Van Deisen begs for speed.
By: Ian Prescott (Express).
"Speed" was the first and last word preached by Jan Van Deisen, Trinidad and Tobago's assistant coach, as the locally-based contingent of the national team continued preparations for the June 6-24 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Van Deisen and Michael McComie put the invitees through an intense two-hour morning training session yesterday at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, during which they worked on several goal-scoring rotations.
Familiar names like midfielders Silvio Spann, Kerwyn Jemmott, Kerry Baptiste, Nigel Daniel and Keyeno Thomas were among the players who trained, while Van Deisen was in charge of the session in the absence of head coach Wim Rijsbergen, who is in Jamaica with the T&T under-17 squad.
Looking particularly sharp were Jemmott, Glenton Wolfe and goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams, who all worked hard at implementing the instructions the coaches put to them.
"Wolfe, when asking for it, sound like you really want the ball. I want to see more goals," said Van Deisen.
"Good cross Jemmott," the Dutchman exclaimed, while congratulating the Superstar Rangers midfielder. But when W Connection's Andrei Pacheco put the ball wide of goalkeeper Williams, the Dutchman's words were: "Andrei, Andrei, Andrei. That could have been the last minute."
The training was conducted under a blistering sun, which had the footballers taking a couple breaks to rehydrate. Divided into two groups, the players worked hard at completing a goal-scoring drill which eventually ended with each team scoring six goals apiece.
