T&T U-20s clinch Super League KO title.
By: Ian Prescott (Express).Vranes wants best playersZoran Vranes laments that he still may not have the best players in the Trinidad and Tobago national
Under-20 team, despite leading the youths to the bmobile National Super League Knockout title two nights ago, after a 1-0 defeat of Defence Force at Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya.
Following the victory, the Montenegro-born coach complained that top clubs in the T&T Pro League are still withholding players who should be among the national squad, even though he has only asked that they be released for international matches, or when they are on suspension.
"I want (Robert) Primus of Jabloteh, (Sheldon) Bateau from Jabloteh...I have two guys from Rangers and I have a guy from Ma Pau. Also, I am running around the schools league and have already seen two, three guys." Vranes said the performance in the KO final clearly demonstrated the improvement the T&T Under-20s had made by playing in the Super League.
However, he believes that soon they will have to step up to a higher level of competition. The national Under-20s are seeking to qualify for the 2009 FIFA Under-20 World Cup and will enter CONCACAF qualifying in January.
"We are making progress definitely and very soon we will not need Super League anymore," said the former Partisan Belgrade player. "But we will keep working and playing Super League because we have no other choice. But, definitely we need international matches."
The lone goal at the "Marvin Lee" on Wednesday night was scored by striker Trent Lougheed in the 79th minute, but was somewhat of a fluke. However, the national youths thoroughly deserved victory since they dominated the match, especially in the second half.
Lougheed's goal was his reward for contesting a cross ball. A defender got there first and headed onto Lougheed. The ball went off the striker's head and looped over the slightly advanced Defence Force keeper.
Defence Force looked like a "fat man" team, fielding Sterling O'Brian, Matthew Owen and Kwesi Smith, all of whom looked very overweight.
As a consequence, they ran out of steam in the second session. The national U-20s had many chances, but Lougheed, Daniel Joseph and Jean Luc Rochford missed from close up.
Joseph somehow managed to curl the ball wide after collecting Jamal Gay's pass alone in the centre of the penalty area, while Rochford missed with an angled header towards the far post.
And the under-20s almost paid a heavy price when O'Brian had youth keeper Glenroy Samuel at his mercy, but "expertly" guided his header wide. It was one of the misses of the season.
