2012 CFU U-20 final round thread.

[Flex]

T&T Under 20s in same group with Haiti for CFU final round.
By Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).

Trinidad and Tobago’s Under 20 footballers will regroup later this month as the preparations intensify for their Caribbean Football Union final round of qualification towards the FIFA Under 20 World Cup in Turkey next year.

The T&T arrived home on Monday after claiming the final berth in the CFU finals which will be played in Jamaica in November.

The young Soca Warriors joined final-round host Jamaica, first-round group winners Curacao, Cuba, Haiti and Suriname, along with fellow second-place finishers Antigua & Barbuda and Puerto Rico in the eight-team Caribbean finals.

T&T have been placed in Group A  with Curacao, Puero Rico and Haiti with hosts Jamaica, Suriname, Cuba and Antigua in Group B. Five nations will qualify for the 12-team CONCACAF U-20 Championship in Puebla, Mexico February 18-March 2.

Head coach Ross Russell was keen on finding out T&T’s group opponents.

“It was important to know as soon as possible which teams we would be playing. While we are satisfied to have made it to the final round, we are still not out of the Caribbean as yet and this group in Jamaica will determine if we advance to the CONCACAF final round,” Russell told TTFF Media.

“Definitely the preparations will intensify because the team still has to raise its level of play for the later stages of qualification. We have some work to do and we will also be looking at some more players both at home and others who are based overseas.”

TTFF technical director Anton Corneal was also in Kingstown to observe T&T’s 3-0 win over St Vincent/Grenadines on Sunday, adding: “It’s good getting the next round but we have work to do and a program will be implemented over the next two months with the resources available to us  to try and get the team up to another level for the remainder of the qualification bid to get to the World Cup in Turkey next year.”

Caribbean U-20 Final Round

Group A
Haiti
Curacao
Trinidad and Tobago
Puerto Rico

Group B
Jamaica
Suriname
Cuba
Antigua and Barbuda

[Flex]

Young Warriors opens qualifiers against Puerto Rico.
T&T Guardian Reports.

T&T Under-20 Soca Warriors will kick off their Caribbean Football Union Under-20 Championship final round qualifiers against Puerto Rico in the Group A opener at the Water House Stadium, Kingston, on Monday November 5, from 7 pm.

The draw for the final round of qualifying was announced by the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) on Thursday in Kingston, Jamaica. In the second match of the opening day of the eight-team competition, Haiti and Puerto Rico will do battle from 9 pm.

T&T will then face Haiti two days later before closing out group  play against Curacao on November 9. T&T qualified to the final round after finishing second to Suriname on goal-difference, in their Group Four playoff in St Vincent and The Grenadines after both teams ended with six points.

T&T opened with a 2-1 win over Guyana but was then stunned 3-0 by Suriname before bouncing back with a 3-0 win against host St Vincent and The Grenadines for six points and a goal-difference of plus-one. Suriname edged St Vincent and The Grenadines 1-0 while it was upstaged by Guyana 2-1 in its final match to end with a plus-three goal-difference.

The Puerto Ricans were also second on goal-difference to Haiti in Group three after both teams finished with seven points.

Puerto Rico won by similar 2-0 margins against Barbados and Bermuda while it drew goalless with Haiti, which won 2-0 and 3-0 over Barbados and Bermuda, respectively.

CFU Qualifiers Final Round - At Kingston, Jamaica

Group A: Curacao, Haiti, Puerto Rico, T&T
Group B: Antigua & Barbuda, Cuba, Jamaica, Suriname
 
Fixtures

November 5
T&T vs  Puerto Rico
Haiti vs Curacao

November 6
Cuba vs Suriname
Jamaica vs Antigua & Barbuda

November 7
Puerto Rico vs Curacao
Haiti vs T&T

November 8
Antigua & Barbuda vs Cuba
Jamaica vs Suriname
 
November 9
Curacao vs T&T
Puerto Rico vs Haiti
 
November 10
Suriname vs Antigua & Barbuda
Jamaica vs Cuba

[injunchile]

T&T and Haiti. Cuba and Jamaica.

