Winchester replaces Cummings for upcoming qualifier.
By Shaun Fuentes (TTFA).‘Warriors’ start preparations for Copa qualifier.Trinidad and Tobago Head Coach Stephen Hart has named Shahdon Winchester as the replacement for attacking midfielder Keron Cummings who has been ruled out of the Copa America Centenario qualifier versus Haiti after receiving a gun shot wound to the leg in the early hours of Sunday morning outside of his home in Petit Valley.
Winchester, of DirecTV W Connection, will join the team’s live-in training camp on Monday and will participate in the training sessions scheduled for the Manny Ramjohn Stadium from 8:30am and then at the Hasely Crawford Stadium from 6pm.
Hart conducted his first session of the camp on Sunday evening at the Port of Spain venue ahead of the January 8th match in Panama City which will see the winner advance to the historic Copa America Centenario in the United States.
Few players were missing on Sunday with the likes of Khaleem Hyland, Kevan George, Andre Boucaud, Justin Hoyte and Jonathan Glenn scheduled to enter camp this week and Hart is expected to have his full compliment of 23 players by January 2nd. Central FC forward Willis Plaza has also been ruled out due to a shoulder injury and Rundell Winchester has been called up as his replacement.
Hart said he was keen to commence training but was of course saddened by the news that hit the team camp earlier in the day concerning Cummings.
“This is the part that I enjoy and I think we all enjoy, having the players here and on the field and back in training. The opening session is just to get everybody in the right frame of mind and in the right spirit,” Hart said following the session on Sunday evening.
On the matter of Cummings, he said: “I think if there is a silver lining in a shooting is that he (Cummings) is alive. Hopefully he is in good hands. We wish him all the best to get back healthy, and then we can think about his football again. All the players and the staff are in full support. We’ll see him and give him our support. I think we have to rally around that and the game now has an extra meaning now because he was a big part of us.”
Commenting on the squad, Hart stated: “It’s one game and it’s one mission – to win. The main thing now is to get players sharp. Some of them have been off for a little while, while others have been playing. The main thing is to get them in the right frame of mind and the mental attitude has to be right.
“We have to know that we are going into a game that will quite essentially is going to be a dog fight but it is one to get into a very prestigious tournament and something where you can’t put a price on the experience you will get in playing in a tournament like that. But first things first – one game.
He also spoke on the inclusion of Ataulla Guerra and Jomal Williams.
“I think the season they are having, it gives them an opportunity to come into the squad. I have shown confidence in picking them and now it’s for them to fight their way into the starting line up, to train properly and show me that they cannot be left out unless it is for tactical reasons.”
Hart said the team will focus on the business of playing football following the recent episode regarding outstanding wages.
“It is unfortunate what happened. To be fair, the new regime came in and they were not aware of the entire situation and it is unfortunate. It is very understandable in terms of the players, and you have to support that but that’s behind us now and hopefully mentally behind us because it was extremely taxing mentally. I know for me, I was a little bit put back because this is a very important outing for us.
Hart further said that he was satisfied that there would be ongoing progress.
“I haven’t had a chance to sit down with the President as yet but we have been talking every day on the phone and he has assured me that all things are moving in the right track. I have to trust him on that. That’s his department and I will try and take care of things on the field,” Hart stated.
Following the session, TTFA President David John- Williams, who was also at practice, paid a visit to Cummings at the Port of Spain General Hospital and Team Doctor Terance Babwah has also been monitoring the player’s progress. The FA will continue to keep abreast of his progress and will make the efforts to ensure the player receives the necessary support during his recovery period. The members of the team also kept their wounded teammate in prayer at the start of Sunday’s training session.
Cummings who made his senior international debut in 2010, is scheduled to undergo surgery on Monday morning.
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Day One of Training Camp as T&T Prepares for Copa Qualifier
