell short, but we can go all the way this time with this team.”

Cateau said he wants to make his family in T&T proud. “My mother, my father, definitely my family in Valencia. These people have never been able to see me play throughout my career so now that I am here...it means the world to me that they could finally see me on such a big stage.”

Cateau, who also has family connections in Diego Martin and Barataria, said T&T will approach the tournament one match at a time.

“I love our chances, but as coach Brian (Haynes) has stressed to us we want to take it one game at a time. We don’t want to look forward at all. We want to take on St Vincent, then we will worry about Dominica, then we will worry about Canada.”

Cateau said T&T are sometimes overlooked, but they want to show the world their grit and the talent they possess.

T&T will play St Vincent and the Grenadines on Friday at 7 pm.

[Flex]

T&T's Makaya Taylor dreams of playing in Europe, wants to emulate Neuer.
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday).

At 15, goalkeeper Makaya Taylor is the youngest member of Trinidad and Tobago's 21-man squad for this month's Concacaf under-20 championship qualifiers which will be held at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo.

Born to a Tobago father and a German mother, Taylor has lofty dreams of playing professional football in Europe and he could get his chance to show his worth to local fans when T&T contest group D of the qualifiers against Canada, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). Taylor is one of three goalkeepers in coach Brian Haynes' squad alongside the foreign-based pair of Brian Gafiuk and Ailan Panton.

Taylor said working with goalkeeper Jefferson George and his fellow custodians has been amazing, as they "have really helped me improve my standards."

Taylor had a recent training stint with German club Hertha Berlin, but it was curtailed due to injury. The goalkeeper impressed in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) with Speyside Secondary last season, and he has already been scooped up by 2023 national intercol champions Presentation College (San Fernando) for the next school season.

Taylor said he fell in love with the goalkeeping craft as a child, and he enjoyed playing the sport for fun in his earliest years. Now, if he has it his way, he will soon be making another meaningful journey to his mother's homeland.

"I have been going to Germany my whole life. Every summer since I was born, I would travel to Germany in the summertime. And from there, I would go on the community fields and play football," Taylor told TT Football Association (TTFA) media.

"Right now, I am looking to go on trial with clubs in Germany. I really want to play professionally in Europe. That is my dream – being a professional footballer."

Taylor has given himself a high standard to follow, as his favourite goalkeeper is 11-time German Bundesliga winner and World Cup winner, Manuel Neuer.

"The first goalkeeper I really looked up to is (Manuel) Neuer. I love his playing style and his use of his feet. I like the sweeper-keeper style."

In the immediate future, should he get the opportunity between the sticks, Taylor will try and help the young Soca Warriors advance to the Concacaf under-20 championship later this year. Only the group winner will advance from the qualifiers and T&T will have little room for error.

"I think we have a chance of making it out of the group stage. I have total confidence in the squad," Taylor said. "The key is obviously teamwork. We have to work as a team and keep the spirit high.

"It is a pleasure playing with the under-20 national team and I never expected to be here this soon in my life."

T&T open their campaign from 7 pm on Friday against SVG, before playing Dominica and Canada on February 25 and 27 respectively.


(From left to right): TT under-20 men’s football team coach Brian Haynes and goalkeepers Ailan Panton, Makaya Taylor and Brian Gafiuk. Photo courtesy TTFA media. -

[kounty]

look like Tallman post that thread with another youth who should have been here on purpose? lol. just rabbin a little. Blessings to the young man trying to break into the team, it look like is not an easy road, and it looks like he progressing nicely. strive on youthman!

[Trini _2026]

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/hKRz5V6uyBs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/hKRz5V6uyBs</a>

[Marcus868]

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/hKRz5V6uyBs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/hKRz5V6uyBs</a>

This was a great interview by the coach who clearly has a vision for his team, I'm lowkey more excited about this group of players than our senior team (and that has to do with the coach more than anything)  . This team has the potential to do great and the coach is actually doing scouting and getting additional support for his troops (that's what he promised when he came in). And he cares about the football, fans and pushing the nation forward.

[Tallman]

Haynes excited: Under-20s open CONCACAF Group D series tonight
By Ian Prescott (T&T Express)

“They’ll see something good,” stated Brian Haynes, head coach of the National Under-20 men’s national football team, as he anticipated a good crowd turnout for the CONCACAF Group D qualifier series which begins today at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

The series begins with Canada facing Dominica at the HCS from 4 p.m.. Later, a confident Haynes is expecting a strong performance as the young Soca Warriors take on St Vincent and the Grenadines from 7 p.m., before also facing Dominica on Sunday and Canada on Tuesday.

“They are ready,” Haynes declared yesterday. “In watching them train, in watching their mentality and the speed at which they are playing at now, it’s kinda making me a ‘lil bit excited. Not too excited yet.”

Just one team advances out of the group and qualifies for the CONCACAF Under-20 championship later this year. The really tough game is expected to be Tuesday’s clash against Canada. However, Haynes refused to take his first two opponents lightly.

“We want to try and win the first game so we can set ourselves up for the rest of the tournament,” he told the media at training session yesterday morning.

“Three points tomorrow, and then we look at the next,” Haynes said. “I want to make sure we take what is in front of us in the first game, get the result, then we look at the next game.”

However, while instructing his players against taking any opponent lightly, the T&T coach is expectant.

“I am confident,” Haynes said of his team topping the group.