[Tallman]

National U-20s heading to Jamaica
By Ian Prescott (T&T Express)

SHAQUILLE HOLDER, scorer of 28 goals in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) for Carapichaima East Secondary this season, has forced his way into the Trinidad & Tobago national under-20 football team currently preparing for the eight-team final round of Caribbean qualifying for the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship.

Holder is one of three changes from the team that successful team that competed in the semi-final qualifying round in St Vincent & the Grenadines in August. Former under-17 goalkeeper Tevin Dodds replaces USA-based John Thomas, and former St Anthony's College midfielder Garvin Samaroo is back in the squad..

Yesterday, the T&T under-20 squad entered camp at the Cascadia Hotel. T&T's under-20 "Soca Warriors" will leave on Saturday for Jamaica where they battle for one of five Caribbean qualifying spots for the CONCACAF Championship in Pueba, Mexico from February 18-March 2, 2013. T&T join hosts Jamaica, first-round group winners Curacao, Cuba, Haiti and Suriname, along with fellow second-place finishers Antigua & Barbuda and Puerto Rico in the eight-team Caribbean finals. The young Soca Warriors open the series against Puerto Rico on November 5, play Haiti two days later, and then end preliminary round qualifying on September 9 against Curacao.

T&T finished second to Suriname on goal-difference from the Group D qualifier in August. The young Soca Warriors edged Guyana 2-1 in the opener and were shocked 3-0 by Suriname, before bouncing back with a 3-0 win over hosts St Vincent and the Grenadines. Both Suriname and T&T ended with six points.

Defence Force's Ross Russell is T&T's head-coach, while former national player Reynold Carrington is his assistant. In the next week, the team will train morning and evening at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, before playing a final warm-up match on Thursday against Southern Football Association Premier Division leaders Point Fortin Civic Centre.

Russell will have to do without United States-based goalie John Thomas, who has been replaced by Tevin Dodds. Team manager William Wallace reported that there was difficulty getting Thomas released from his school for the tournament.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO:
Tevin Dodds, Quesi Weston, Adan Noel, Dwight Quintero, Alvin Jones, Anthony Charles, Damani Richards, Shannon Gomez, Shaquille Nesbitt, Duane Muckette (captain), Xavier Rajpaul, Kerron Bethelmy, Jomal Williams, Marcus Gomez, Akeem Garcia (midfielders); Shackiel Henry, Keane McIvor, Glen Sutton, Shaquille Holder, Garvin Samaroo.

CARIBBEAN UNDER-20 FINAL ROUND
Group A: Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, Curacao, Puerto Rico
Group B: Jamaica, Suriname, Cuba, Antigua and Barbuda

CARIBBEAN UNDER-20 FINAL ROUND FIXTURES

Monday, November 5
Trinidad & Tobago vs Puerto Rico; Haiti vs Curacao

Tuesday, November 6
Cuba vs Suriname; Jamaica vs Antigua & Barbuda

Wednesday, November 7
Puerto Rico vs Curacao; Haiti vs Trinidad & Tobago

Thursday, November 8
Antigua & Barbuda vs Cuba; Jamaica vs Suriname

Friday, November 9
Curacao vs Trinidad & Tobago; Puerto Rico vs Haiti

Saturday, November 10
Suriname vs Antigua & Barbuda; Jamaica vs Cuba

[Andre]

T&T vs. JA in the final!

and we winning!

[Flex]

U-20s need $400,000 for CFU qualifiers.
By Nigel Simon (Guardian).

With less than three days before the Soca Warriors Under-20 team departs for the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) U-20 Championships in Jamaica, a qualifier for the CONCACAF U-20 Championship, the needed $.4 million to fund the trip is yet to be received.
 
