Lawrence defends selections.
T&T Guardian Reports.‘Its an open door for all players...’Head coach of the Trinidad and Tobago senior men’s football team Dennis Lawrence has explained his policy of inclusiveness when it comes to player selection, by stating quite clearly: “The idea is that every player with a Trinidad and Tobago passport is eligible for selection in my view.”
That statement comes after Lawrence turned some heads with the selection his provisional 25-member squad to prepare for T&T’s July 26 international friendly date away to Ecuador. Included in his training squad are Poland-based professional Keon Daniel who was a no-show for several training camps and competitions under previous coaches Stephen Hart and Hudson Charles. As a result the Tobago-born Daniel has not played a single international for T&T since July 15 2013. Lawrence explained that he invited Daniel on the request of the player’s agent who notified him that the player who is now a free agent, was back at home in T&T on vacation. Lawrence said: “Keon has been in Poland for the last three years and he’s been playing in a number of different positions. Just like I did with Kwesi Weston when we were going to Denver when I was informed Kwesi was at home on vacation and I invited him to train to have a look, I’ve done the same thing with Keon. If Keon shows me this week that he is capable and he’s ready, he’s going to be like every other player, fighting for a place on the plane to go to Ecuador.”
Also among Lawrence’s selection is 31-year-old FC Santa Rosa forward Keron Clarke who has never played at national level but is the top scorer so far in this season’s T&T Super League, T&T’s second tier of club football. 16-year-old W Connection midfielder, Isaiah Hudson heads a list of younger but similarly inexperienced players such as Taryk Sampson and Shane Sandy. Lawrence justified those picks as well.
“We’ll talk about Isiah first. Our U20 players went to the Caribbean tournament under Brian Williams and since we didn’t qualify further, they’ve been inactive. So the idea now is to integrate the players who are under the age of 23 closer to the senior team because we can’t afford to let them go three or four years without being in the national set up. My idea is to bring them in so when the time comes to be involved, they have a better concept of what we want to do.”
The former assistant coach at Everton F.C in England added, “In terms of Keron Clarke, one thing about the boy that I know for sure is that he know’s how to finish, he’s a natural goalscorer. In most cases the top league is the league where the best players play but you do find the rare ones that play at another level that might be able to cope. I’ve got my questions in my head about physicality because the work in the Super League is different. But I thought to myself the only way I can answer these questions is this Ecuador friendly. So it’s an open door for all players.”
Like Daniel, Hudson comes into the head coach’s plans with a serious cloud over his head regarding his dedication after he allegedly abandoned his national under 20 team-mates at last October’s Caribbean Cup tournament at the request of his father who insisted that his son was injured, contrary to the argument of head coach Williams.
“Whatever has happened to Keon and whatever has happened with Isiah did not happen with me. Everybody knows my policy is that we need to respect each other, we need to maintain discipline throughout and as long as they can conform to what I am asking and to what I think is the right thing then we wouldn’t have a problem.”
Lawrence noted that it was important for the local based players to grasp the opportunity being given to them in this upcoming match against Ecuador by working hard and having belief in themselves.
He stated that he was satisfied with the way the players had responded in the team’s first session on Monday.
RELATED NEWSLawrence: Daniel, Hudson given chance to prove themselves.
By Joel Bailey (Newsday).MIDFIELDERS Keon Daniel and Isaiah Hudson, two players who have chequered careers with various national teams, will be given the chance to prove themselves to national men’s coach Dennis Lawrence, as he expands his talent pool ahead of the forthcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Honduras and Panama in September.
Lawrence was speaking at a media briefing yesterday morning at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima.
The national men’s team, consisting mostly local-based players are currently in training ahead of a friendly international, away to Ecuador, on July 26.
Daniel, who is currently a free agent has not earned a national call-up since November 2013, when he declined an offer from then men’s coach Stephen Hart to join the squad for a friendly international away to Jamaica.
Hudson, on the other hand, was left out of the T&T team for the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship in Jamaica after a fall-out with coach Brian Williams, during the 2016 Caribbean Cup in Curacao.
Lawrence, the ex-national defender, pointed out, “Whatever has happened to Keon and whatever has happened to Isaiah has not happened with me.
“Everybody knows my policy that we need to respect each other, we need to maintain our discipline throughout. And as long as they can conform to what I am asking and what I think is the right thing, then we wouldn’t have a problem.” Referring to the enigmatic Daniel, Lawrence noted, “(Daniel’s) agent contacted me.
We know that he was home on vacation so I invited him to be part of the training sessions so I can assess him and see how he is.” He added, “Every player that has a Trinidad and Tobago passport is available for selection in my view.
Keon has been in Poland for the last three years. He’s been playing in a number of different positions. If Keon shows me this week that he’s capable and he’s ready, he’s going to be, like every other player, fighting for a place to go on the plane to go to Ecuador.”
About the Hudson selection, Lawrence said, “Since (the Under-20 Championships), they’ve not been involved in (a) national set-up. The idea now is to try and integrate the players that are below the age of 23 closer to the senior team.
“My idea is to bring them in so they have an idea,” he continued. “So when the time comes, and it’s time to be involved with the senior team, they’ll have a better concept of what we want to do.” Another shock call up was FC Santa Rosa striker Keron Clarke, the lone non-Pro League player among the local- based bunch.
“I’ve been going to the Super League,” said Lawrence.
“One thing I know about the boy is that he knows how to finish.
He’s a natural goalscorer.
I’ve got questions in my head in terms of physicality because it’s (a different level) in the Super League. But the only way I can answer these questions is (with) the Ecuador friendly.
“It’s a position on the pitch that we need to improve on....the goalscoring aspect,” added the T&T coach. “The opportunity has come. We need to give him a try and this is the best place to do it.
And I hope that the boy does well.” Lawrence noted, “The top leagues are always the place that the best players play in. You do find the rare ones that play at a level that might be able to cope. So it’s an open door for all players.” About the make-up of the training squad, Lawrence said, “The main focus is the group that we have, mainly the Pro League players.
“We were lucky to acquire the services of (Indian-based duo) Willis Plaza (and) Carlyle Mitchell, (and Mexico- based) Jomal Williams who will join the group.
“Those are the only foreign-based players that we have,” he added.
Concerning the Ecuador match, Lawrence said, “It’s going to be a very difficult game. Ecuador is a top team in the South American (region).
But it’s going to be a great test for the boys.
They need these sort of exposure.” Trinidad and Tobago are the only team in the 2018 FIFA World Cup CONCACAF Zone Final Round Qualifiers who are not participating at the current CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States.
“It would have been a great benefit for us if we were in the Gold Cup,” Lawrence admitted.
“I think it would have been added value to our preparations.
But the benefit that I’ve took out of it is that at least the players are actively playing in the Pro League. We’ve managed to acquire this friendly against Ecuador and we’re trying to see how we can be more prepared for the Honduras game.”
Members of the T&T men’s national football team warm up prior to their training session at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Arima, yesterday. PHOTO: NICHOLAS BHAJAN/CA-IMAGES
