Theobald says clash with Boyz vital for Cup hopes.
T&T Newsday Reports.
Portmore United’s midfielder Andrew Vanzie is the only newcomer to the Reggae Boyz squad as preparation for their upcoming international friendly against Trinidad and Tobago resumed with a five- day training camp which started yesterday at the Player’s Residence in Kingston.
Vanzie who is attached to Portmore United and is a member of the Jamaican Under-21 CAC Games squad, has earned his first call-up by team coach Theodore Whitmore.
Vanzie, 20, was part of the Under-21 CAC Games squad a few months ago. Prior to their departure for Port-of-Spain on Monday, the Reggae Boyz will play a training match on Saturday against a Portland Select Team.
The Reggae Boyz has been playing a series of practice matches against local parish teams and on Sunday they defeated Trelawny 3-1.
At least five overseas players are expected to join the current squad which Whitmore will trim before coming to Trinidad and Tobago They include New York Red Bulls player Dane Richards, San Jose Earthquakes’ Ryan Johnson, Rodolph Austin of Norwegian Premier League side SK Brann and Eric Vernan, currently on loan to Nybergsund IL, in Norway and LA Galaxy goalkeeper Donovon Ricketts.
TT coach Russell Latapy will resume training at 4 pm on Monday at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya. Several of his players are unavailable this week due to club commitments with Joe Public and Jabloteh FC in the Concacaf Champions League.
They include Joe Public’s Kerry Baptiste, Marvin Phillip, Makan Hislop, Trent Noel, Hayden Tinto and Jabloteh’s Jason Marcano, Ataullah Guerra and Robert Primus.
Caledonia AIA midfielder Densill Theobald is geared up for the encounter, remembering the impact of the 2-2 draw in 2008 when Soca Warriors came from two goals down to earn a last minute draw in Kingston.
“We had a lot of challenges in that game as we went in with 15 players because of injuries but we played a really fantastic game to earn the draw.
That game was a real battle between the two top sides in the Caribbean and I think on Wednesday the match will be another hard- fought one,” Theobald said yesterday.
“It’s definitely going to give us a fair indication as to how the team is shaping up for the Digicel Cup and the coach has stressed that he wants to focus on the local players for the tournament so it will be an excellent opportunity for us to come out and perform well.
“We are in a rebuilding stage as well after the last World Cup campaign and I think all the players know how important it is for us to do well in the Digicel Cup and qualify for the Gold Cup and also do well there. For us, the preparations must be at a decent level from now which means that they must do well in this friendly on Wednesday,” he ended.
The match on August 11 kicks off at 6 pm at the Marvin Lee Stadium and tickets will be on sale on match-day at the venue.
Jamaica training squad:
Kenardo Forbes; Jermaine Taylor, Romeo Parkes and Randall Huie; Adrian Reid, Ricardo Cousins, Andrew Vanzie and Mario Swaby; O’Neil Fisher, Richard Edwards, Kavin Bryan and Dicoy Williams; Troy Smith, Dino Williams and Oliver Trail; Devon Hodges; Peter Harrison, Navian Boyd and Keammar Daley; Orion Dennis; Devon Williams; Rafe Wolfe and Dennis Taylor.