This was confirmed by an official at the T&T Football Federation (TTFF) office yesterday when questioned on the state of the team’s trip to Kingston for the eight-team tournament. Early last week, team manager William Wallace presented the Ministry of Sports with the team’s budget which, at just under $400,000 for the tournament, was expected to cover airfare for players and officials as well as hotel accommodation and meals and other expenses.
 
The national U-20 squad entered a live-in camp at Cascadia Hotel, St Ann’s, and will train twice daily ahead of Saturday morning’s departure for Jamaica for its Group A matches against Haiti, Puerto Rico and Curacao.
 
Group B comprises the host, Cuba, Suriname and Cuba. The matches will be played at the Waterhouse Stadium, and Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex, both in Kingston.
 
At the end of the two round-robin groups, the top two teams in each group as well as the best third-place team will qualify for the 12-team CONCACAF Finals February 18 to March 2 in Puebla, Mexico.
 
In August, the U-20s secured a spot in the final round of CFU qualification towards the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup after beating  St Vincent & the Grenadines 3–0 in a must-win match.
 
The result meant T&T finished Group Four in second place with six points, same as group winners Suriname, who topped the group on goal difference despite losing their final match 2–1 to Guyana.
 
In their other group matches, T&T edged Guyana 2–1 and were trounced 3–0 by Suriname while the latter pipped St Vincent and the Grenadines 1–0 before losing to Guyana 2–1.
 
Meanwhile, Secondary Schools Football League topscorers, Shaquille Holder of Carapichaima East, and Presentation of College of San Fernando’s Shackiel Henry, have both been named in the 20-man squad which will be led by 1st FC Santa Rosa’s Duane Muckette.
 
Holder, one of three new faces in the squad has so far scored 28 goals to lead his team to a ninth straight Central Zone title while Henry’s 23 goals fired Presentation to the South crown ahead of last year’s winner, Shiva Boys.
 
The other newcomers in the squad are former U-17 goalkeeper Tevin Dodds and former St Anthony’s College midfielder Garvin Samaroo.
 
Today, they are expected to face Southern Football Association Premier Division leaders Point Fortin Civic Centre in a practice match at Mahaica Oval, Point Fortin from 4 pm.

[Flex]

Russell confident of qualification.
T&T Guardian Reports.

Ross Russell, coach of the national Under-20 team says he is very confident of his team progressing from its Caribbean Football Union U-20 Championship four-team group to the Concacaf finals next year.
 
The national U-20 squad which departs for Kingston, Jamaica following the completion of a three-day live-in camp at Cascadia Hotel, St Ann’s, will face Puerto Rico on Monday, Haiti on Wednesday and Curacao two days later in Group A while Group B comprises the host, Cuba, Suriname and Cuba.
 
The matches will be played at the Waterhouse Stadium, and Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex, both in Kingston and at the end of the two round-robin groups, the top two teams in each group as well as the best third-place team overall will qualify for the 12-team Concacaf Finals February 18 to March 2 in Puebla, Mexico.
 
The team’s trip to Jamaica was made certain after the Ministry of Sports, provided the cheque $400,000 to cover the cost of the team’s airfare, hotel accommodation, meals and other expenses.
 
Speaking prior to his team’s final training session at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo yesterday, Russell, also the coach of Digicel T&T Pro League club, Defence Force said the team is full of lots of quality and he feels very positive about its chances in Jamaica.
 
Russell, while admitting he could have done with some more time to work with the players, noted that most of the guys in the team have been together before as a group and it will not take them that long to gel.
 
Questioned about T&T’s group opponents, Russell said he was yet to get any information on the teams and was hoping that when he arrives in Jamaica on Saturday, he will be able to source some.
 
The local Under-20 squad led by FC Santa Rosa’s Duane Muckette is also coming a 2-1 loss to Southern Football Association Premier Division leaders, Pt Fortin FC, a result Russell says does not worry him a bit.

[Flex]

Young Warriors open qualifiers against Puerto Rico.
T&T Express Reports.

