Pfister enters camp with 25-man squad.
By Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).
National Team head coach Otto Pfister will enter a live-in training camp with twenty-five players this weekend in preparation for next Friday’s 2014 Second Round World Cup qualifier against Bermuda.
Pfister announced his eleven overseas-based pros earlier in the week and has now finalized his full squad which will then be cut to 18 players for the this country’s opening World Cup qualifier which kicks off at 4pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
The home-based contingent includes Densill Theobald (Caledonia AIA), Stern John (DirecTV North East Stars), Marvin Phillip (Joe Public), Seon Power (Joe Public), Hayden Tinto (Joe Public), Carlyle Mitchell (Joe Public), Juma Clarence (Caledonia AIA), Andrei Pacheco (W Connection), Anthony Wolfe (North East Stars), Akeem Adams (T&TEC), Akini Adams (T&TEC), Andre Toussaint (Joe Public), Darryl Roberts (North East Stars), Hughtun Hector (W Connection).
The overseas quota includes captain and Stoke City striker Kenwyne Jones along with Carlos Edwards (Ipswich Town), Khaleem Hyland (Racing Genk, Belgium), Chris Birchall (LA Galaxy), Keon Daniel (Philadelphia Union, USA), Julius James (Columbus Crew, USA), Jake Thomson (Kettering Town, England), Andre Boucaud (York City, England), goalkeeper Anthony Warner (Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand), Clyde Leon (Corporacion Deportiva Itagui, Colombia) and Lester Peltier (AS Trencin, Slovakia). These overseas players will begin arriving in Port of Spain on Saturday with Hyland scheduled as the first to touch down.
Defender Robert Primus, based in Kazakhstan, is receiving treatment for an injury in Moscow but will still travel to Port of Spain to be with the squad before heading back to his club. He will not be considered for selection by Pfister for the upcoming qualifiers versus Bermuda and Barbados (September 6 in Bridgetown)
“This is the team including the overseas and the local players that we believe is the right group for the match. We have seen against India what the local boys can do and I have seen them in several training sessions over the past few months,” Pfister told TTFF Media.
“Now we will make a few training sessions with the overseas boys and prepare the final team for the matches. It is an important match as we know and I think the boys will be ready to fight for their country.
There is no easy game in world football today and we will prepare and give everything for the battle with Bermuda,” added Pfister who took the home-based players for a fitness session at Las Cuevas beach on Friday morning.
Meanwhile, Bermuda will prepare with a 20-man squad in Florida for the encounter. Head coach Devarr Boyles said his players were in high spirits and “ready to seize the moment”.
“We will be having a training camp in Florida where the conditions are very similar to the Caribbean,” he said.
“The training base will get the players in the mindset for competitive football. The facilities include both natural grass pitches as well as artificial surfaces, which is important, as we don’t know where we’re playing yet.
“It will be a good opportunity for us to consolidate the two groups: the overseas-based players and the local-based players. The players are buzzing right now and are ready to seize the moment, especially the older ones who more aware of the magnitude of this competition,”
And Bermuda’s Acting Minister of National Security Michael Weeks said he was comfortable with the security measures in place for the Bermuda team during the State of Emergency in T&T.
“This is an international event and the governing body for football in the region and internationally is responsible for security. However, in light of the recent issues in Trinidad & Tobago I asked the Bermuda Football Association to assure me of the arrangements made,” Weeks told the Bermuda press.
“I am satisfied that the security authorities in Trinidad & Tobago have matters in hand and that every aspect of safety and security for our players will be addressed.”
Tickets for Friday’s match go on sale on Saturday at all Kenny’s Sports Outlets and All Sport Promotions, Circular Rd, St James. Tickets are priced at $200 (covered) and $100 (uncovered). Children under 10 will be allowed free admission.
