Beenhakker needs overseas impetus
By Lasana Liburd (Trinidad Express)
Trinidad and Tobago national coach Leo Beenhakker is likely to spend this weekend glued to his computer screen as he seeks confirmation of the health of his 21-man squad and, in particular, the 16 overseas players who form the base of the country's World Cup aspirations.
Beenhakker fielded just one T&T Pro League player in Trinidad and Tobago's last two qualifiers and, in both outings, finished the match with a totally foreign-based outfit on the pitch.
Perhaps the experienced Dutch coach would have benefited more from a London apartment within two hours' drive of eight first team players and an Express subscription for reports on CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh midfielder Aurtis Seaton-the one locally-based player to cement a starting place.
Oh well, wise too late. Surely, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation's chief sponsor, TSTT, were good enough to ensure quality broadband service for the 63-year-old coach to keep track of his charges.
Beenhakker should settle for a weekend with no calamitous breakdowns-on the field or on his computer-although a few notches in the "goals for" column and some error-free returns will not go amiss.
Whatever the state of mind that Panama, who cannot qualify for the 2006 World Cup, or Mexico, who have already done so, take to the field in T&T's crucial remaining CONCACAF qualifying matches-on Saturday October 8 and Wednesday October 12, respectively-Beenhakker must be certain of his ability to capitalise.
He has made the right noises in public but, privately, the ex-Holland and Real Madrid boss must be concerned about the inconsistency of his outfit's seam.
Up front, the talented Stern John has just joined his third club in 13 months-England League Championship team Derby County took the T&T striker on loan-while, at the back, commanding stopper Marvin Andrews has endured a patchy start for Scotland Premier League defending champions, Glasgow Rangers.
Both players are too good not to snap out of their malaise. Whether they do so on October 8 or after is another matter entirely and the latter possibility is unthinkable for coach and country.
John was substituted at the interval in Derby's 2-1 loss to division leaders, Sheffield United, last Saturday, while Andrews was culpable for the decisive goal in a 1-0 defeat to Hearts on the same day.
It is almost inconceivable that Beenhakker would tinker with his first team at this crucial stage but Trinidad and Tobago could do with a confidence boost for both players.
The packed British domestic football calendar offers no favours. In the past three weeks, Andrews made five appearances for club and country-six, if he was used yesterday at Inter Milan-despite being omitted from coach Alex McLeish's squad twice this month.
Even 37-year-old Falkirk and Trinidad and Tobago playmaker Russell Latapy would have played six times in the past month by the time he turns out against Panama and he also missed a game.
In comparison, 33-year-old national captain Dwight Yorke's Australian employers, Sydney FC, had just four fixtures in the same time frame.
But, there are good omens as well for Beenhakker.
Yorke, who has also accepted the captaincy at Sydney, scored twice in his last three club fixtures, while Luton Town's Carlos Edwards, St Johnstone's Jason Scotland and Gillingham's Brent Sancho are playing regularly again.
Dundee goalkeeper Kelvin Jack, who missed much of last season through injury, is also benefiting from regular football.
So too are Southampton's Kenwyne Jones and Kansas City Wizards' Scott Sealy who, like Scotland, are pressing John for the centre forward spot.
John's form has prompted much debate in Trinidad and Tobago as well as in England's Midlands but he remains as valuable as ever to the country's World Cup aspirations.
Only 28 years old, John has the distinction of being Trinidad and Tobago's most prolific scorer of all time, with 61 goals from 87 appearances.
The Hasely Crawford Stadium remains a happy hunting ground for the poacher, who has scored five times in four appearances at the Port of Spain ground this year under Beenhakker.
John's returns represent half of T&T's ten goals at the venue under the Dutchman, while his ratio is even better in the qualifying campaign where he has three of his team's four goals there.
Still, John is yet to score on the road in the CONCACAF final qualifying round and, by his own admission, is not at his best.
A sparkling Saturday performance for John and his international teammates should do nicely.
Beenhakker will be taking note.