CRUCIAL CLASH

Trinidad and Tobago's Under 20 Men's team will begin their Caribbean Football Union (CFU) final round campaign aiming for three points against Puerto Rico from 3pm (4pm T&T time) today at Waterhouse Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica.

A 19-man squad under head coach Ross Russell arrived in Jamaica on Saturday morning and trained twice at the match venue ahead of their opening encounter.

Team captain Duane Muckette was the only player to arrive behind schedule as he stayed back in Trinidad on Saturday, for his SAT examination. He joined the rest of the team at Four Seasons Hotel in Kingston on Sunday.

All seven visiting teams are based at the same hotel with the exception of hosts Jamaica, whose first match is against Antigua and Barbuda tomorrow.

Also accompanying the team, which received support from the Ministry of Sport, is TTFF technical director Anton Corneal, while former national midfielder Reynold Carrington is Russell's assistant.

Russell, who took over the team from Michael McComie for the opening CFU round earlier this year, is optimistic of starting the final round with a win.

"We've gotten a good feel of the venue and the surroundings because you would see it's obviously different to what we are accustomed playing international football in back home," Russell told TTFF media officer Shaun Fuentes following a session at the venue.

The stadium is at the centre of a community which is described as sometimes volatile, but has produced several past Jamaican players, including lanky striker Onandi Lowe.

Dancehall star Beenie Man and Olympic gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser are also from the area. The venue is also next to the Sandy Gully, Jamaica's largest waste water drainage system, and some residents use it as a major borderline in times of gang violence.

"The main (thing) is that we are here now and we have an objective, which is to qualify for the CONCACAF Final round and to try and top this group as well," said Russell who was the goalkeeper coach for the 2007 Under-17 team that qualified for the U-17 World Cup out of the CONCACAF final round, also played in Kingston.

"I think the squad has improved since the previous round, and I'm looking forward to seeing them demonstrating that on the field of play. We know that Puerto Rico's football has been improving but our boys are also very hungry for success and they know it's important for them to progress and qualify for the World Cup next year."

W Connection midfielder Jomal Williams, who scored two goals in the previous stage, is expected to lead T&T's play in the midfield along with Xavier Rajpaul, while defender Neil Benjamin also re-joined the team last week following a trial in Italy.

The conditions, which have been hot in Kingston, are expected to continue into today's match. The stadium, which has bleachers on one side of the field, usually attracts up to 5,000 fans per match in the Jamaica Premier League, and there will be no admission fee for  fans for the current tournament.

Fellow Group A teams Haiti and Curacao will meet in this afternoon's second match from 5pm. T&T faces Haiti in their second encounter on Wednesday.

The top two teams from the group will advance to next year's final CONCACAF round in Mexico towards the 2013 FIFA Under 20 World Cup in Turkey. The other CFU group includes Jamaica, Suriname, Cuba and Antigua/Barbuda.

T&T Squad: Tevin Dodds, Quesi Weston, Adan Noel, Dwight Quintero, Alvin Jones, Anthony Charles, Damani Richards, Neil Benjamin, Shannon Gomez, Shaquille Nesbitt, Duane Muckette (captain), Xavier Rajpaul,  Jomal Williams, Marcus Gomez, Akeem Garcia, Shackiel Henry, Keane McIvor, Kerron Bethelmy, Shaquille Holder, Garvin Samaroo.

[Trini _2026]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/44TcYhl9t6g" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/44TcYhl9t6g</a>

[warmonga]

dat suriname Jamaica match up guh have sum serious cutlass passing.. the last time theese two countries play , spectators stormed the field in suriname..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFpjVFl1ME0

war

[ZANDOLIE]

dat suriname Jamaica match up guh have sum serious cutlass passing.. the last time theese two countries play , spectators stormed the field in suriname..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFpjVFl1ME0

war

I wish T&T still had that kind of passion for the game.

