Field ready for battle.
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF). Trinidad and Tobago’s Senior Footballers will get the chance to train at the Hasely Crawford Stadium just as they had hoped leading up to Saturday’s crucial 2010 World Cup Qualifier against Honduras.
This was confirmed following an inspection visit at the venue on Tuesday after noon involving T&T head coach Francisco Maturana, assistant Russell Latapy, other members of the technical staff and Local Organizing Committee member and ground technician Felix Hernandez.
The inspection lasted for roughly 20 minutes over which time the coaches were satisfied with the state of the pitch which prompt them to go ahead with a scheduled training time on Wednesday.
View Scotland's interview“I need to commend the staff for the job that they have done on the field. They have got it to a level that is very playable to international standard so we are looking forward to the game now,” Latapy told TTFF Media.
“From the job they have done… it’s suitable to play. We would like the opportunity to have a feel of the ground and we will decide how this goes before the game. We know the venue so we will work on our preparations in the best possible way,” Latapy added.
Maturana also expressed his satisfaction with the conditions of the playing surface.
The visiting Drum Line group from the USA also had a rehearsal at the venue on Tuesday. They are here to form part of the entertainment programme being put on by the TTFF at Saturday’s match. Their performance will also include a combination with Tassa and African drums.
Meantime, in-form Swansea City striker Jason Scotland says the time has come for him to deliver the goods for Trinidad and Tobago.
“I’ve been scoring goals for my club so obviously I would like to bring that over to the national team on the international level.” Scotland told TTFF Media.
“The Championship is fast football and it’s different.. But I know it’s time that I grab the opportunity for the national team. It’s a big challenge but I really want to do well. I haven’t scored important goals for Trinidad over the years.
“I spoke the Swansea manager before I came and he has spoken to the other manager here. He’s wished me well and I think they would like me to do good at the international level because it could benefit them as well. They would maybe be happy for me to be on holidays now because I have been playing a lot but they know it could benefit them if I’m playing well because there could be other clubs interested as well.
“I haven’t had much opportunities but even those that I got, I may not have taken them. Now I think I need to make use of this opportunity. We have had some good strikers over the years. Stern has been doing it for a number of years and now we have Kenwyne. It’s one of the toughest areas in the squad. We have Darryl Roberts and Scott Sealy as well playing abroad. But we don’t have much defenders abroad.
“I haven’t played against Honduras before but I know they have some good players in the Premiership but we also have some good players abroad. Everybody knows the job on hand and it’s up to us now to go and execute on the field,” Scotland added.
