Olympic footballers seek winning blend… Hyland and Primus can lift U-23s
By Lasana Liburd (wired868)The Trinidad and Tobago national football team has only managed a top two CONCACAF finish once in its history when the “Soca Babes” finished runner-up to Mexico to qualify for the 1991 Portugal Under-20 World Youth Championship.
Angus Eve, Trinidad and Tobago’s all-time most capped senior team player, was a key member of that gifted squad and he is hoping that history repeats itself in the United States, next month, as the young “Soca Warriors” aim to book a maiden Olympic Games berth.
T&T face Mexico, Panama and Honduras on March 23, 25 and 27 respectively with the top two teams advancing to the semi-final stage. The last two nations standing will advance to the London 2012 Olympic Games, this July.
“The team is trying to do something we have never done before,” Eve told Wired868.com, “which is to qualify for an Olympics. It is not going to be an easy task but I have a dedicated group of people behind me.
“My assistants like Brian James and Derek King have been working hard… Our main job is to instill some passion back into the squad and into local football and we look forward to doing that.”
Trinidad and Tobago football legend and Eve’s former teammate, Dwight Yorke, was an inspirational part of the 1991 youth team, which became the first local side to qualify for a FIFA tournament.
Yorke was an employee of English top flight club, Aston Villa, at the time And Eve hopes that some overseas-based know-how can again provide the winning edge to a promising outfit.
The United States-based quartet of Kevin Molino, Sean De Silva, Bradley Welch and Kevan George are already in the frame for selection. Eve is crossing his fingers regarding the availability of the Europe-based trio of Khaleem Hyland, Mekeil Williams and Robert Primus as well.
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