RECALL FOR WHITLEY
T&T coach Maturana selects six teenagers
Lasana Liburd
Saturday, February 16th 2008
team selection: Trinidad and Tobago head coach Francisco Maturana, right, chats with assistant coach Anton Corneal during yesterday's meeting at the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation's Technical Department office.
Trinidad and Tobago 2006 World Cup midfielder Aurtis Whitley should mark his return to international football on March 19 against El Salvador after a 16-month exile from the national set-up.
Whitley played a starring role for the "Soca Warriors" as they clinched a World Cup berth for the first time in 2005-he was preferred in central midfield to captain Dwight Yorke in Bahrain on November 15-while he featured in all three matches in Germany 2006.
The Vibe CT 105 W Connection playmaker was among 16 players blacklisted by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF), five months later, over a World Cup bonus dispute, while his club career was punctuated by absences for "personal reasons". However, new national coach Francisco Maturana is willing to gamble on the talented midfielder.
"The past is history and I am not concerned about that," Maturana told T&TFF media officer Shaun Fuentes via a translator. "I am interested in making new history... We told (Whitley) that we want to know his level of commitment and he has assured us of this.
"All the players that represent the country must be committed."
Whitley heads a 22-man list for the home friendly that will not feature any Europe-based players since it falls outside of the FIFA international calendar. There were two interesting inclusions from the United States, though, as 22-year-old Major League Soccer (MLS) strikers Randi Patterson and Robbie Findley-both US citizens-were included.
Findley and Patterson were born in Arizona and New Jersey, respectively, to Trinbagonian parents who migrated to North America. Findley is the more accomplished of the pair after scoring nine goals in his debut MLS season last year for Los Angeles Galaxy and Real Salt Lake. He was a last-minute substitute for the United States in a friendly win over Switzerland last October but can still switch loyalties as he has not represented either nation in a competitive fixture.
Thus far, Findley is the only player from the 22-man shortlist who has not confirmed his availability.
Patterson signed for New York Red Bull last season but failed to win any playing time, with Colombian forward Juan Pablo Angel and US wonder kid Jozy Altidore firmly established up front.
The third MLS player in Maturana's squad is new Toronto FC recruit and versatile 23-year-old defender Julius James.
James, who played alongside Kenwyne Jones and Jan-Michael Williams at the 2001 Under-17 World Cup, is coming off a stand-out season with University of Connecticut.
Left side US collegiate players, Kevon Neaves and Ancil Farrier, complete the list of overseas players who will join the Warriors.
Maturana also offered a chance for six teenagers to wear senior team colours in what he described as an effort to secure the future of local football.
Eighteen-year-old CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh midfielder Khaleem Hyland maintains his place from the Ash Wednesday friendly against Guadeloupe, while his club teammate, attacker Lester Peltier, is also selected.
The teenaged quartet of El Dorado Secondary striker Jamaal Gay and 2007 Under-17 World Cup players Leston Paul, Akeem Edwards and Daniel Cyrus also earned call-ups.
Bmobile Joe Public midfielder Silas Spann, United Petrotrin midfielder Keon Daniel, Defence Force left back Aklie Edwards and Jabloteh pair of playmaker Ataullah Guerra and defender Karlon Murray are under-23.
Marvin Phillip, Kern Cupid (both W. Connection), Seon Power, Keyeno Thomas, Gary Glasgow (all Joe Public), Keston Williams (Defence Force), Hayden Tinto (Caledonia AIA), Jason Marcano, Daurance Williams (Jabloteh) and Makan Hislop complete the list of invited players.
At least 12 players from the present squad should maintain their places for the friendly against Jamaica on March 26, which falls within the FIFA international calendar and would therefore feature several Europe-based players.
Thre are some different or additional names here to the previous list posted at thew beginning o the article.