[warmonga]

dat suriname Jamaica match up guh have sum serious cutlass passing.. the last time theese two countries play , spectators stormed the field in suriname..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFpjVFl1ME0

war

I wish T&T still had that kind of passion for the game.

trus me boi me too..  I just saw two caribbean team playing and dey came to blows weh.. rell passion dem man still showing for the game while we jus going through motion...

war

[Deeks]

dat suriname Jamaica match up guh have sum serious cutlass passing.. the last time theese two countries play , spectators stormed the field in suriname..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFpjVFl1ME0

war

I wish T&T still had that kind of passion for the game.

trus me boi me too..  I just saw two caribbean team playing and dey came to blows weh.. rell passion dem man still showing for the game while we jus going through motion...

war

War I agree with you a 100%, Bro. But thanks to YOUR current minister of national security, our football is in this friggin' state. Now you see if I was in TT I would have march with them "sour-puss" PNM.

[truehaitian]

Im already giving this group to T&T. I doubt it that Haiti will win one game in this group. Ever since they won the first CFU round in Puerto Rico, the team never practiced or play a friendly game. They finally got together last 2 weeks to practice and the Hurricane hit Haiti flooded the stadium and the place they were staying at. Dominican Republic had offered their facility to us to train. They failed to make the trip there due to insufficient funds. They played one game against the Haitian national Police force and they lost 1-0. The team has no money. They had traveled to Florida on Saturday to collect money from Haitian there to make the trip to Jamaica. Their flight got there in Jamaica late last night. Some of players still without soccer shoes as of  last night. They were scheduled to buy soccer shoes  this morning in Jamaica and I don't know if they did. I worked for a radio station and I am supposed to be in touch with them down there after the T&T game. I'll keep you posted. T&T by the way shared the same Hotel with Haiti..

[Tallman]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/44TcYhl9t6g" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/44TcYhl9t6g</a>

[Boodsy]

According to this site TT leading 1-0 at the half. Not too sure how often it is updated.
http://www.futbol24.com/international/CONCACAF/U20-Champ-Qualifiers/2012-2013/Caribbean-Play-off-Group/

[theworm2345]

This Twitter has updates in Spanish
https://mobile.twitter.com/PRNationalTeam?p=s

Its 1-0 and T&T have had a penalty saved

[truehaitian]

T&T 2- PR 0,  Final

[Deeks]

T&T 2- PR 0,  Final

Congrats to the TT youths. But I am taking anything for granted with this team, seeing the confused state our football is in.

[frico]

So Suriname gave us a proper cutarse fuss time round,ah hope if we meet them again we can show that it was just a bad day for us.

[truehaitian]

Haiti 2 Curacao 1 Final

[dreamer]

Well done T&T. Well done, especially in these perilous times. Every victory makes winning a habit.

[Big Magician]

keep going boys...next game

[Tallman]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/VSj5G3PoAkE" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/VSj5G3PoAkE</a>

[warmonga]

dat suriname Jamaica match up guh have sum serious cutlass passing.. the last time theese two countries play , spectators stormed the field in suriname..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFpjVFl1ME0

war

I wish T&T still had that kind of passion for the game.

trus me boi me too..  I just saw two caribbean team playing and dey came to blows weh.. rell passion dem man still showing for the game while we jus going through motion...

war

War I agree with you a 100%, Bro. But thanks to YOUR current minister of national security, our football is in this friggin' state. Now you see if I was in TT I would have march with them "sour-puss" PNM.

deeks any team loose to guyana in football should be dismantle and not one freeking penny gaven to dem for nothing...
war

[Peong]

That run by Adan Noel for the first was boss.  I know after yuh do a move like dat yuh want to score yuhself, but he composed himself and picked out the striker with a good pass.  Good finish too, congrats youths.

[frico]

The video is only very short but the PR defenders dont seem able to put in a tackle of worth,still doh ah win is ah win,I suspect we missed a load of chances.

[FireBrand]

Any scores from today's first games?

[truetrini]

What kind of cow pasture they have we youths playing on boy?

[FireBrand]

What kind of cow pasture they have we youths playing on boy?

Same thing I was thinking. Could any team play well on that surface?