In less than 7 days Trinidad and Tobago national team will square off in their first game in the Digicel Cup against Barbados (I think). Do you reckon that Trinidad and Tobago will win tournament?
This is a mini break down on our preparations for the tournament
(1) The coaching staff first named a 41 man squad to prepare for the Digicel cup. Practice/preparation for Digicel literally started a month ago (December 11th) with the first week not having all the players due to external factors (such as school, flight schedule etc). In the initial stages players got the weekends off so it was not even a full month of practice.
(2) That squad then ran into problems when San Juan Jabloteh pulled out their players from the squad. Coach Fenwick and his staff said that they need their players healthy/fit and readily available for the Concacaf club championship.
(3) The national senior team played two games against a college base outfit. In the first game the national senior team lost 2-0 to the college base outfit. In the second game the tables turned and the senior team won the game 2-0 (with the college base team not having the services of many key players for unknown reasons). That was the only game preparation they got.
(4) Some players have no confidence whatever so ever in their teammates and the team. In fact, this is a honest dialog that I had with 2 players.
player A - "honestly kingman, our team not good at all"
kingman - "why boy"?
Player A - "the defense and midfield is very weak" "the midfield especially!!" they only want to play when the ball at is at their feet but do not want to work hard off the ball" "The practice sessions are slow and with no intensity and everybody on the team feel they is big boys" "I really think we are going to get embarrassed kingman"
Kingman - "sigh" "so everybody want to do the masonry but no body want to mix cement and dig the holes for casting?
Player A & B -
Player B - I think the good think about it all is that the other teams in the tournament are even worst.
Kingman - "negative, Barbados and Haiti are teams that running decent ball we have to be careful of them"
(5) The senior team was then suppose to head into a live in camp on Friday 5th to fine turn the lads for the first game and tournament. It never happened. Players were then told on Friday to come prepared for practice on Saturday 6th @ 4pm but also was required to pack their stuff to head into the live in camp immediately after. However, up to today (7th December) players are still not in that live in camp. Players told me that it was put off until tomorrow (Monday December 8th).
(6) I was told that coach Wim was hardly ever present in practice (sometimes never present). Practice was run by Anton and Wim assistant (whatever his name is).
Based on all this information provided, how do you favor Trinidad chances? I honestly very concern and pessimistic. I will however support the team (mainly because their are personnel on the team that are very close to me).
Kingman
Poll