Shabazz conducts Soca Warriors training.
By: Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian).
National women’s team football coach Jamaal Shabazz was in charge of yesterday’s senior Soca Warriors men’s team training session with a group of local players at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
Shabazz, a former national goalkeeper conducted the session with the assistance of another ex-national goalkeeper Michael “Brow” Maurice, who was at the helm of last week’s training session.
The two former goalkeepers, conducted the session in the absence of national coach, Russell Latapy, who is away on personal business but is expected back on the weekend.
The other members of the technical staff to oversee the two-hour training session included Dave Isaac (physiotherapist), T&T Football Federation Technical Director Lincoln “Tiger” Phillips, and physical trainers, Gregory Seales and Orlando Griffith.
The players involved in yesterday’s session included W Connection’s Clyde Leon, Kern Cupid, Hughtun Hector, Matthew Bartholomew, Jan-Michael Williams, Keron “Ball Pest” Cummings, and Joevin Jones, the son of former Strike Squad left back Kelvin Jones.
The Defence Force quartet of Devon Jorsling, Kevon Carter, Aklie Edwards and Keston Williams were also involved along with Caledonia’s Densill Theobald, Ma Pau’s Devon Jamerson, and Jesse Stewart of the University of T&T.
Caledonia’s Daneil Cyrus and W Connection striker Shahdon Winchester, who missed last week’s session, also trained yesterday. Missing their second straight session were the members of the bmobile Joe Public and San Juan Jabloteh teams.
Those players included Joe Public’s Kerry Baptiste, Trent Noel, Marvin Phillip, Radanfah Abu Bakr, Hayden Tinto and Makan Hislop and Jabloteh duo, Robert Primus and Jason Marcano.
The players missed last week’s session after being involved in the Caribbean Football Union Club Champions Cup which ended at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya a day earlier.
Contacted for comment, Joe Public coach, Derek King said some of the guys were nursing injuries. “Trent, Baptiste and most recently Radanfah Abu Bakr (fracture in foot) have all picked up injuries,” King stated.
“Bakr’s injury will see him out for five weeks and I have already spoken to the national team manager, David Muhammed and informed him that once the other guys are fit they will train tomorrow (today).”
Last month Jabloteh coach, Englishman Terry Fenwick stopped his players from attending the sessions but it is unclear if he has lifted that ban. Efforts to reach the Jabloteh coach yesterday proved futile.
