French-based striker in.
...Forbes called for Puerto Rico friendly.
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).[/size]
Trinidad and Tobago National Team head coach Francisco Maturana has selected a squad of twenty-six players to attend training sessions ahead of this country’s next friendly international against Puerto Rico at the Marvin Lee Stadium on April 27.
The Colombian-born coach has called up French-based forward Kevaughn Connell and in-form United Petrotrin striker Jerol Forbes. Connell is a 24-year-old striker with French Third Division club L'Entente Sannois Saint-Gratien.
Forbes meantime was a member of the T&T Under 17 team at the 2001 FIFA Under 17 World Championship, scoring T&T’s lone goal in its defeat to Brazil at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. Team manager David Muhammad confirmed that Connell who had stints with Joe Public, Clico Jabloteh, New York/New Jersey MetroStars as well as played for French club AS Cannes, was already contacted and will make the trip home for the encounter.
Also earning calls for the encounter is Toronto FC defender Julius James, English-based goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams, Lester Peltier of Clico San Juan Jabloteh and Charleston Battery’s Randi Patterson.
Current team captain Aurtis Whitley is also in the mix with some other recalls including Defence Force defender Anton Pierre, Devon Jorsling, Michael Edwards and Caledonia AIA’s Stephan David.
The rest of the squad, for training which begins a week ahead of the game includes members of the teams which defeated El Salvador 1-0 and drew 2-2 away to Jamaica last month. They are goalkeeper Marvin Phillip, Keon Daniel, Kern Cupid, Akile Edwards, Kerry Baptiste, Keyeno Thomas, Jamaal Gay, Silas Spann, Keston Williams, Makan Hislop and Akeem Adams.
Maturana, who has viewed some of the opening round matches in the T&T Pro League, maintains that he will use the opportunity to see how the players fare in the training sessions and against international opposition. Some of the other overseas-based players were not considered due to the game falling outside of the FIFA international window.
“It’s a good opportunity for the players to be involved and we have made the calls according to what we have seen here in the League and of course we have our reports on some of the players from abroad,” Maturana told TTFF Media. “It is very important that we maintain our philosophy of working with the players who show the right potential and attitude that we are looking for. The last two games I saw a lot of promise and a lot of heart from my players and we are hoping to continue this pattern,” he added. Puerto Rico meantime, held T&T 2-2 in a friendly earlier this year are preparing for upcoming World Cup qualifying action against Honduras in June.
T&T will also face Barbados on May 11 in another friendly international on a request from the Barbados FA with their team preparing for their World Cup qualifier against United States.
The 2010 Local Organizing Committee, under the chairmanship of Jack Warner, met on Sunday at the Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence to discuss the planning and hosting of upcoming events including the friendlies against Puerto Rico and Barbados, the June 1 Centennial clash with England and the June 7 return friendly international against Jamaica in Port of Spain. The “Soca Warriors” will also face Bermuda in its first 2010 World Cup qualifier on June 15 in Trinidad followed by the away leg a week later.
Squad invited for training ahead of Puerto Rico game.1-Marvin Phillip – W Connection
2-Kern Cupid – W Connection
3-Makan Hislop – United Petrotrin
4-Akile Edwards – Defence Force
5-Kerry Baptiste – Joe Public F.C.
6-Aurtis Whitley – W Connection
7-Keon Daniel – United Petrotrin
8-Keyeno Thomas – Joe Public F.C.
9-Lester Peltier – Clico Jabloteh F.C.
10-Randi Patterson – Charleston Battery
11-Julius James – Toronto F.C.
12-Khaleem Hyland – unattached
13-Akeem Adams – W Connection
14-Jamaal Gay – Under 20 National Team
15-Jan Michael Williams – English-based
16-Kevaughn Connell – French-based
17-Jerol Forbes – United Petrotrin
18-Devon Jorsling – Defence Force
19-Anton Pierre – Defence Force
20-Stephan David – Caledonia AIA
21-Keston Williams – Defence Force
22-Silas Spann – Joe Public F.C.
23-Glenroy Samuel – Under 20 National Team
24-Michael Edwards – Defence Force
25-Kevon Carter – Defence Force
26-Daniel Cyrus – Under 20 National Team
VideoAurtis talks after Jamaica match--- see his goal
