T&T U-20s depart for Dubai.
T&T Express Reports.
Trinidad and Tobago's national Under-20 footballers will embark on a four-nation tour today as they step up preparations before contesting the 2009 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Egypt in September.
A 20-man squad and technical staff headed by coach Zoran Vranes will arrive in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) tomorrow. They face off against that country's national Under-20 team in two warm-up internationals on April 27 and 29.
The junior "Soca Warriors" will then journey to South Korea for two matches against First Division clubs there and will cross over to Africa, where further stops will be made in Nigeria and Ghana.
T&T are scheduled to face Nigeria's Under-20 team on May 7 and 9 and Ghana on May 10 and 12 before returning to Port of Spain a day later.
Ghana, UAE and Nigeria are also preparing to contest the World Under-20 Championship. Coach Vranes was upbeat over the upcoming tour.
"It's a great opportunity, well, for us as a team to go on tour and play matches before the tournament in Egypt," Vranes told Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) media officer Shaun Fuentes.
"We know for a fact that our first game (in the World Cup) against Egypt and the other games against Italy and Paraguay will not be easy by any means so, by seeing that, we know that we have to prepare very well. And this tour will give us the opportunity to get the experience of playing away from home and playing against some good international teams. It is also an excellent opportunity for us to train and play in Africa before the tournament in September," Vranes added.
"We have to prepare for a grand atmosphere in that first game against Egypt. Whichever opponents we have to face it will be challenge for us."
Vranes is expected to link up with the T&T senior team on his return on May 13 as they would by then be into preparations for the June 6 World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica. He will serve as assistant to newly-appointed head coach Russell Latapy.
"I feel Trinidadian and I have to help in whatever way, not only me but all coaches, at any level, whether it be senior or under-20. I said yes to the call and I have spoken to 'Latas' to see what he thinks and what he wants. We have the same opinion on the needs of football in general in this country. I have no problem helping Latas," he said
But Vranes said he has no intentions of leaving the Under-20 team.
"I am very pleased with their progress. I do not think I will have to leave them. Based on Latapy's ideas  on the  preparations, it doesn't look like we will clash and it will not affect my preparations with the Under-20 team. If I could not accommodate both teams then I would not have accepted the position," Vranes said.
TTFF special adviser Jack Warner feels the upcoming tour for the Under-20s represents more than just an opportunity to play football.
The only change to the T&T team from the one which contested the recent CONCACAF qualifying tournament is the absence of defender Robert Primus, who was injured while on duty with San Juan Jabloteh. Defender Mikeil Williams returns to the squad in Primus' absence.
