Trinidad are out for revenge, Rojas warns.
By Stephen Wright (Royal Gazette).
Former Trinidad defender Marlon Rojas has warned Bermuda his ex-team-mates are hungry for revenge as they prepare for tomorrow’s World Cup qualifying showdown.
The Somerset Eagles coach believes Bermuda have little chance of pulling off another upset against a Trinidad team still smarting from their humbling home defeat in 2008.
And with the Soca Warriors determined to re-establish themselves as a Caribbean powerhouse, Rojas insists there will be no danger of them taking Bermuda too lightly this time around.
“I’ve had a chat to one of the guys and I know they are definitely eager to put that defeat against Bermuda into perspective,” said Rojas, who won 23 caps for Trinidad. “I’m still in touch with a lot of those guys via Facebook or BB; I contacted them recently to say I’m waiting for their return visit to Bermuda in October.
“Trinidad have been going through a bad patch for a few years and I know they are desperate to re-establish themselves as the top team in the Caribbean. I think this game is a good place for them to start.”
Trinidad have packed their squad with top overseas talent such as Kenwyne Jones, Carlos Edwards and Chris Birchall, underscoring just how serious they are to avoid another embarrassing slip-up at home.
Conversely, Bermuda will be relying on a group of players with little or no World Cup qualifying experience, who Rojas reckons simply won’t be able to contend with his compatriots’ superior know-how.
“(Trinidad) are making a huge effort to make sure they use this game as a stepping stone as opposed to ‘you know, it’s an easy game’,” said Rojas, whose football résumé includes stints at MLS side Real Salt Lake and Trinidadian powerhouse Joe Public F.C.
“I’m definitely looking to see an improved Trinidad from the last couple of years, that’s for sure.”
Rojas was a regular starter for Trinidad during their 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign but lost his contract at Real Salt Lake due to the number of matches he was missing while on international duty.
That, in turn, robbed him of a place in the Soca Warriors’ World Cup party which included his close friend Edwards, now at Ipswich, ex-Manchester United ace Dwight Yorke and former Premier League striker Stern John.
Such was the extent of Rojas’ disappointment, he decided to quit professional football soon after and moved to Bermuda with his wife Shimiqa to start a new life.
But, had he not chosen to call time on his pro career, the 31-year-old reckons he could have been among Trinidad’s star-studded line-up against Bermuda tomorrow.
“I’m still pretty young, you know; I think if I was still playing I’d be able to give a fight,” he said. “At the time of my disappointments I chose to fall back on my education and find a job. That’s the thing with professional football; you have to cope with a lot of disappointments.”
Rojas hasn’t completely written off Bermuda’s chances though, and has backed them to get the better of their other Group B rivals Guyana and Barbados.
“I definitely think Bermuda have plenty of talent. They have a number of players with professional experience and that certainly should give them the edge over some of the other Caribbean nations,” he said.
Bermuda out to prove 2008 win was no fluke.
Trinidad midfielder Khaleem Hyland believes Bermuda have nothing to lose and will be out to prove their victory over the Soca Warriors three years ago was no fluke, writes Stephen Wright.
Hyland, among 11 overseas professionals included in Trinidad’s squad, has urged his team-mates to ward against complacency and ensure there’s no repeat of their 2-1 home defeat against Bermuda in 2008.
“They will come here with nothing to lose and prove that the win last time was no fluke,” said Hyland. “They will also try their best to ensure we don’t get to play the game at the pace which we would like.
“We went into the game with our hopes too high and it’s not always good to go into a match with too much confidence.
“These games will test us to see how far we have to go again to get to a level for the bigger teams in the Concacaf. Hopefully we can reach a level where we can come up against the likes of Mexico and win without having to struggle to get a result on home soil. It’s always good for a new bunch with a new coach to get a good start.”
Also making a return to the Soca Warriors’ squad for tomorrow’s game is midfielder Chris Birchall, who has spent the past few seasons alongside David Beckham and Landon Donovan at LA Galaxy.
Birchall, who played in the 2002 World Cup in Germany, is confident of Trinidad making a winning start to their new coach Otto Pfister’s reign.
“It’s obviously good to be back in the Trinidad and Tobago team. I haven’t been in the side for a while but I always look forward to playing again,” he said.
“This is another World Cup campaign for us. Obviously we were disappointed in not making it to South Africa, but I think this time around we have a good bunch of guys and we’re really looking forward to doing well and getting right out there on the pitch.
“Personally, for me, I’ve been enjoying my time out there in LA. Being among the likes of David (Beckham) and the other guys is always a lot to look forward to and the quality of football is quite good. I’m just pleased to be back in the set-up here and hoping to get off to a winning start against Bermuda.”