“We are very athletic, we are very skilful, and we have good size in the defence and the midfield.”

Haynes felt a lesson was learned when T&T split a two-match warm-up series recently against Jamaica.

“I gave them reminders that we beat Jamaica the first time and the second time we played them, we let up ten minutes and give up three goals.’

Two players eagerly anticipating the tournament are Caledonia AIA midfielder Lindell Sween and USA-based striker Tyrell Moore, both having represented T&T at Under-17 level in February, 2023.

Sween openly declared his desire to join the senior men’s national team and to take what other opportunities the CONCACAF Under-20 tournament offers. Sween has the distinction of having scored when T&T went down 3-2 to Canada at the 2023 CONCACAF Under-17 tournament.

“My game has improved plenty from that tournament to this,” stated Sween, who felt he had made great improvement defensively. “I would really like to play for the senior team after this,” he added.

Meanwhile, Atlanta-based United States-born striker Moore is under no added pressure to perform, despite having a well-known father, Wendell Moore, the former national player and whose brother Shaq Moore, has represented the United States national team.

“I had a good performance in the previous tournament,” Moore stated despite having not scored. “I played really well, and I think this team that we have now, we can take it all the way.”

[Tallman]

Young Soca Warriors look to put on show, target three points vs SVG in Concacaf opener
By Roneil Walcott (T&T Newsday)

US-based Trinidad and Tobago under-20 men's football team forward Tyrell Moore says the young Soca Warriors are ready to make their mark at the Concacaf under-20 championship qualifiers and advance to the next phase of the competition.

T&T begin their quest to progress to this year's Concacaf under-20 men's championship when they meet St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) from 7 pm on Friday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo. Canada and Dominica will get the qualifying action in group D underway with their encounter which kicks off at 4 pm on Friday.

With only the winners from the six qualifying groups advancing to the Concacaf under-20 men's championship to join the six-highest-ranked teams: US, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, Moore said it is time for T&T to show their worth to Concacaf and local football fans.

"I am ecstatic right now. I am ready to go and give a good performance for my country and show that we are not to be messed with," Moore told the media, during the team's training session at The UWI on Thursday morning.

"This is the moment where we can show what type of country we are in terms of our fighting will and the things we have to bring to the table to take us to victory."

Like ten of his teammates in the T&T under-20 squad, Moore suited up for a T&T team that battled against Concacaf powerhouse teams such as Canada and the US at last year's Concacaf under-17 men's championship in Guatemala. T&T advanced to the last 16 stage in the under-17 tournament, but Moore believes the under-20 crop has the ability to go further.

"I think we can take it all the way and make it out of this group. We will see what happens from there," Moore said. "We will go to the next part of (this Concacaf championship) and try to win it all. I think with this team we have right now, we can take it all the way."

Moore's call for the "undying support" of the T&T public was echoed by coach Brian Haynes, who promised to put on a good show for the fans.

More importantly, though, Haynes said his immediate focus is squarely on the encounter against SVG, as he sees it as a potential catalyst for the following games against Dominica and Canada.

"I am happy we are at home. I am happy that we will be playing a game that starts the ball rolling for us," Haynes said.

Again, Haynes stressed the importance of his team's stability at the back – even as he alluded to a horror ten-minute period that saw the young Soca Warriors conceding three quick goals in a 3-1 friendly loss to Jamaica's under-20 team on February 1.

"We don't want to give up any goals. We have to win the first game and set ourselves up for the rest of the tournament.

"Personally, when we start looking ahead without looking at what is in front of us, we trip up. I want to make sure we take a look at what is in front of us for the first game and then we will look at the next game. I really don't want to put undue pressure on them."

And while Haynes says he respects the SVG team, he said his team cannot defer from their mission to get three points.

"We cannot take SVG for granted, because when you do that you lower your standards," Haynes said.

"You can win or lose a game with a lack of concentration. It is going to be important for us to do that. We have to make sure we respect the opponent, but at the same time, we have to show what we can do."

Haynes said his team's strengths are their athleticism and their skill, and he believes their size in the midfield and defensive positions can give them an edge as well.

However, he said, "As far as I am concerned, all of those things mean nothing until we play the game."

On the eve of the qualifiers, Haynes remains coy on his team's chances of progressing to the next phase.

"I am confident we can advance from the group, but I am not going to tell you why," he said.

"We are not one of the seeded teams so we have to make sure we do the business to get there."

[chelsealife]

So Canada just hit Dominica 8. Ppl still coming in the Stadium so not a bad crowd. Lewwe see what our boys saying 7 o'clock

[bingie man]

any links ?

[chelsealife]

It's on CONCACAF Go but for rest of the world. Not North America or Caribbean

[bingie man]

ok thanks

[chelsealife]

Fresh uniforms too. Capelli come through nice

[chelsealife]

Fifth minute we down 1-0. Sloppy penalty given away by the keeper

[chelsealife]

Dominating but somehow down 2-0 after 27 mins

[asylumseeker]

2-1 Cody Cooper (C)

[chelsealife]

Comeback is on

[chelsealife]

Expected more from Sween. He wasn't in this game at all, maybe he was injured to begin with. I'd switch Zum Zum and Cardines to opposite sides in the second half. Down 2-1 but I'd say good half after some hiccups early on

[Trini _2026]

Steeps this is why you must plan prepare dont wait till nov to appointment a coach . Haynes is not that familiar  with this bunch .  We turing that ball over to easy against st vincent