Junior Warriors get settled in Egypt

[E-man]

Junior Warriors get settled in Egypt
T&T Express reports.

National Under-20 football captain Leston Paul and his teammates got their first feel of Egypt yesterday as they arrived in Alexandria as one of the featured teams for the gala kick off and opening ceremony for the 2009 FIFA Under-20 World Championship starting Thursday at the Egyptian Army Stadium.

After checking in at the luxurious Radisson Hotel just after midnight Egypt time, the T&T contingent were afforded top of the line treatment and accommodation in keeping with a prestigious FIFA tournament.

"The FIFA U-20 World Cup is a very important tournament, which over the last 30 years, has repeatedly unearthed future stars such as Maradona, Ronaldinho and Messi. I'm certain new talents will be discovered at the 2009 tournament in Egypt," declared FIFA president Joseph Blatter on the eve of the tournament.

As the T&T team arrived at the match venue, the Egyptian Army Stadium, for their training session at 7pm, there were loads of activities taking place as FIFA and the Local Organising Committee officials were hard at work, putting the final touches in place for Thursday's opening ceremony. Following its one hour session, the T&T team then made way for the hosts to practice soon after. The daytime conditions are relatively warm, not as humid as Cyprus and the temperature dropped to around 24 degrees as night approached.

T&T head coach Zoran Vranes says he expects his players to perform better in training in the remaining two days leading up to Thursday's match which kicks off at 8pm (2pm TT time).

"I  was a little bit disappointed with the training. This pitch is very fast but we will adjust to it," Vranes told TTFF Media.

"It was something that we have to think about a bit more. But I expect our sessions over the next couple days will get better. We have a challenge to get ready for Thursday. We saw tonight the size of the stadium and the crowd will be tremendous.

"I think the players will be very anxious and we have to make sure they are mentally and physically ready. I see no reason why we will not be ready because we have prepared very long for this. Of course it's an opening game and eyes all around the world will be on Trinidad and Tobago but I have no fear that we will be ready," he added.

FIFA vice-president Jack Warner and his contingent arrived in Cairo olast night and will be present at Thursday's grand kick off.


LAST-MINUTE CHECK: Coach Zoran Vranes, centre, gives instructions to the national Under-20 team during a training session at the Egyptian Army Stadium in Egypt yesterday.

[SabreWolves]

I hope our team Don't have to stand through the opening ceremonies.

They can be introduced, then get outta there.

they can watch on tv

[Deeks]

Papillons in meh stomach

[capodetutticapi]

Papillons in meh stomach

who,louis dega.

[Deeks]

nah, I remembering my first international in ottawa stadium in 74. Butterflies when the anthemn playing.

[fatimarima]

any links to view the games?

[mwanasoka]

Show them yuh Spunk Warriors.Them other teams ain't doin nutten that allyuh cyar do.
Mek dem see blinky blinky and mek yuh peeps proud.Bless.

[Tallman]

any links to view the games?

You can view the games online at ESPN360.com
Egypt vs. Trinidad & Tobago : Thurs., Sept. 24 @ 12:55 p.m. EST
Italy vs. Trinidad & Tobago: Mon., Sept 28 @ 12:40 p.m. EST
Trinidad & Tobago vs. Paraguay : Thurs., Oct. @ 1 3:25 p.m. EST

To check if your system can run ESPN360, please go to http://espn.go.com/broadband/espn360/support/syscheck

[Sando]

In this video guys, de first song (Hammer ?), a small clip of the song before Machel start off, does anyone know who sing it and what is the name of the song. ?

Thanks in advance.

Young Warriors in Egypt - First Day training - Egyptian Army Stadium

[bingie man]

demacro sing it. u welcome.

[capodetutticapi]

make we proud fellas.tnt all de way.

[Coach]

Dem brothers looking nervous... and tight... someone have to help them brothers with their mental preparation by letting them know to relax and enjoy the experience but also keep in mind that they have a job to do.

[Cocorite]

Not good. Might be a function of the staff themselves. They haven't been there before. Those sentiments may be picked up in their body language and voice etc.

C'mon fellas. It's just a game of football.

[Brownsugar]

........Leston Paul was just on the news saying just that, that some of the players were nervous.....

[palos]

........Leston Paul was just on the news saying just that, that some of the players were nervous.....

If they weren't nervous, something would be terribly wrong.

[Brownsugar]

........Leston Paul was just on the news saying just that, that some of the players were nervous.....

If they weren't nervous, something would be terribly wrong.

It would be good if they don't allow it to shut them down mentally......

[Trinimassive]

Well when yuh hear yuh coach say this. If yuh wasn't nervous before it will definitely do the trick

"I  was a little bit disappointed with the training. This pitch is very fast but we will adjust to it," Vranes told TTFF Media.

"It was something that we have to think about a bit more. But I expect our sessions over the next couple days will get better. We have a challenge to get ready for Thursday. We saw tonight the size of the stadium and the crowd will be tremendous.

It sound like Vranes was really surprised and didn't expect it at all. So is no wonder the nervous flu spreading.

If is one thing we team like to start slow and he probably thinking with the speed of the pitch if the Egypt come out blazing it could be trouble early. But if any team good at slowing up ah game is T&T. So like he say they will adjust

[Brownsugar]

Now that I think about it....perhaps the team should have arrived a tad earlier....like last week instead of a few days before the tournament...

[WestCoast]

Well when yuh hear yuh coach say this. If yuh wasn't nervous before it will definitely do the trick

"I  was a little bit disappointed with the training. This pitch is very fast but we will adjust to it," Vranes told TTFF Media.

