U-23 team faces more squad disruptions
… But Eve welcomes MLS duo to camp
By: Lasana Liburd (wired868). Trinidad and Tobago national under-23 football team coach Angus Eve is still enjoying promising results on the field of play as he prepares for this month’s London 2012 Olympic Games qualifiers in the United States.
But Eve might be growing increasingly uneasy about off-the-field matters.
Already denied the services of three of the most talented players from this age group—Khaleem Hyland, Leston Paul and Robert Primus—for differing reasons, Eve is considering the possibility of doing without W. Connection starlet Shahdon Winchester and Poland-based defender Mekeil Williams as well.
The 20-year-old Winchester was expected to be available for the entire pre-tournament tour but was withdrawn by his club to finalise a move to an unnamed overseas professional club. Eve claimed that Connection reneged on two proposed dates for the striker’s re-introduction to the national set-up.
"We have all the local-based players in the camp but there is the problem with Shahdon," Eve told the TTFF Media, "in that we understand he has gone on a trial in Norway and now we are hearing he is in Spain.
"He was supposed to travel with the team to Jamaica but the management of his club said he had to go off to Norway on business (...) to sign a contract and obviously we are not going to stop a young player with an opportunity like that.
"It is a bit of a hamper..."
Wired868 was unable to reach Connection owner David John Williams for comment.
The Olympic qualifying tournament does not fall within the approved calendar for FIFA international games and so clubs, whether local or foreign, are not obliged to release their players to participate.
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