Pro League players lead Olympic team challenge...as preparations intensifies.
By: Randy Bando
The Trinidad and Tobago national under-23 squad preparing for the Olympic qualifiers have stepped up their preparations with newly appointed assistant Coach Michael Mc Comie taking charge of the squad in the absence of Head Coach Jan Van Diesen.
Van Diesen is currently with the T&T senior team in Los Angeles preparing for their first CONCACAF Gold Cup match against El Salvador on Thursday.
Assistant Coach Michael Mc Comie strongly aided by Coach Anton Corneal have boosted their training schedule from one day per week to three days per week as they aim to get the team ready for the CFU round of Olympic qualifiers at the end of August.
Speaking with ‘ttproleague.com’ on Tuesday at the Ato Boldon Stadium before the team’s session Mc Comie said, “Today is really the first day that we start preparing for the tournament as the screening sessions are more or less over.”
It was visible at the session that Pro League players represented the bulk of those who made the first cut. According to assistant Coach Michael Mc Comie the final squad would be revealed in July.
He explained there may be the possibility of some foreign additions to the team if the need arises, but for the moment they are pleased with the current pool of players.
“So far it’s not bad. We have had five weeks screening. We have cut down the squad after seeing a number of players. We now have the core of players we want to work with as well as their might be some new additions who we think can come in and make a difference before we select the final squad,” said the former Joe Public coach.
“We looked at our locally based players and actually we were quite surprised. The pool of players we had to select from was a very competitive pool. The players are very willing and determined and this is a great opportunity for them to really show what they can do,” said Mc Comie.
Mc Comie believes time is of the essence to get the team in the best state of readiness saying, “The guys would be prepared at the end of the day. We would take it day by day as we go along because allowing the players time to gel is so significant,” he said adding, “We are doing our best in working with the Federation and the clubs to find the best possible solution and I can say that the majority of the clubs in the Pro League has been co-operating.”
Mc Comie is also banking on the senior Pro League players representing the national U-23 team saying, “We are banking on some of the experienced players who play in the Pro League, but we are not going to build the team around any particular players because we believe in team work.”
Despite having most of the former U-20 players in his squad who recently failed to qualify for the U-20 World Cup under Coach Brian Williams in 2006, Mc Comie believes that the U-23’s have a better chance.
“I would think we have a better chance with these players because they are a little more experienced having gone through that period in their careers. I also think that they have a little more knowledge which they didn’t have before in terms of the game.”
The 2006 Pro League winning Coach believes the national U-23’s chances of qualifying are great once they are able to prepare as they would like.
“With the U-17 team qualifying for the World Cup there is a lot of enthusiasm in our players. We expect favorable results in the group stages but at the same time as professional coaches we have to be realistic because the key to success is preparation and we are trying to do that with the resources we have,” ended the former Pro League coach.
Trinidad and Tobago are grouped with Guyana, Netherlands Antilles and Suriname in the first group stage of the Olympic qualifying stage which begins in late August.