"It was something that we have to think about a bit more. But I expect our sessions over the next couple days will get better. We have a challenge to get ready for Thursday. We saw tonight the size of the stadium and the crowd will be tremendous.

It sound like Vranes was really surprised and didn't expect it at all. So is no wonder the nervous flu spreading.

If is one thing we team like to start slow and he probably thinking with the speed of the pitch if the Egypt come out blazing it could be trouble early. But if any team good at slowing up ah game is T&T. So like he say they will adjust

Vranes ever coached this age group before?

[Quags]

They give us to play egypt in the opening game ,cause they want egypt to win.........I wouldn be scared or nervous ,I would be pissed!!! I would play the game of my life just to prove the organizers wrong  .
Come orn boys shock the world !! Think Cameroon Argentina ,opening game.

[Bourbon]

Now that I think about it....perhaps the team should have arrived a tad earlier....like last week instead of a few days before the tournament...

I woulda think so too..buh hindsight is 2020. Mightnt have gotten warm up games....probably woulda be scouted more....who knows?

Fellas...is not no scene...allyuh eh have nuttin to lose. Some of allyuh was dey in a similar environment before......de only difference is dat yuh support go be extremely partisan against yuh. Use de nerves positively. All I could ask is dat allyuh go out there and do allyuh best....and i eh have no reason to doubt that go happen. Show dem allyuh eh jus name warriors for kicks. 

[truetrini]

weren't they the first team to arrive?

[mwanasoka]

They give us to play egypt in the opening game ,cause they want egypt to win.........I wouldn be scared or nervous ,I would be pissed!!! I would play the game of my life just to prove the organizers wrong  .
Come orn boys shock the world !! Think Cameroon Argentina ,opening game.

We was de nOOb in Germany & expected to laydong but,
we impose we WILL on de Naysayers @ de expense of we
first two opponents & almost walk way w/3pts from de
1st game.Like Quagmire say,'Think Cameroon-Argentina
,opening game'. I say think Trinidad-Sweden.Egypt not
seeded nor better than we other 2 opps.,so who is de
most likely fuh we to take out & then build from that?
Lehwe show dem that de Powers dat Be wanted WE to win.
BTW, ah wonder wah happen to de boys dem mp3 players.

[Coop's]

Not good. Might be a function of the staff themselves. They haven't been there before. Those sentiments may be picked up in their body language and voice etc.

C'mon fellas. It's just a game of football.

       It's not as simple as it's just a game,that's why we does have problems against those teams outside there,it's more than a game to them,is only who have had the experience to be in those guys position will know how it feels,nobody can't tell me they don't be nervous when confronted with situations like this,this is representing your country on the big stage,it's the same reason our locals don't do well,the foreign players suppose too because they are in that environment day in day out,even the Coach surprised much less for the players,if we don't raise our expectations nobody will have to cuss and get with the results,lets say these guys have done the best they can already anything else is icing on the cake,i wish them the best just go for it you already there. 

[Observer]

Nerves are expected, its only natural. Most of it is anticipation of the game, wanting to get started after training & exhibition games.

Stating that the pitch was fast is only a statement. Though I doubt the pitch would be faster than the artificial pitch at the Center of Excellence. These things happen when you move from a grass pitch where the grass was slightly longer. But it was a training pitch so who cares. Now if it was the stadium, then it would take some getting used too.

[Deeks]

It is okay to have a few butter flies. But after first touch of the ball everything does be okay.

[kicker]

Nerves are normal- even the pros at the highest level get nervous- Zidane vomited seconds before scoring his penalty against England in Euro 2004, when asked about it he responded that he was nervous....The Egyptians will likely be just as, if not more nervous playing in front of their home fans....Concentration will be the key- particularly in the early going....win, lose or draw many lessons are bound to be learned.

[davidephraim]

........Leston Paul was just on the news saying just that, that some of the players were nervous.....

If they weren't nervous, something would be terribly wrong.

another 4 runs down de boundaries.  We have to deal with things from the perspective that it is natural but how do you fuse and use it to our advantage.  Hope they have a good head dude on de trip.

[davidephraim]

Not good. Might be a function of the staff themselves. They haven't been there before. Those sentiments may be picked up in their body language and voice etc.

C'mon fellas. It's just a game of football.

       It's not as simple as it's just a game,that's why we does have problems against those teams outside there,it's more than a game to them,is only who have had the experience to be in those guys position will know how it feels,nobody can't tell me they don't be nervous when confronted with situations like this,this is representing your country on the big stage,it's the same reason our locals don't do well,the foreign players suppose too because they are in that environment day in day out,even the Coach surprised much less for the players,if we don't raise our expectations nobody will have to cuss and get with the results,lets say these guys have done the best they can already anything else is icing on the cake,i wish them the best just go for it you already there. 

Coops as dangerous as this philosophy could be (complacency), I like it meh boy. I think that you woulda pull the pressure off me dey if I was on the team. It allows for me to go and concentrate on football. Yuh already toating butterflies because yuh mother done say she go beat in front all yuh friends if yuh aint score.  (lookup soccer-mom TnT style).

[Trinimassive]

Nerves are expected, its only natural. Most of it is anticipation of the game, wanting to get started after training & exhibition games.

Stating that the pitch was fast is only a statement. Though I doubt the pitch would be faster than the artificial pitch at the Center of Excellence. These things happen when you move from a grass pitch where the grass was slightly longer. But it was a training pitch so who cares. Now if it was the stadium, then it would take some getting used too.

It's the Egyptian Army Stadium where the game would be played.

But as Vranes say....they will make the adjustment