Overseas Pros to arrive on Sunday for Guadeloupe clash.
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF Media).
Trinidad and Tobago’s list of overseas-based players will arrive home on Sunday and head straight into camp at the Mt Irvine Bay Hotel in Tobago ahead of next Wednesday’s friendly international against Guadeloupe at the Queen’s Park Oval.
Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones will line up on Saturday against Liverpool and he along with Southampton striker Stern John, Wrexham midfielder Silvio Spann, Walsall goalkeeper Clayton Ince, Swansea City striker Jason Scotland and Collin Samuel will come in on the weekend. The other overseas pro, Hungary-based midfielder Densill Theobald is already in the country.
The list of home-based players, thirteen of them, will depart for the sister-isle on Friday to begin the live-in camp under interim head coach Francisco Maturana.
Those 13 players will be announced on Thursday (today) following a training session at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
Scotland, scorer of 16 goals in the English League One for the 2007/2008 season, is setting his sights on continuing that sort of form for the ‘Soca Warriors’ but he sees the Guadeloupe game as more than just a friendly against the Caribbean team.
“I think it’s definitely a chance for us to get back on track since the World Cup in 2006. I believe we have the qualities to do it as a team again and this game is much more than just a friendly. It’s important because a good bit of the guys from the 2006 squad will be coming back together for the first time in a year,” said Scotland.
On his personal showing for Swansea, Scotland felt that his game has been upped since the World Cup experience.
“I said before that going to the World Cup and being part of that experience would have helped to push on even if I didn’t play. That has happened and I am very pleased about it. I worked hard on my game even at St Johnstone and I pushed on. The move to England was always an ambition and thankfully I have been able to come and get the goals here as well. The most important thing is that I can continue contributing to the success of my club and country. This is a big year for us and hopefully we can good things in the World Cup campaign as well,” Scotland added.
Maturana meantime, has been joined by his assistants Cesar Maturana and Jorge Luis and they will begin duties alongside Anton Corneal and Michael Maurice on the coaching staff from tomorrow (Friday). Ashton Mills (Physio) and Wayne Lawson (trainer) are the other assistants.
“I think we have our plans and we will work towards achieving our goals. It is an important period but we will also use to settle in with the team, the players and of course work on all our tactical and physical preparation before the game against Guadeloupe,” said Maturana.