Julius out, Justin Fojo in as T&T prepare for El Salvador.
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).[/size]
A 14-member Trinidad and Tobago squad will resume training on Thursday at the Marvin Lee Stadium ahead of next Wednesday’s friendly international against El Salvador at the Macoya venue.
Head coach Francisco Maturana will continue work with the bunch of home-based pros which includes one of the previously invited US-based players, defender Makan Hislop who arrived in the country last month.
The other players carded to fly in on the weekend to join the team include former MLS player Randi Patterson, signed last week by American A-League club Charleston Battery, College-based striker Kevon Neaves and promising defender Kern Cupid who is a member of W Connection but now attached to Charleston Battery. Also coming in later this week will be midfielder Justin Fojo of Charleston College.
Fojo was named a Freshman All-American in 2007 and also named to the All-Southern Conference second team and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas All-South Region third team. He played alongside Tobagonian Kareem Yearwood at Charleston. Fojo also attended a training camp hosted by the TTFF in North Carolina in November 2006. The former St Mary’s College student was also one of the players selected from the 2005 edition of the Stern John Skills Award Program to attend the Birmingham City Academy.
Striker Robbie Findley turned down the invitation while Toronto FC Julius James is nursing an injury and unable to make the trip home.
The rest of the team includes W Connection goalkeeper Marvin Phillip, Defence Force defender Akile Edwards, Keston Williams, experience World Cup midfielder Aurtis Whitley, United Petrotrin’s Keon Daniel, Joe Public’s Silas Spann, Jabloteh’s Jason Marcano, Caledonia AIA’s Hayden Tinto, Under 20 team duo Akeem Adams, Jamaal Gay and new call up goalie Glenroy Samuel. Jabloteh’s Khaleem Hyland is on the roster but there is a question mark over his availability. Leston Paul is missing because of his selection for a training stint at Sunderland’s Academy of Light.
Aside from the overseas-pros mentioned in the previous release invited for the March 26 Jamaica game, there is one addition with defender Osei Telesford being added.
English agent Mike Berry explained that while defender Dennis Lawrence came through the full 90 of Swansea City’s encounter on Tuesday, he was still undergoing treatment and remains doubtful for March 26. He added that once Edwards is fit, there would be no question mark over his presence in the squad and is hoping for less conflict over such an appearance which would be his first for the country since a friendly international against Austria in November 2006.
Maturana stated: “We will begin the training with these players. We have two matches in a week which is important because it is all part of the overall preparation for qualification. You have to treat every game with the respect that it needs as it is related to your preparation for the important qualification games,” he told TTFF Media. Wednesday’s game at Macoya kicks off at 6:30pm.
Photos show Justin Fojo at left and Randi Patterson.
