T&T pushes on with preparations.
TTFA Media.Trinidad and Tobago senior team goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams maintains that there is no amount of pressure on the current squad that will disrupt the mental state of Stephen Hart’s unit as they look ahead to the CONCACAF Final Round World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica on Friday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Williams, the starting custodian with local club Central FC, has not played a World Cup qualifying game for T&T since last November, missing the two victories against St Vincent and the Grenadines, Guatemala and the United States through a shoulder injury.
But he was back in the starting eleven for the recent Caribbean Cup qualifiers against Dominican Republic and Martinique.
“I think I am in a good mental position right now. The season is midway into the Pro league and we’ve played four massive games in the Concacaf Champions League so I am just hoping to make m away back not the starting team and contribute to the team on Friday,’ Williams told TTFA Media.
“Preparations for games like these are an ongoing something. It’s not just a week or two week preparation. I’ve always tried to keep myself in the right mental and physical position to be able to play in the Hex and I am quite happy to recover from the injury first and foremost.
“The amount of pressure we put on ourselves as a team, the pressure from outside cannot match up. We want to qualify for the World Cup and we know the potential we have as a group and the pressure we have on ourselves is immense but in saying that, it is not the type of pressure that will destabilise us or to make us nervous. It is the kind of pressure to motivate us and to help us to go forward and complete the objective,” he added.
The newcomer in the squad, W Connection defender Jelani Peters, spoke about his first three days with the team, describing it as challenging but enjoyable.
“It’s been a great experience so far. Most of the guys are playing outside so that’s been good for me to get the opportunity to train with them. The first session was a bit challenging but I settled in by the second day. For me this is the best set of players that have been on the national team for some time now and that makes the experience even greater for me, coming in as a local-based. I am hoping to build on this and make a worthy contribution to the team in general,” Peters said.
Hart has had two sessions with his full compliment of players at the Hasely Crawford Stadium even though Mexican-based duo Yohance Marshall and Jomal Williams and Levi Garcia had light involvement having come off the plane only a few hours earlier.
“Well the most important thing is that we have everyone here. That’s always a good sign for a coaching staff,” Hart told TTFA Media.
“The session last evening (Tuesday) was very lively, good energy and the players were consistent throughout. The next couple of days of course we will spend going over a few things with respect to the game and how we intend to go about in our approach to it.”
The T&T team trained on Wednesday evening at the Larry Gomes due the unavailability of the Hasely Crawford Stadium because of the afternoon rainfall.
During his press conference to announce his squad for the match, Costa Rica Oscar Ramírez mentioned how important it will be to counter Trinidad & Tobago’s speed in transition plays.
“They are a good team with a lot of speed and athleticism,” Ramirez said. “They have a good style and we will need to focus and be strong to close them down in the transition of their game.”
The Costa Rican team arrives at Piarco International airport on Thursday night at 7:45pm on a chartered plane. They do not have a training session scheduled for the match venue on Thursday night.
Videos -
Jomal Williams talks about preparations ahead of Costa Rica QualifierSenior Team commences training ahead of Costa Rica clashSecurity advisory for World Cup qualifier.The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association wishes to inform the Public that a meticulous Security Operational Policy will be in place, adhering to FIFA regulations to ensure the safety and security of all those who attend the CONCACAF Final Round 2018 World Cup qualifying match between Trinidad and Tobago and Costa Rica commencing at 7:00 pm on Friday November 11th at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Several meetings and on site viewing have been conducted with all the different arms of the Protective Services, TTFA Security officials and SPORTT to ensure that there would be a comprehensive Security Operational Plan, and all of this would be monitored and coordinated through a Venue Operations Centre in the Stadium on matchday.
That being the case, spectators can feel comfortable to know that all that is required to ensure their safety and security has and would be implemented as meticulous Security arrangements have been made starting as soon as the teams land in our country.
A thorough research was conducted to rectify matters of the past that may have inconvenienced patrons, and even though there will be strict security protocols implemented, due to intense meetings and planning by a professional Security Secretariat that was set up to ensure that this game would be incident free. Systems will be implemented to also ensure that there would be no undue frustration for spectators such as long lines and waiting periods to enter the venue.
The TTFA will however seek the support of the public to ensure that such concerns can be even further reduced, if they can adhere to these regulations, and this would cause the entrance into the Stadium to be made even easier for all.
Access points to Stadium- GatesThere will be Five (5) specific Gates that provide access to the Hasely Crawford Stadium
Gate 1Main Entrance -[ Manned by Private Security of Stadium]
Only access is for maintenance staff, and to park in area east of Jean Pierre Complex only
Gate 2 A– Between Jean Pierre car park entrance point and Gate 2 B.This is the Gate for access for Seasoned ticket holders uncovered stand
Facing northwards [where ticket sales on match day are usually conducted .Only seasoned uncovered stand ticket holders to have access point at this Gate
Gate 2 B- next to St John’s Ambulance headquartersOnly entrance for all spectators of uncovered stand – not season ticket holders
No vehicles, security personnel, media, or vendors to have access through this gate
Gate 3- Opposite Lion’s GateEntrance for spectators with covered stand tickets [ including covered stand seasoned tickets]
Access also through this gate for –
• Vendors arriving between 1100 hrs to 1600 hrs.
• Differently abled drivers,
• Accredited media
• Team buses
• Accredited staff
Gate 4- Castro Gate-Access for VIP invitees
POINTS TO NOTE ON MATCH DAY• Spectator Information Desk for query of tickets etc- Jean Pierre Complex Booth [facing Uncovered stand)
No tickets will be on sale at the Match Venue on Game Day but will remain on sale until 7pm at Lotto Locations within the vicinity of the Hasely Crawford Stadium. There will be no parking for patrons inside the Stadium except for working personnel and match day officials, team buses and emergency and protective services vehicles. Gates open at 4pm.
Patrons are asked to have tickets in hand upon entering the security checkpoints.
We are requesting that the following guidelines be adhered to:– No Coolers
– No large Knapsacks
– No alcohol to be brought into the Stadium by spectators
-All spectators will be scanned via Walk through scanners on entry,
– All spectators are asked to have their ticket in their hand to show on entry into the Stadium just prior to being searched at Security Check Points
– As much as possible, other than motor vehicle keys, spectators are asked to refrain from walking with any type of metal object, to prevent a secondary check.
Spectators are advised of the following restrictions and would not be permitted to bring the following into the Stadium
• Chairs
• Firearms, weapons, and knives
• Fireworks, explosives, and flammable items
• Mace/gas containers
• Glass bottles or containers
• Alcohol
• Illegal drugs or narcotics
• Cans (soft drinks and alcohol)
• Video cameras/ camcorders
• Large Umbrellas:
• Own foodstuff (with plastic cutlery)
• Flasks, Soft drinks/water in plastic bottles
• Banners & Flags that may be deemed vulgar, racial, discriminatory, sexual in nature, or display advertising which may in any way conflict with the rights of the sponsors of the event or deemed to be offensive, or impact on the view of other spectators.