Team skipper Dwight Yorke and his “Warriors” still had smiles on their faces as they arrived at the Sheraton Hotel, Monterrey at around 1am (12 midnight T&T time) following their flight from Port of Spain via Miami and Dallas on Monday.
The “Warriors” were delayed some two hours in Dallas but met an aggressive Mexican media contingent and voiceferous bunch of locals who surprising cheered the team on as they came out of the customs area on their way to the waiting team bus. Earlier on in Miami, the contingent got several good luck and congratulatory messages from Jamaicans and other Latinos while American Airline flight attendants made it their duty to let all know that the “Warriors” were on board and wished them well in Wednesday’s encounter.
T&T head coach Leo Beenhakker was mugged by several reporters and cameramen as he came through the doors and Yorke and Dennis Lawrence both had questions to answer from the Mexican media as the team attempted to hustle into the bus. Though not unexpected, the T&T contingent did not have the luxury of waiting Mexican officials to speed up the passage through the customs area and each player had to wait in line and then collect luggage contrary to the norm for visiting teams at least for international matches. Team administrator George Joseph who arrived previously, was on spot to ensure though that all was in place for the players to head straight to their rooms on arrival at The Sheraton which was followed by a quick dinner and lights out. Beenhakker spoke briefly to the players at dinner and the mood was an upbeat one despite the long day and a training session is scheduled for 9am.
“We’re just pleased to be here but the real deal is on Wednesday,” Yorke told reporters.
“It’s been a good weekend for us with the win over Panama and the lads are all up for it and we could expect a pretty good match up on Wednesday.”
Beenhakker spoke of the importance of the win against Panama, stressing that there was new belief in the team. “The win was a wonderful one for us and our aim is to build on that and obviously that starts with our next game which is here on Wednesday against the Mexico National team.”
Twenty-man squad in Monterrey:
Goalkeepers: Kelvin Jack (Dundee), Daurance Williams (CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh)
Defenders: Dennis Lawrence (Wrexham), Marvin Andrews (Glasgow Rangers), Anton Pierre (Defence Force), Marlon Rojas (Real Salt Lake), Avery John (New England Revolution), Atiba Charles(Vibe CT 105 W Connection),
Midfielders: Glenton Wolfe (National Quarries NE Stars), Carlos Edwards (Luton Town), Chris Birchall (Port Vale), Leslie Fitzpatrick (Real Salt Lake), Aurtis Whitley (CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh), Brent Rahim (unattached), Densill Theobald (Caledonia AIA Fire)
Forwards: Gary Glasgow (Unattached), Kenwyne Jones (Southampton), Stern John (Coventry City), Hector Sam (Wrexham), Dwight Yorke (Sydney FC)